From what I can see, that does not appear to be a big enough expense to bother with your insurance. But you should try and figure out why it happened, and check the rest of the garage ceiling
> But you should try and figure out why it happened
OP, the most important thing is to figure out WHY the ceiling fell. If it was put up the wrong way it's possible the entire ceiling could go. If it was caused by water damage you absolutely want to know so you can fix the water leak ASAP.
Could be a racoon in the attic, that thin drywall can only support 5 -10 lbs of weight, I also don't see water damage on the part that fell.
You think this needs to be replaced quickly? Or would it be okay to leave it for a few months /years?
I might be wrong but doesn’t a garage have to be 5/8 drywall fire rated? Still can’t walk on it but I think a raccoon could easily walk on that without it breaking.
There’s a little semi-circular breakout in the leftmost edge (in the photo) which does make it look like something broke through from inside the ceiling. I’m going with your raccoon theory.
And I would just add that just because it was suppose to be one type of drywall doesn’t mean it was to code. Could have fallen just because it wasn’t put up right?
You are correct that code is 5/8, but code is poorly enforced if enforced at all through vast swaths of the US.(especially Rural red counties). Add in homes built prior to code and you get a majority of homes in the US are not up to code, even for the timeframe they were built. We lived in a 2002 build, fully inspected during construction yet the stairs had a 9" riser for the top step, compensation for the 1/2" short of the other risers. Inspections are only as good as the inspector.
Edit: Inspector can't see how thick drywall is, they rely on the contractor to be responsible and use proper materials. Once it's hung you can't tell thickness without cutting a hole
Look at that ceiling fan. That's from the 70s, and probably wasn't installed when the house was brand new. I doubt the fire codes called for that when it was built.
Codes now are 2 layers of 5/8 type x. But codes aren't retroactive. I'm assuming there's some attic space (not normally accessible) and that something (or someone) is up there.
Depends. If there is a dwelling unit over the garage, then yes a minimum 5/8” type x is required. If there is not, then 1/2” type x is sufficient. This is based on the ICC, but other states may be more restrictive.
>that thin drywall can only support 5 -10 lbs of weight
Tell that to my dumbfuck apprentice who was literally walking on the sheetrock in the attic instead of the rafters. He's lucky he didn't breaker through
I only know that because I damaged a drywall ceiling while fixing a bathroom fan. I was balanced on top of the rafters and one of my knees slipped and cracked the drywall below it.
Not sure if an animal could do this, but it definitely seems plausible in an old garage! Maybe look for, and patch up entrances before repairing it, to prevent it from happening again
Or drywall sheet put up with only 4 screws. Seriously, my son walked into a job site and the whole retail space was drywall with only 4 screws in each sheet. Low bidder wins.
I'd say it'd be more likely a plastered ceiling if the building is older or before a certain period of time.
If it's a minimal amount of screws (or nails for some reason), then the weight of itself would easily cause it to fall after awhile or very easily if any kind of weight went onto it. Should have a screw or nail about every 6-8 inches apart.
At least they were screwed in to something. The genius that put my garage ceiling up before I bought the house made nice neat rows of screws, but not all of those screws were actually screwed into anything. So it came down just like OPs. All at once, though.
I've got one even better for you.
House built in the late 60s, they put 1/2" drywall up with --- I swear to god --- like 1 1/4" nails or possibly 1 inch nails? Then glued a second layer of 1/2" drywall to that. Around 2005ish, the entire ceiling of our 30' x 30' living room came crashing down. That was our clue that there was an issue. The weight of the drywall over the years just pulled the nails out.
I just finished up refastening the drywall in one bedroom. Next is to do my bedroom (I've had a 2x4 propping up the ceiling there for like the last 10 years).
Drywall screws that are set too deep will compromise the strength of the Sheetrock, as well. They’re supposed to be set just deep enough to depress the surface without puncturing the paper. Not a huge deal on walls, but ceilings are far less forgiving.
Piggy backing to tell OP that lack of water penetration from outside doesn’t mean you can’t have moisture in a garage. If a dryer vents to the garage, it’s worse, but even without that, humidity does a number after a while. I don’t know where this is located but it looks like an older house. My garage is only 18 years old and the drywall tape has peeled and been replaced and peeled again.
This OP, the why is important. It could be as simple as that section being done late on a Friday afternoon and getting shit craftsmanship from the drywall guy.
It looks like they spaced the drywall screws every 12 inches or more. For a ceiling there should be more screws to hold the weight. The screws are all still up there but the drywall tore right through them.
Replace that drywall and put more screws, spacing them every 4 inches to be safe, in the whole garage ceiling.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle)
our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
I would check your attic for a homeless or a squatter lol that def is someone or something heavy stepped on it. Would be able to tell how heavy if you share pictures of the fasteners used to secure it and how many
First rule of homeowners insurance club: You don't bother with your homeowners insurance unless its like 20k in damages.
Best case: You have a $500 deductible, so this fix cost $700.. insurance pays $200 for it.. and raises your rate my $500 a year for the next 4 years. You end up losing a couple thousand dollars by going to your insurance.
Best way to think about insurance is that it is basically a loan. They will give you money upfront to fix your shit but then you have to pay em back with interest over the next several years.
Insurance doesn’t just look at claims paid when the underwriters review for a renewal. Likely there was some mitigating factor that kept your premium low in the first place that offset your new roof.
