Pennsylvania Home Collapses After 3 Years of Renovations—but It Gets Even Worse

Rick and Shelly Cameron spent three long years renovating their Pennsylvania home—only to see it collapse.

Rick, who had lived in the house with his wife and five kids for 15 years, was an experienced construction worker operating as his own contractor. He had already installed a new kitchen, staircase, walls, siding, and roof on the house, which was built in 1918.

His last project was to carve out a bit more headspace in the basement. To do that, Rick dug out the floor of his basement; but, as he and his team were preparing to pour concrete, a wall of the home started cracking and buckling.

Rick, who thought he knew how to handle the crisis, fortified that wall and continued with the project. But soon after, two other walls of the home began crumbling.

“It was terrible,” Rick told CBS affiliate KDKA News. “I just started taking measures to try to save it. We started putting supports underneath and additional supports to keep it in place. I just kind of was still in the work mode, trying to get everything together and try to keep it from getting any worse.”

It quickly became clear, though, that the house was unsafe, forcing the Camerons to move out in March. In August, at the borough’s request, the Camerons demolished the home.

“It’s hard to look at it,” Rick said. “Every time I think about when I got to start tearing it down, it’s going to be hard.”

Why insurance may not cover the damage

Whether their insurance will pay for it is another issue altogether.

A rep for their insurance company, State Farm, told KDKA: “In any claim, our goal is to help our customer by reviewing the facts of their loss, identifying the damages and applicable coverage, and providing any payment available under the policy. With any claim, State Farm seeks to provide our customers all benefits to which they are entitled within the terms of the insurance policy.”

Stephen Hnat, a public insurance adjuster representing the Camerons, says they had additional coverage protecting them from the collapse of a structure during construction. He says their coverage should apply regardless of who is responsible as long as the damage wasn’t intentional.

“It looks promising, but we are not totally resolved yet,” he told Realtor.com. “But we have moved toward getting it resolved.”

Hnat adds the Camerons are planning to build a new home on the site, and are waiting for the insurance money to come through before they start.

As an insurance adjuster licensed by the state to negotiate on behalf of homeowners, Hnat says it’s common for insurance companies to deny these types of claims.

“They think they can get away with it,” he says.

How to prevent insurance problems when renovating

Before starting any work, check to make sure that your contractor has a certificate of insurance. That may afford you additional coverage in the event of a disaster.

If your home incurs major damage during renovation, the first thing you should do is document it: Before you begin cleanup, take photos and videos to capture the scene as it is. Experts also recommend that you get multiple estimates to submit to your insurance company to bolster your claim.

Hnat also points out that homeowners can contact a public adjuster to help them negotiate with their insurance company.

“We understand the policy. We understand why things should be covered or shouldn’t be covered,” he says. “So just as you get an accountant to do your taxes when they get complex, you should get a public adjuster involved in any of your claims to see if you’re getting a fair deal with your insurance company. Because insurance companies are looking to save money.”