I just lost HALF my tools!

[UncleJoe]

Very sorry to hear this.

When you get the time and can sit down and talk about this, please make it a teachable moment for all of us. Let us know, if you can, what started the fire, how the insurance company treated you and what a person can do to avoid this or get through it better if it does happen.

I am curious if a photo inventory helps and how the home owners policy treats tools and such.

 

[nmanitou]

Sorry man. Hang in there. My only advice is to take a deep breath and move slowly regarding any decisions. With a little time, hopefully you will get some clarity on the issues and decisions that are ahead of you.

 

[cowboy73]

Sorry to hear about this. Glad everybody is O.k. though. Objects can be replaced but lives can't.

 

[beggers]

I am very sorry to hear this. I too lost my house and everything in it 6 years ago, luckly no one was home and my shop was not hurt.
Your photos will help to document your inventory, the tough part for me was compleating the inventory list, I can remember waking up in the middle of the night clicking off items for months that I had forgoton.
Most policys will reimburse you for 100% of replacment cost and reduce on a percentage basis anything you list but dont replace. My advise- replace all of it or be willing to settle for minor reimbursment.
Looking back it was the first 30 days that were tough, not the loss of material things but just getting my life back in order, the material things really dont matter in the long run.
On a happier note, just begin to imagine how nice your new shop is going to look, focus on the future and begin your planing, start thinking now about your rebuild, it will keep you motavated and your thoughts in the right place. Good luck.

 

[jay50]

I am sorry to hear about that.
Glad no one was hurt.
What was the cause and what can others learn from this?

 

[Matt M PA]

I don't know what to say other than...."sorry to see this".

 

[4StarCstms]

Wow that blows!! I agree, hope your insurance company is good to ya.

Who do you have btw?

 

[dodge610]

Sorry to hear of your loss if you need anything let us know im also in for donations if it will help you out dont let insurance co. low ball you when they had to redo my kitchen. They sent one of there cougars in to low ball the const guy he got the job done cut a few corners. Now they half to come back redo part of it the cougar that forced him to cut the corners he got let go now it cost them 1 and half times more. Once again let us know if we can help.

 

[Nighttrain]

I hate to see this happening to good guy. (or anyone) Your jeep was'nt involved was it?

 

[Dragster Racer]

I hate to see anyone go through that. My neighbor and good friend lost his shop and house to a fire last year. Total destruction. We helped dig through the ashes finding anything he could salvage. He is recovering though.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Ah man! That is terrible. Sorry for your misfortune. Well, at least your home and family are safe.

 

[Krokodil]

Sorry for your loss. Hope you can get all replaced through the insurance!

 

[OccupantRJ]

I don't know what to say, other than I am sorry this has happened to you. Depending upon the temperatures reached, and for how long, some annealing, or softening, of the hand tools may have occurred. I'm providing a link for your reading on this.

http://www.simplytoolsteel.com/heat-treating-annealing-tool-steel.html

 

[scott37300]

That ***** big time. What a way to ruin a weekend.

Glad to hear no one was injured, especially with those tanks in there. I had some tools stolen once and it was a mess to figure out what was taken, I'm still to this day looking for tools that I can't find. Hopefully you either had some pictures of your tools or a list or something. That was one mistake I never did, and sad to admit even after the troubles the first time I still don't have a list of tools.

Hopefully things work out for you with the insurance, you deffinately don't need anymore headaches. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you.

 

[brianh]

Thats terrible thank god no one was hurt.

It is amazing how much heat can be generated in a building fire, I hope it all works out for you.

 

[Lt CHEG]

OK, here's my advice:

Get a professional to help you negotiate with the insurance company. There are people who do this and are able to maximize both the claim, and minimize the trouble and time. They are well worth the money you will spend, I know of several people who have gone this route, and all speak well of using a professional on their side.

These people are called certified public adjusters. They usually work for a percentage of the total claim by the insurance company. I think the going rate around here is about 6% or so. They are very good at working on your behalf because frankly it's also in their best interest for you to get as much as possible from the insurance company. They will go over all of your stuff and put a value on even the little things that you forgot about or wouldn't even think to claim. They also do most of the work so that you don't have to dwell on your loss or dig into the fire scene.