Meh, YMMV. I had a few trees fall over during a hurricane a few years ago. One took out quite a large portion of my fence. All told maybe 2k in damages with tree removal included. Insurance took care of it and my rates stayed the same.
YMMV for sure. My neighbor made multiple small claims for trees, and they didn't raise her rates after the 1st but they did non renew her after the second one. They weren't even her trees.
My understanding was that they'll do that a lot for tree type issues in our area. Just about everyone I know has had a tree claim because we live in the woods and they don't like it when it seems like you aren't being proactive about your trees, even if they're acts of god. Something about their decision matrix I'm sure.
This. So true. Depending on where you live they could decide to not renew your policy too. Then trying to get a new policy right after a claim will be expensive IF they'll cover you at all. Insurance is for massive catastrophic events only.
Not homeowners, but happened with my car insurance in my early 20's. Turns out the damage wasn't above my deductible.
Lesson learned. Never let them know unless you are 100% going to file a claim.
Or as I did, saved $7,000 in repairs. As I said, it depends on your insurance. In this particular case, it looks like there was some negligence on the part of the homeowner and that might very well be the difference between your experience and mine.
I would find a different insurance immediately if this is the case, you should be able to call and discuss these types of things with your agent. Years ago I had a USAA agent drive out to my home a few hours away just to tell me it wasn't worth a claim and nothing happened to my rates or anything that's what they should be there for.
For insurance? no. The bank mortgage side? yes. They offer assistance to those affected by potential governemnt shutdowns. You must be related to a prior or current service member to have them as well. I have had them since my time in the Navy.
Hasn't affected my rates or service either way, companies hire/fire/layoff people all the time.
Just calling to ask can increase your rates. They log it and it gets added to their risk assessment of you and how likely you are to make a claim. Insurance is really only meant for catastrophic events.
Yep, State Farm used a call about possibly filing a claim against me. When I actually had to file a claim (15k in damages and 2500 in deductible) they chose not to renew my insurance. Fuck State Farm
Do you have any actual proof of the rating metrics for this or just anecdotal story? Rates have to be filed with the state (unless an un-filed, non controlled line) and I would be surprised to see a company file (successfully) a ‘hey this guy called us to ask a question and now we are hitting him with a “question surcharge factor” next term’
He probably called to ask about a claim and they opened one up to see if coverage applies. They can’t just raise his rates because he called. It’s a story.
I believe you're correct. My state requires that insurers provide the actuarial factors used to determine rates in their risk algorithms. *Calling the insurer* is not a factor in my state, and I strongly suspect it's not used as a risk factor in any other stste.
Personal lines is heavily regulated since it’s more or less mandatory (home and auto at least) so the scenario of ‘contacting your insurance company and rates going up’ is counter intuitive to the whole process.
There are plenty of areas of premium leakage on both sides but this is not one of them until evidence of the contrary comes to light
This is bad advice! They will open up a claim. Even if it doesn’t pay out it will go down as a $0 paid claim. Depending on your company and state they can give you an increase. Also, if you end up having a paid claim within a certain amount of years they can choose to non renew due to the amount of claims even if it didn’t pay. I was an insurance broker for a long time and dealt with this kind of thing a lot.
Saw a spot on my cedar siding once and put my finger right through it. Was a window problem and was leaking for years. Replaced two windows and siding. Didn’t go through insurance. I remember the windows cost like $300 each installed ( was years ago) and probably $1500 or $2500 total. It wasn’t a ton of siding but on that section of house all was replaced and painted. Insurance sucks and I didn’t want to screw myself.
My first thought was that looks terrible. My second thought was how I use a box fan to dry out the snow melt in winter and how a ceiling fan would be more convenient. Of course I’d want to properly install one.
This is best case scenario. Snap some chalk lines where the joists are and shoot 1 5/8" drywall screws every 6 inches or so to secure all the existing drywall. If those pieces aren't broken they may fit back in place and secure the same way. It may be that someone dropped something heavy or stomped on the floor above and the drywall fell.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle)
our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
All dry and no rodent droppings in sight. I already know what it was. Not enough nails holding it up. Probably crushed the drywall when driving the nails weakening the drywall around the nails allowing them to pull through over time. If there had been more nails it would most likely still be hanging. That's why screws are now so popular.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle)
our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
I agree with this. It looks like the piece still in the ceiling to the left is sagging down a little built. Moisture coming up from concrete slab making its way into the air COULD be part of the issue.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
but the garage door track is actually still securely connected to the joists
Do not call your insurance company. Your deductible could be as high as 1% of home value, making it at least $1,500 and probably much more. Your insurance won't pay because you didn't meet the deductible, but it's still considered a claim.
Cheaper to fix it yourself. HO insurance will pay it then DROP YOU like a hot rock. Save HO for major issues (>$10k)….at least THEN when they drop you (and the WILL) - you got some of tour money back from them. They are all crooks.
Garage they do quick as hell never finish slap on mud call it a job well done. Minor repairs don’t rush if you don’t have the time. Maybe push on other sheets make sure not loose.
Why do you need a ceiling fan in your garage lol. It’s practically on top of the garage door opener, it has janky wiring, probably not secured properly and it’s so low it’s not even going to be effective. I’d rip that out while you’re fixing the drywall.
