Tanks & Wood Floors and Supplemental Insurance?

[Lee1]

I am having a house built and my wife and I decided on wood floors (not laminate like Pergo) in many rooms including the one we decided to put the tank (65 gallon reef). I have read many posts about flooring disasters with wood and know from my past experience that "spillage happens" - my ratty carpet is testament to that. All that said, the questions are:

- What kind of measures can be taken to protect the wood floors?
- Does anyone have any sort of supplemental or other home owners insurance that covers major failures of aquariums?

Thanks for any recommendations.

Lee

 

[Mustang]

I have OAk floor under my 225g What I did when I set it up I put a piece of outdoor carpet rubber side up this way I figured if I got a spill it would not soak into the floor.
The tank is coming down in about a month when my 450g get going so I will see how good my idea worked

Btw its been up for 2 years

I also talked with my insurance company (state frarm) they said that any water that "leaks down" is covered not anything that comes up like basement backups etc. so I asked about the tank and it IS covered and any damage should it leak
Now the livestock she was not sure about
Hope that helps
_________________
BMW 326

 

[Dargason]

My advice is to locate the sump in the basement, if you have one. If you don't, maybe a small room behind the wall?

This goes a long way towards minimizing the chance of spills on your hardwood. As an added bonus, you don't have to try to squeeze everything into your stand, and the noise and mess are downstairs.

 

[Lee1]

Great ideas. I need to confirm with State Farm as policies tend to differ from state to state - for instance my homeowners insurance went up by about $1000 this year beacuse of black mold cases in Texas. You would think it was really common or something.

Basement. . . I wish. For some reason, in most area of Texas, they do not build basements. The excuses I have heard always have to do with soil conditions, but I am perplexed as to why almost every other house can have an in-ground pool but not a basement. Maybe I can tell the builder I want a pool bulit under my house and there will be no need to fill it with water.

Thanks again.

 

[mrrrkva]

most insurance does not cover leaks, but will cover it if it is Sudden and accidental. Most policies only cover up to $500 for fish and coral. I couldnt even find a rider. And in my case even after paying higher insurance they didnt cover ANYTHING when the power company CUT OFF my power, (not a blackout) and it was the power companies fault.

So if your tank leaks NO COVERAGE, if it bust your covered. Bottom line, if it leaks and causes damage take a BAT and cause sudden. (please dont really attempt this)

 

[ChrisRD]

For some reason, in most area of Texas, they do not build basements. The excuses I have heard always have to do with soil conditions, but I am perplexed as to why almost every other house can have an in-ground pool but not a basement.

The reasons are climate and cost - not soil conditions. It's cheaper to build a house on a slab than on a full basement. In a mild climate such as yours, there's little need for deep foundation elements in a house design (very little frost penetration), so you're generally going to see a lot more slab-on-grade designs.

 

[ChrisRD]

<edit - double post>

 

[Anonymous]

My first job out of high school was laying hardwood floors. If you're going the wax route, which few people do these days, have the installer lay down about twice as much wax under the tank area as normal for extra protection. You'll need to buff and relay wax over the traffic area every few months, though.

Hopefully you're going to use polyurethane. You'll prolly only need to touch this up every 3-5 years. Have the installer screen the spill area with as fine a screen as he can get, up to about 600 grit, to close up the pores somewhat. Then lay down two coats of polyU that is the same gloss or duller than what the rest of the floor will be to keep it from getting that deep wet look right next to the tank. After that just lay down the standard three coats of whatever gloss you want. Water could sit on that for close to 24hrs before it'll mark the wood. That's what we did in wet areas like bathrooms and around kitchen sinks.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I doubt your insurance will cover water you spill on the floor. I doubt it will cover a tank structural failure unless it's cause by an earthquake (AND you have earthquake coverage) or another covered loss. The key is the "covered loss". If a fire starts in the stand and the tank fails, that should be covered.

 

[JohnD]

Lee,

I have one of our tanks on a hardwood floor for 5 years with no problems.

About six months ago I replaced the tank - it was a leaker. While doing so, I checked under the stand. Everything was fine.

Before we moved into our place, I had the oak floors redone - sanded, sealed (I don't remember with what) and 3 coats of poly.

When ever I work on the tank, I promptly keep up any spills. Then I wipe the floor area with clear water and paper towels.

HTH

 

[JRF]

Hi,
I had a tank a while back that was polluted by an leaky house A/C unit ( the indoor part of the A/C unit was located in the attic ). The house A/C unit leaked through the ceiling and right into the tank for a day and a half while I was away. When I came home, the tank water was a dark murky greenish yellow color 8O and about 95 degrees ( due to the central air not working in mid summer ). All colors bleached and died quickley.
I called my home-owners insurance agent and explained to him what happened, he asked detailed questions and called me back the following day. They covered the ceiling repair as well as all the corals and even the Live Rock ( $1500 )!
JRF

 

[Sidewinder]

Been an agent for 20+ yrs. so I can address the Ins. issues.
First, policies vary from state to state so you'll have to read yours; talk about a soporific... yawn...
As an overview the dwelling (bldg.) is usually covered (perils insured against) by "special form" (aka "all risk"). In English that means anything that happens is covered EXCEPT those perils specifically excluded (Exclusions). The flooring, walls, ceiling and anything permanantly attached thereto are generally considered "building". Therefore a leak, as long as it's "sudden and accidental" (read no sledge hammer) and NOT "continous and/or repeated seepage (excluded), would be covered; subject to the deductible of cource.
The contents (possessions, ie: anything that you would take with you when you move) are usually a different situation entirely, unless you have paid a substantilly increased premium for Special Form (all risk) Contents Coverage. Most folks (98%) do not have this, including me, as it is generally cost prohibitive. Contents are insured on a "Named Peril" basis.
Again in English, you are covered for ONLY " fire, smoke, lightning, wind, aircraft, riot, civil commotion, vehicular damage, explosion, vandalism & maliciuos mischief and theft. There are some add'l perils, which may or may not include sudden and accidental leakage, subject to deductible again, but these vary greatly from state and you'll have to read your policy... again...yawn...
Also, and you thought (wished) I was finished, you must also refer to "Property Not Covered or Subject to Limitations". These include, but are not limited to, animals, birds, fish... Cnidaria belong to the Kingdom Animalia.
If you would like to give me a specific situation I'll do my best to interpret the meaning and intent of your policy language. Then again, most folks tell me that my advice is worth exactly what I charge for it... ;-)
BTW, JRF, I'm curious as &e|| as to who the carrier was that paid your claim and if you know under which sections etc. etc. Not to worry, I'm an Independent Agent and own my allegiance to no one company. HTH, Ed

 

[JRF]

My insurance company is State Farm. I do not remember the title of the section that covered all this ( although I do remember that it was a strange title, I had never heard of it and it covered everything in the tank EXCEPT fish ). My agent contacted all the vendors I had bought corals and Live Rock from to get specific information. The next day he called me back and told me what was covered, I was surprised!
JRF

 

[Sidewinder]

JRF, thanx for the clarification. I'm glad it worked out OK for you. If I had to make a W.A.G., I'd say the claims adjuster probably made a misidentification and thought that the corals were plants, heh heh heh. No limitation (that I'm aware of) on indoor plants damaged by covered peril.