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R.P.Insurance Adjusters
Inc.
a division of Lindsey Morden Claim Services Limited
T G A and Son General Contracting Ltd.
The Alex Taylor General Contracting Co. Ltd.
Text of a memo outlining some of our initial concerns regarding the fire restoration of our home.
See the links on the claims page to read how the restoration proceeded
Text
Toronto, April 8th, 1996
Dear Sel,
I am going to try and summarise some of the many discussions we have had concerning the fire damage to our home. Wish me luck! Michiko's and my expectations and standards for the work that needs to be accomplished in order to restore our home are based on the condition of our home prior to the fire. As you know we have lived at 25 Salem Avenue for many years and invested a great deal of time and effort in our home.The guarantee of replacement in our insurance policy gave us the assurance that in the event of a fire we would be able to make good our loss. There have been a number of occasions in the last few months when we and you have had to remind anyone who would listen that we are not prepared to accept the minimum standards of the building code but rather standards set by the aesthetic and historic value of our home prior to the fire.
I understand that our concerns have been extensively reviewed with the three contractors selected by representatives for Commercial Union and detailed in a general manner in the plans approved by the fire and building departments. I understand that Al Gardner of Alex Taylor General Contracting Limited in particular was the most sensitive of the three to our concerns and was in broad agreement with us regarding the scope of damage and the work necessary to restore our home to the way it was.
It is now over a month since we authorised ATC Limited to begin the restoration on our home and I would like a report from Al Gardner on the additions to the TGA scope that he has proposed that address the many concerns we have concerning the extent of damage to our home and the deficiencies in the TGA scope. As you know our confidence that our concerns are being addressed is being eroded.
An area of particular concern is the extent of fire and odour penetration in the wall and floor cavities of our home considering the balloon style nature of its construction. The penetration of smoke and odour in the wall and floor cavities from the basement to the attic was addressed in the TGA scope to the extent of proposing the removal of the insulation from the attic and roof. Over a month later that insulation is still in place. Many areas of plaster have still not been removed in order to provide access for treatment. I understand that Al Gardner expressed his opinion to both you and Michiko that the smoke had penetrated the wall and floor cavities to the very back of the house and in particular the back basement bedroom. I expect that he has proposed adding the opening of the walls and ceilings in this area to the TGA scope.
I have drawn your attention to the need to properly replace the insulation, moisture and vapour barriers removed from the house and the difficulties of doing this in view of the manner in which the insulation, moisture and vapour barriers have been disturbed and removed.
We have discussed a number of concerns regarding the quality of work being performed by ATC Ltd. The slate roof has been repaired twice and has still not been repaired to the standard we are prepared to accept, i.e. to the standard of quality and aesthetic condition it was in prior to the fire. On inspecting the house this weekend I found that only two of the five footings required by the building department have been installed. As we discussed previously the new beam has been installed below the level of the old beam with the result that the joists that rest on this beam are not level with the joists in the back half of the house. In spite of assurances from ATC Ltd. that the beam would be raise in order to level the joists at the front of the house with those at the rear, this has not happened. In addition ATC Ltd has proceeded to cement the wall cavities in which the joists sit which prevents adjustment of the level of these joists.
This deficiency translates through the entire front of the house with the floors on the second and third floors left sloping down to this beam and the bearing walls which it supports.
Instead of replacing the bearing wall on the first floor as specified in the plans, this wall has been patched in a number of places by cutting through both of the top and both of the bottom plates and butting in replacements, providing no horizontal stability at these joints. In addition in at least two places joists rest directly above these cuts with no vertical support underneath. Joist hangers installed on joists on the second floor have been sloppily installed and poorly fastened.
These footings, columns, beam and bearing walls are the foundation of our home as well as the foundation of the work to be done. Both Michiko and I are extremely uneasy when we measure the deficiencies and omissions of the work performed to date with our expectations and standards. We would like a meeting with both you and Al Gardner to review these matters.
Regards,
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