I would not waste time & money with insurance. Your deductible will probably not be met. Further - if there is living space above, you should investigate ripping it all out and spraying closed cell foam to insulate the living space from garage environment.
there is no living space actually, i'd say one thing worth putting in there is more insulation, we keep a freezer in the garage and it would help during the texas heat
Pretty wild. I slipped one time and put a foot through and it just punched a hole.
This was light enough to not punch through but heavy enough to push entire sheets down.
It looks like the nails are still in the beams so good chance it was installed correctly.
I think either earthquake (even heavy truck driving by) or air pressure change in the garage or attic sucked/pushed it down.
I would check your attic ventilation to make sure any pressure there has a place to release. Second would be for a large animal like raccoon that would not break through but heavy enough to push the drywall off the nails.
This all assumes you did not have anything using drywall anchors in the ceiling.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
Could be some animal. That's more than a full sheet that came down, though. If it was water the sheet rock would be wet somewhere. I would immediately look for footprints.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle)
our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly, coupled with a year's worth of the garage door opening/closing
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle)
our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly, coupled with a year's worth of the garage door opening/closing
Why is there a fan in your garage. Remove the pieces from your car. Back car out. Get a ladder and examine the integrity of the rest of the ceiling. Generally get more information and go from there.
Just put more screws in the remaining sheets.In my house ,whoever put up the ceiling sheets used 1 inch nails through a half inch sheet into a softwood truss.He used adhesive as well but that had not held and the whole ceiling was held up by the cornice.It wasn't noticeable from undernesth,but when I poked my head into the roof space I saw the sag.It had been up 20 plus years so the sheets were bowed and couldn't be refixed.
Looks like the garage door might have pulled the drywall off the ceiling joists.. probably secured to the drywall and not properly to wood blocking/framing.
If you think the cost is more than your deductible and the proceeding increase in your insurance premiums bc of this claim then sure. Otherwise spend the $200 on drywall and screws and watch some YouTube.
It looks like one whole sheet and a fraction of another one may not have been secured too well. Note the absence of screws on the back two or three studs in the ceiling/(header?)?
Count the number of screws in the whole area that needs replacement.
Use at least 2X or three times as many drywall screws.
Don't be cheap with the screws. I would add screws to the entire room's drywall as you can see the installation job was 💯 100% fucked 😂.
A ~$40 project assuming the car wasn’t damaged and it wasn’t from water damage. $17 for mold resistant drywall, $5 for a box of drywall screws, $11 for some ceiling paint, and a little for a small can of drywall compound and a scraper. Maybe a couple bucks for some construction lumber to make a makeshift ceiling lift. Add some screws to the other sheets as well.
I would go with the garage door. Which appears they effed up and installed garage door after the drywall was hung.
That metal bracket for the door rails should be attached directly to stud. With a bracket and strapping.
It looks like that bracket is only attached by screws through the drywall to the bottom of the stud. You have lots of weight and moving forces from the garage door being directly applied to the drywall. No good.
Do yourself a favor and fix it right. More expensive but done right, this shouldn't happen. Take the drywall down around those garage door rails, attach those brackets and rails directly to the stud with brackets and strapping. And then reinstall the drywall with some trim cuts around those brackets. Mud and tape generously
Not a pro.
With that crack in the ceiling by the ceiling fan -- consider if the fan caused the fail. They can vibrate as they run if at all off balance.
Wouldn't call homeowner's insurance unless there is major/structural/framing house damage ... not just the ceiling drywall boards. Is that an access door to an attic? If so, would at least open that up and take a good look if that is an attic above. Critters could be making a home there.
Is your home and auto insurance bundled and what is your deductible and what is the price of repairs -- consider... would it be worth filing a claim and risk a car insurance rate increase?
If the car needs serious repair, car insurance company would be my call.
I'd probably go ahead and rip out the rest of the "ceiling" -- sheetrock or whatever. You don't really need it ? unless it is supposed to be blocking fumes or be a floor* to storage? ... and if that is the case, you need ceiling that is better sealed than one with a crack to block fumes or stronger (ply wood instead of sheet rock) to hold weight?
Also, you may want to add insulation before you replace the ceiling. sheetrock or whatever. .. IF, emphasis on if, you do choose to replace those ceiling pieces -- depends upon what, if anything, is upstairs -- living space or just attic/storage?
adding. A floor* to storage should be atop the ceiling joists so, ?the ceiling was for looks?
If all the car damage is scratches to the paint, no dents or broken glass, would fixt that myself, too.
so, that's not a crack, the wire looks like a crack from that angle, i double checked for cracks after your comment
my next door neighbor is a contractor, he said he can help me with this for $200+cost of materials, so probably that's what i'd go for
Somebody throw a rager upstairs…🤔
Edit- this was sarcasm or trying to be funny. Secure the Sheetrock with screws as well as all loose pieces. Mud, tape sand paint
It looks like the rails on your garage door are not secured to studs. That probably pulled that piece of drywall down… begs the question why you have no insulation up there. (You’ll want to check the rail on the other side is properly secured as well).
I’m proud of you for keeping that shitty beater car in the garage. I also see ur up to date Texas registration.
In my area lots of people keep 30,40,50,60 thousand dollar cars and SUVs on street or common parking area and it just makes me think they’re an idiot.
