Date:         Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:18:56 +0100
Reply-To:     Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject:      merry christmas - and NVC home insurance question,
              esp for Canadians
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Yah, where I am it's already both Christmas & Friday - I hope everyone's
enjoying whichever holidays you observe.  Festivus for me, I think!

So my question.  A few months ago I had a minor roof leak on my new-to-me
home in Newfoundland  It was an extremely windy and rainy day, which
probably contributed to the leak.  I called in a roofing company
(recommended by my insurance agent).  The roofer said when my roof had been
put on (recently though before my ownership) the guy hadn't used mastic to
waterproof the edges next to my neighbors' houses (it's a row house), and
the material he had put on had dried & cracked.  Then the weather led to the
leak.  The roofer put on some mastic, and there have been no troubles since.

My insurance company has just contacted me with several questions, one of
which was why my roof leaked.

Now my understanding is that they are not responsible for this repair, and I
had no intention billing them for any repairs.  (there wasn't any internal
damage, fortunately - not enough of a leak)

But I also don't know know how they may respond to my answer about why it
leaked.  Maybe I've dealt with US insurance for too long?  My assumption (or
fear) is that they are seeking an excuse to terminate my policy, because
somehow I expect that that's what all insurance companies do all the time.
Maybe Canadian insurance companies are not like that?  I have no idea.  US
ones certainly seem to be.

So my question, what should I tell them about why the roof leaked?
Weather?  Roof job done incorrectly by previous owner?  (both seem to
apply)  Neither?

Please reply off-line!  And thanks in advance, to anyone who has any good
advice.



Joy