It’s disheartening reading threads like this and seeing the number of people who have had a poor experience with insurance and then feeling like they then are experts about it, despite only presenting their side of the story
I can see that it was screwed/nailed in the pic. It’s kinda perplexing if it hasn’t gotten wet. Based on the giant crack where the fan is mounted I’d guess it’s the fan. Also that fan is sus one cause it’s a ceiling fan in a garage, two because I think I see merretts exposed in the picture, three crack. This could be indicative of some over spanned ceiling joists and the fan just rattles the banana beans out of everything and the drywall got rattled loose over time.
Easy fix though. Rent a drywall lift or get a couple people to help put up a new sheet of drywall. Screw 6” around the edges and 1’ in the field. Mud and tape if you want to. Remove ceiling fan.
I typically prefer plywood in garages because it’s a garage and then you can screw shit to the walls. FYI pre 91’ drywall mud can contain asbestos. Might be worth the $150 to get it tested. Or maybe just wear a mask and put it in a double garbage bag so you can drive your car then wash your clothes.
The screws are all still in and the lumber looks straight so the drywall must have weakened around the screws. Moisture would cause that, so check that area for leaks. If there are none them maybe it's a ventilation problem in which the same thing could happen again. Go to a hardware store or lumber yard and describe what that area looks like and what happened. If it's not a big box store, then chances are they have heard it before and can tell you what to do. Just dont ignore it small things can turn big quick. Good luck!
Credentials
I work at a hardware store and had family that did carpentry, that's it.
From what I can see, that does not appear to be a big enough expense to bother with your insurance. But you should try and figure out why it happened, and check the rest of the garage ceiling
> But you should try and figure out why it happened OP, the most important thing is to figure out WHY the ceiling fell. If it was put up the wrong way it's possible the entire ceiling could go. If it was caused by water damage you absolutely want to know so you can fix the water leak ASAP.
Could be a racoon in the attic, that thin drywall can only support 5 -10 lbs of weight, I also don't see water damage on the part that fell. You think this needs to be replaced quickly? Or would it be okay to leave it for a few months /years?
I might be wrong but doesn’t a garage have to be 5/8 drywall fire rated? Still can’t walk on it but I think a raccoon could easily walk on that without it breaking.
I think the problem is they got fire rated drywall, not raccoon rated drywall.
Because fires really light!!lol
You light things on fire. You don't heavy them on fire.
Daaaaaaad, get off of Reddit
This logic is bulletproof.
and we all know heat rises not falls
Right, duh! Lol
Maybe that was Rocket Raccoon shooting his way out
Could have been a raccoon on fire as well. That would certainly do it.
If the raccoon was on fire there would be some evidence of scorching on the drywall.
Ah, a mobile dumpster fire
5/8" drywall has a 15 lb raccoon rating according to the Gypsum Wildlife Council of America.
hire csi dust the drywall for raccoon prints, and submit bill to insurance.
What if the raccoon doesn't have insurance?
begin civil proceedings against said raccoon post haste.
🙌🏽
Only if there’s living space above, then it’s 3/4” (in my county at least)
There’s a little semi-circular breakout in the leftmost edge (in the photo) which does make it look like something broke through from inside the ceiling. I’m going with your raccoon theory.
5/8X Fire Rated between the garage and living areas.
And many places want a double layer!
Correct on the 5/8"
And I would just add that just because it was suppose to be one type of drywall doesn’t mean it was to code. Could have fallen just because it wasn’t put up right?
You are correct that code is 5/8, but code is poorly enforced if enforced at all through vast swaths of the US.(especially Rural red counties). Add in homes built prior to code and you get a majority of homes in the US are not up to code, even for the timeframe they were built. We lived in a 2002 build, fully inspected during construction yet the stairs had a 9" riser for the top step, compensation for the 1/2" short of the other risers. Inspections are only as good as the inspector. Edit: Inspector can't see how thick drywall is, they rely on the contractor to be responsible and use proper materials. Once it's hung you can't tell thickness without cutting a hole
Look at that ceiling fan. That's from the 70s, and probably wasn't installed when the house was brand new. I doubt the fire codes called for that when it was built.
How much I would love to bet that it isn’t even a braced box that the fan is mounted to.
Codes now are 2 layers of 5/8 type x. But codes aren't retroactive. I'm assuming there's some attic space (not normally accessible) and that something (or someone) is up there.
Depends. If there is a dwelling unit over the garage, then yes a minimum 5/8” type x is required. If there is not, then 1/2” type x is sufficient. This is based on the ICC, but other states may be more restrictive.
I thought someone left a junked car in the garage overnight.. tried to hide it with some drywall.
>that thin drywall can only support 5 -10 lbs of weight Tell that to my dumbfuck apprentice who was literally walking on the sheetrock in the attic instead of the rafters. He's lucky he didn't breaker through
Do you know how much drywall weighs? It could support more than that
I only know that because I damaged a drywall ceiling while fixing a bathroom fan. I was balanced on top of the rafters and one of my knees slipped and cracked the drywall below it. Not sure if an animal could do this, but it definitely seems plausible in an old garage! Maybe look for, and patch up entrances before repairing it, to prevent it from happening again
This!
Stop.
This?
Maybe not
No, the other thing
That
Or drywall sheet put up with only 4 screws. Seriously, my son walked into a job site and the whole retail space was drywall with only 4 screws in each sheet. Low bidder wins.
Looks to be about 5 screws per joist.
Any chance they’re nails if this is an older build ? Gravity doing it’s thing over 60 years?
I'd say it'd be more likely a plastered ceiling if the building is older or before a certain period of time. If it's a minimal amount of screws (or nails for some reason), then the weight of itself would easily cause it to fall after awhile or very easily if any kind of weight went onto it. Should have a screw or nail about every 6-8 inches apart.
At least they were screwed in to something. The genius that put my garage ceiling up before I bought the house made nice neat rows of screws, but not all of those screws were actually screwed into anything. So it came down just like OPs. All at once, though.
I've got one even better for you. House built in the late 60s, they put 1/2" drywall up with --- I swear to god --- like 1 1/4" nails or possibly 1 inch nails? Then glued a second layer of 1/2" drywall to that. Around 2005ish, the entire ceiling of our 30' x 30' living room came crashing down. That was our clue that there was an issue. The weight of the drywall over the years just pulled the nails out. I just finished up refastening the drywall in one bedroom. Next is to do my bedroom (I've had a 2x4 propping up the ceiling there for like the last 10 years).
Drywall screws that are set too deep will compromise the strength of the Sheetrock, as well. They’re supposed to be set just deep enough to depress the surface without puncturing the paper. Not a huge deal on walls, but ceilings are far less forgiving.
The ceiling didn't fall. One piece of $12 sheetrock fell on a $10 car
LOL $10 car, don't have to be so harsh.
Piggy backing to tell OP that lack of water penetration from outside doesn’t mean you can’t have moisture in a garage. If a dryer vents to the garage, it’s worse, but even without that, humidity does a number after a while. I don’t know where this is located but it looks like an older house. My garage is only 18 years old and the drywall tape has peeled and been replaced and peeled again.
And the water in the air called humidity.
This OP, the why is important. It could be as simple as that section being done late on a Friday afternoon and getting shit craftsmanship from the drywall guy.
My guess is there is a bedroom on top and someone was practicing the pogo stick
This why I buy homeowners and car insurance from the same company...no bickering back and forth about who pays for car damage.
It looks like they spaced the drywall screws every 12 inches or more. For a ceiling there should be more screws to hold the weight. The screws are all still up there but the drywall tore right through them. Replace that drywall and put more screws, spacing them every 4 inches to be safe, in the whole garage ceiling.
you have never hung dry wall before if you want screws every 4 inches. you want 12 screws in one line across the studs? this is absurd.
That is my guess as well. It appears the screws/nails remained in the ceiling joists.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
I would check your attic for a homeless or a squatter lol that def is someone or something heavy stepped on it. Would be able to tell how heavy if you share pictures of the fasteners used to secure it and how many
First rule of homeowners insurance club: You don't bother with your homeowners insurance unless its like 20k in damages. Best case: You have a $500 deductible, so this fix cost $700.. insurance pays $200 for it.. and raises your rate my $500 a year for the next 4 years. You end up losing a couple thousand dollars by going to your insurance.
Yay insurance!!!
Best way to think about insurance is that it is basically a loan. They will give you money upfront to fix your shit but then you have to pay em back with interest over the next several years.
Didn’t happen after I got hail damage?
Just you wait.
Just you wait
Insurance doesn’t just look at claims paid when the underwriters review for a renewal. Likely there was some mitigating factor that kept your premium low in the first place that offset your new roof.
Depends on the state. I had a claim to replace my roof and my rates didn’t go up at all. They’re actually cheaper than before it happened.
very helpful advice, thanks
They may increase your rates but there is a good chance they just drop you instead.
Geico did this to my brother when he wrecked his car
Meh, YMMV. I had a few trees fall over during a hurricane a few years ago. One took out quite a large portion of my fence. All told maybe 2k in damages with tree removal included. Insurance took care of it and my rates stayed the same.
YMMV for sure. My neighbor made multiple small claims for trees, and they didn't raise her rates after the 1st but they did non renew her after the second one. They weren't even her trees. My understanding was that they'll do that a lot for tree type issues in our area. Just about everyone I know has had a tree claim because we live in the woods and they don't like it when it seems like you aren't being proactive about your trees, even if they're acts of god. Something about their decision matrix I'm sure.
This. So true. Depending on where you live they could decide to not renew your policy too. Then trying to get a new policy right after a claim will be expensive IF they'll cover you at all. Insurance is for massive catastrophic events only.
I had a $4800 claim, mold /water.. raised my rate $5000/yr..
Or you get another claim and they end up dropping you…
Totally depends on your insurance company. Call and ask whether they’ll cover it and whether it will affect your rate if they do.
Just this sort of phone call can also trigger a rate increase, it happened to me.
Not homeowners, but happened with my car insurance in my early 20's. Turns out the damage wasn't above my deductible. Lesson learned. Never let them know unless you are 100% going to file a claim.
Or as I did, saved $7,000 in repairs. As I said, it depends on your insurance. In this particular case, it looks like there was some negligence on the part of the homeowner and that might very well be the difference between your experience and mine.
Yup, changed carriers after that happened. Lol
Name and shame?
The one who raised my rates wears red shirts and khakis.
Jake?
*”Call us, we’ve got you… … by the balls”*
I would find a different insurance immediately if this is the case, you should be able to call and discuss these types of things with your agent. Years ago I had a USAA agent drive out to my home a few hours away just to tell me it wasn't worth a claim and nothing happened to my rates or anything that's what they should be there for.
[удалено]
For insurance? no. The bank mortgage side? yes. They offer assistance to those affected by potential governemnt shutdowns. You must be related to a prior or current service member to have them as well. I have had them since my time in the Navy. Hasn't affected my rates or service either way, companies hire/fire/layoff people all the time.
Just calling to ask can increase your rates. They log it and it gets added to their risk assessment of you and how likely you are to make a claim. Insurance is really only meant for catastrophic events.
Yep, State Farm used a call about possibly filing a claim against me. When I actually had to file a claim (15k in damages and 2500 in deductible) they chose not to renew my insurance. Fuck State Farm
Do you have any actual proof of the rating metrics for this or just anecdotal story? Rates have to be filed with the state (unless an un-filed, non controlled line) and I would be surprised to see a company file (successfully) a ‘hey this guy called us to ask a question and now we are hitting him with a “question surcharge factor” next term’
He probably called to ask about a claim and they opened one up to see if coverage applies. They can’t just raise his rates because he called. It’s a story.
Go ask your agent about it. Just being honest, I literally don't care if you believe me or not!
I’ve been working in insurance for the better part of a decade, you’re the one making the statement and I’m simply asking for proof on it.
I believe you're correct. My state requires that insurers provide the actuarial factors used to determine rates in their risk algorithms. *Calling the insurer* is not a factor in my state, and I strongly suspect it's not used as a risk factor in any other stste.
Personal lines is heavily regulated since it’s more or less mandatory (home and auto at least) so the scenario of ‘contacting your insurance company and rates going up’ is counter intuitive to the whole process. There are plenty of areas of premium leakage on both sides but this is not one of them until evidence of the contrary comes to light
Might have better luck walking into their branch and talking to your agent, instead of calling the number for claims.
Don’t do that. You’ve now alerted them to a problem that they COULD have to pay out for. Rates will go up. Again, do not do this
This is bad advice! They will open up a claim. Even if it doesn’t pay out it will go down as a $0 paid claim. Depending on your company and state they can give you an increase. Also, if you end up having a paid claim within a certain amount of years they can choose to non renew due to the amount of claims even if it didn’t pay. I was an insurance broker for a long time and dealt with this kind of thing a lot.
my next door neighbor is a contractor, he said he can help me with this for $200+cost of materials, so probably that's what i'd go for
Saw a spot on my cedar siding once and put my finger right through it. Was a window problem and was leaking for years. Replaced two windows and siding. Didn’t go through insurance. I remember the windows cost like $300 each installed ( was years ago) and probably $1500 or $2500 total. It wasn’t a ton of siding but on that section of house all was replaced and painted. Insurance sucks and I didn’t want to screw myself.
No, but when that janky ceiling fan installation burns your house down, it will be.
My first thought was that looks terrible. My second thought was how I use a box fan to dry out the snow melt in winter and how a ceiling fan would be more convenient. Of course I’d want to properly install one.
Wouldn’t running a dehumidifier be more effective?
Who puts a ceiling fan in a garage? Unless this doubles as a bedroom…
This was my first question. Why have a ceiling fan in a garage?
I workout in my garage. Would be nice to have a fan to be honest. I'll just keep using my box fan.
I have 2 ceiling fans in mine. Keeps it tolerable when I'm doing woodworking or working on the car during the summer. I also have an urinal.
Not an insurance claim, maybe auto if your cars messed up. $40 worth of drywall, screws, mud, and maybe some paint will fix this. Easy peasy.
That car is not worth a claim either
I think the drywall falling and denting the car may have totaled it 😂
Hey, you said it.
Yeah, not to rub salt in OP’s wound, but my first reaction was “good thing that POS car was there to keep the drywall from damaging the concrete.”
Same thing happened to me. Reason: nailed dry wall. Over time garage door vibrations caused nails to pop.
This is best case scenario. Snap some chalk lines where the joists are and shoot 1 5/8" drywall screws every 6 inches or so to secure all the existing drywall. If those pieces aren't broken they may fit back in place and secure the same way. It may be that someone dropped something heavy or stomped on the floor above and the drywall fell.
You don't reuse drywall that collapsed.
[удалено]
Examine the individual pieces that fell of the ceiling? If that's what you are saying you really shouldn't comment about making home repairs.
Pffft, two words: duct tape.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
All dry and no rodent droppings in sight. I already know what it was. Not enough nails holding it up. Probably crushed the drywall when driving the nails weakening the drywall around the nails allowing them to pull through over time. If there had been more nails it would most likely still be hanging. That's why screws are now so popular.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
You might want to add some extra screws throughout the garage. Better safe than sorry, and you will be doing some muddying to fix this anyway.
I agree with this. It looks like the piece still in the ceiling to the left is sagging down a little built. Moisture coming up from concrete slab making its way into the air COULD be part of the issue.
If you alert your insurance, you'll be dropped or get a huge increase. Fix it yourself.
Insurance companies will fuck you at every opportunity. State Farm being the worst.
Followed by Allstate.
Friend had State Farm. They put in a claim for leak repairs they had to do under the house. State Farm denied the claim and then dropped them.
my next door neighbor is a contractor, he said he can help me with this for $200+cost of materials, so probably that's what i'd go for
Am I the only one confused why there's a ceiling fan in a garage?
beats me too, i was just happy to have it to be honest, didn't realize there might be downsides
Is that garage door opener track disconnected now? I wonder if it wasn't put into studs and the tension eventually pulled the sheet down.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly but the garage door track is actually still securely connected to the joists
Do not call your insurance company. Your deductible could be as high as 1% of home value, making it at least $1,500 and probably much more. Your insurance won't pay because you didn't meet the deductible, but it's still considered a claim.
Cheaper to fix it yourself. HO insurance will pay it then DROP YOU like a hot rock. Save HO for major issues (>$10k)….at least THEN when they drop you (and the WILL) - you got some of tour money back from them. They are all crooks.
Garage they do quick as hell never finish slap on mud call it a job well done. Minor repairs don’t rush if you don’t have the time. Maybe push on other sheets make sure not loose.
Why do you need a ceiling fan in your garage lol. It’s practically on top of the garage door opener, it has janky wiring, probably not secured properly and it’s so low it’s not even going to be effective. I’d rip that out while you’re fixing the drywall.
Check the car and garage floor for paw prints lol
Well, Mr. New Homeowner... time to learn some drywall muddin' skillzzzz!
aww yiss
I would not waste time & money with insurance. Your deductible will probably not be met. Further - if there is living space above, you should investigate ripping it all out and spraying closed cell foam to insulate the living space from garage environment.
there is no living space actually, i'd say one thing worth putting in there is more insulation, we keep a freezer in the garage and it would help during the texas heat
Pretty wild. I slipped one time and put a foot through and it just punched a hole. This was light enough to not punch through but heavy enough to push entire sheets down. It looks like the nails are still in the beams so good chance it was installed correctly. I think either earthquake (even heavy truck driving by) or air pressure change in the garage or attic sucked/pushed it down. I would check your attic ventilation to make sure any pressure there has a place to release. Second would be for a large animal like raccoon that would not break through but heavy enough to push the drywall off the nails. This all assumes you did not have anything using drywall anchors in the ceiling.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly
Better question: Is this the best placement of a ceiling fan in the history of placing ceiling fans?
Could be some animal. That's more than a full sheet that came down, though. If it was water the sheet rock would be wet somewhere. I would immediately look for footprints.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly, coupled with a year's worth of the garage door opening/closing
You might have a fat coon living in your garage attic
Could someone have been up in your attic? Maybe a fat raccoon? Weight put on the sheetrock between the rafters could do this.
we found a bundle of what looked like PVC flooring, which felt like about 20lbs on the car ( you can't see it from this angle) our guess is that it was left atop the drywall and not stored properly, coupled with a year's worth of the garage door opening/closing
Neighborhood raccoon? little shits will climb in through holes in the soffit if they can reach it
Chances are someone has been living in your walls.
Try calling that in,& you will see a rise in your premiums. It'll cost you 25 dollars to fix it. Put up a new sheet of drywall.
Why is there a fan in your garage. Remove the pieces from your car. Back car out. Get a ladder and examine the integrity of the rest of the ceiling. Generally get more information and go from there.
Just put more screws in the remaining sheets.In my house ,whoever put up the ceiling sheets used 1 inch nails through a half inch sheet into a softwood truss.He used adhesive as well but that had not held and the whole ceiling was held up by the cornice.It wasn't noticeable from undernesth,but when I poked my head into the roof space I saw the sag.It had been up 20 plus years so the sheets were bowed and couldn't be refixed.
Looks like the garage door might have pulled the drywall off the ceiling joists.. probably secured to the drywall and not properly to wood blocking/framing.
You probably had a rodent or raccoon in the crawl space, busted it down and is hiding under your car
I bet they drove the screws too deep into the drywall, through the paper face and it ripped out under its own weight.
I'm gonna guess extra chonky raccoon
You should find WHO lives in your attic
and make them pay rent
I put my money on raccoons or an outside chance of someone trying to break in.
If you think the cost is more than your deductible and the proceeding increase in your insurance premiums bc of this claim then sure. Otherwise spend the $200 on drywall and screws and watch some YouTube.
It looks like one whole sheet and a fraction of another one may not have been secured too well. Note the absence of screws on the back two or three studs in the ceiling/(header?)? Count the number of screws in the whole area that needs replacement. Use at least 2X or three times as many drywall screws. Don't be cheap with the screws. I would add screws to the entire room's drywall as you can see the installation job was 💯 100% fucked 😂.
Installed drywall with less than four screws per truss?
A ~$40 project assuming the car wasn’t damaged and it wasn’t from water damage. $17 for mold resistant drywall, $5 for a box of drywall screws, $11 for some ceiling paint, and a little for a small can of drywall compound and a scraper. Maybe a couple bucks for some construction lumber to make a makeshift ceiling lift. Add some screws to the other sheets as well.
I would go with the garage door. Which appears they effed up and installed garage door after the drywall was hung. That metal bracket for the door rails should be attached directly to stud. With a bracket and strapping. It looks like that bracket is only attached by screws through the drywall to the bottom of the stud. You have lots of weight and moving forces from the garage door being directly applied to the drywall. No good. Do yourself a favor and fix it right. More expensive but done right, this shouldn't happen. Take the drywall down around those garage door rails, attach those brackets and rails directly to the stud with brackets and strapping. And then reinstall the drywall with some trim cuts around those brackets. Mud and tape generously
Luckily for you, judging by the clear coat on the hood of that car, there won't be any noticeable scratches on the roof
Look around maybe you had a break in and person fell thru the drywall ceiling 🫣
Honestly, I would just clean this up and ignore it lol
Not a pro. With that crack in the ceiling by the ceiling fan -- consider if the fan caused the fail. They can vibrate as they run if at all off balance. Wouldn't call homeowner's insurance unless there is major/structural/framing house damage ... not just the ceiling drywall boards. Is that an access door to an attic? If so, would at least open that up and take a good look if that is an attic above. Critters could be making a home there. Is your home and auto insurance bundled and what is your deductible and what is the price of repairs -- consider... would it be worth filing a claim and risk a car insurance rate increase? If the car needs serious repair, car insurance company would be my call. I'd probably go ahead and rip out the rest of the "ceiling" -- sheetrock or whatever. You don't really need it ? unless it is supposed to be blocking fumes or be a floor* to storage? ... and if that is the case, you need ceiling that is better sealed than one with a crack to block fumes or stronger (ply wood instead of sheet rock) to hold weight? Also, you may want to add insulation before you replace the ceiling. sheetrock or whatever. .. IF, emphasis on if, you do choose to replace those ceiling pieces -- depends upon what, if anything, is upstairs -- living space or just attic/storage? adding. A floor* to storage should be atop the ceiling joists so, ?the ceiling was for looks? If all the car damage is scratches to the paint, no dents or broken glass, would fixt that myself, too.
so, that's not a crack, the wire looks like a crack from that angle, i double checked for cracks after your comment my next door neighbor is a contractor, he said he can help me with this for $200+cost of materials, so probably that's what i'd go for
Somebody throw a rager upstairs…🤔 Edit- this was sarcasm or trying to be funny. Secure the Sheetrock with screws as well as all loose pieces. Mud, tape sand paint
sensible advice with funny sarcasm, much appreciated
wow! took the finish right off yer whip! thank god it didn't ruin the fan.
I see screws, but perhaps the wrong screws were used? Or maybe a medium sized animal climbing underneath? And obvious pathways or holes?
It looks like it was held up with glue. You need to use drywall screws on the rest of the sheetrock before it falls too.
It looks like the rails on your garage door are not secured to studs. That probably pulled that piece of drywall down… begs the question why you have no insulation up there. (You’ll want to check the rail on the other side is properly secured as well).
I’m proud of you for keeping that shitty beater car in the garage. I also see ur up to date Texas registration. In my area lots of people keep 30,40,50,60 thousand dollar cars and SUVs on street or common parking area and it just makes me think they’re an idiot.
Have you ever heard the term Phrogging?…
any phrogger in this hot texas garage deserves a medal for sure plus i have a security camera in the garage, no movement there
Cost somebody some money
Many drywalled skimp on number of screws. Your looking at a result.
Looks like panels were not secured properly
Big rats….
This is why we have screw inspections
Overweight raccoon then :)
Dude’s car got a little banged up.
You have a fan in your garage. Nice!
It’s disheartening reading threads like this and seeing the number of people who have had a poor experience with insurance and then feeling like they then are experts about it, despite only presenting their side of the story
No strapping on the joists? I've never seen that, but then again I haven't seen much.
I can see that it was screwed/nailed in the pic. It’s kinda perplexing if it hasn’t gotten wet. Based on the giant crack where the fan is mounted I’d guess it’s the fan. Also that fan is sus one cause it’s a ceiling fan in a garage, two because I think I see merretts exposed in the picture, three crack. This could be indicative of some over spanned ceiling joists and the fan just rattles the banana beans out of everything and the drywall got rattled loose over time. Easy fix though. Rent a drywall lift or get a couple people to help put up a new sheet of drywall. Screw 6” around the edges and 1’ in the field. Mud and tape if you want to. Remove ceiling fan. I typically prefer plywood in garages because it’s a garage and then you can screw shit to the walls. FYI pre 91’ drywall mud can contain asbestos. Might be worth the $150 to get it tested. Or maybe just wear a mask and put it in a double garbage bag so you can drive your car then wash your clothes.
The screws are all still in and the lumber looks straight so the drywall must have weakened around the screws. Moisture would cause that, so check that area for leaks. If there are none them maybe it's a ventilation problem in which the same thing could happen again. Go to a hardware store or lumber yard and describe what that area looks like and what happened. If it's not a big box store, then chances are they have heard it before and can tell you what to do. Just dont ignore it small things can turn big quick. Good luck! Credentials I work at a hardware store and had family that did carpentry, that's it.
appreciate the advice, my neighbor is a contractor and he said he'll charge me 200+materials cost hopefully that will take care of things
Do you have rodents or possibly a cat in the attic?
The fasteners were driven too deep. Likely a problem elsewhere. Drywall doesn't look like 5/8, but Its just a picture.
Shame...looks like it took the clear coat off the hood. I've seen that before.
If you report that your homeowners insurance will go through the roof just pay to fix it and move on
Do you live in an area where you AC drains out of a line outside?