I do fire investigations often as part of my job. I am unfortunately all too familiar with what you're going through, heck last week I investigated two fires on the same day. The public adjusters sometimes seem like vultures because often time there will be several that will come over to you after the fire looking for work, but in reality they really are there to help you out. Based upon my experiences, I hope to never suffer a loss but if I do I'll enlist the help of a public adjuster.

 

[ptschram]

I am pretty sure how it started, not going to get into it now.

I really hope it wasn't intentional on someone else's part.

My shop is in a barn built about the time of the war of Northern Aggression. I am scared to death of a fire.

 

[hpw]

These people are called certified public adjusters. They usually work for a percentage of the total claim by the insurance company. I think the going rate around here is about 6% or so. They are very good at working on your behalf because frankly it's also in their best interest for you to get as much as possible from the insurance company. They will go over all of your stuff and put a value on even the little things that you forgot about or wouldn't even think to claim. They also do most of the work so that you don't have to dwell on your loss or dig into the fire scene.

I do fire investigations often as part of my job. I am unfortunately all too familiar with what you're going through, heck last week I investigated two fires on the same day. The public adjusters sometimes seem like vultures because often time there will be several that will come over to you after the fire looking for work, but in reality they really are there to help you out. Based upon my experiences, I hope to never suffer a loss but if I do I'll enlist the help of a public adjuster.

Saw this on "This Old House" when Tom Silva's brother's house was deystroyed in a fire. Couldn't for the life of me remember the "service" he used, that you are referring too. What is it called?

Thank you

 

[John in OH]

Geezzz .... that's some fire! Very sorry to hear this happen to anyone. As others have said, I hope these were hobby tools and not your livelyhood. But even it they were just hobby tools I'm sure you are miserable about the loss ... I know I sure would be.

Maybe one lesson we should all take from this is that we should make a photo inventory of our stuff. Trying to remember all that is lost is probably a near impossible task ... a photo inventory would sure make it a lot easier to recall what was lost due to fire, theft or whatever, and help prove to any skeptical insurance guys the condition of what was really there.

 

[59 wagon man]

lt cheg has given you the correct name ,just the rate down here for a public adjuster is around 20% so don't get sticker shock. just a quick example of how they play the game. i had a shower pan leak in my bathroom which ruined a wood floor. insurance company offered $3800 called a public adjuster i knew he countered with $27,000 they responded with $15,000. PA suggested to settle at that point rather then fight for another grand or two as that is really all he thought i would get if we went to mediation .took the 15 gave him $3000 (20%) and still came out way ahead

 

[zeebad1]

Sorry for your loss, and like everyone else has mentioned, at least nobody was hurt.

I understand the feelings we have for our tools. Some of mine we my Dad's, others haven't been made for years, and a bunch I have "created" for special occasions.
A lot like "family!"

I have been thinking for the last couple of days that I need to get my insurance agent out, and re-access values. This confirms the fact that I need to make that call tomorrow.

Best of luck with the cleanup & recovery. I too am curious to learn the possible cause if it could help someone else prevent this type of tragedy.

 

[D.J.]

Sorry for your loss, as everyone else is saying no one was hurt or worse yet killed. We were at a fire Friday that started in a polebarn and was threatening the house next door to it. All the same owner and ended up scorching the siding off of the south side of the house. Mutual aid companies arrived just in time to keep the house from being lost to the flames. I really am like the poster above said if you don't run a business out of your shop you should be covered. If it was a commercial building you must have it covered under a separate policy or a rider on your existing one. Most homeowners insurance policies have a clause in them where outbuildings on the same parcel of land are covered at 10% of the covered value of the residence even if they are not listed separately on the policy. I believe the contense are also covered to the 10% of the contense of the value of the structure, but I could be wrong. Hopefully everything will turn out ok for you. Some of those policies even cover you on property that is not attached to the parcel of land. What I preach is to have pictures of everything you own buildings, tools, vehicles, outbuildings, including contense and serial numbers help emencely, locked away in your safety deposit boxes. But please don't ask me where my inventory and pictures are, because I haven't gotten off my lazy *** and did this for my own residence. Good luck and Gods speed. Please keep us informed as to how it all turns out for you.

 

[bazzateer]

Hope you have a trouble-free ride with the insurance. Makes me glad we tend to build with brick and tile over here, much less flammable.

 

[JimDon]

Sorry for your loss. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I know what people mean about old tools becoming like old friends. Hope this works out for you and that you're made whole again.
Sincerely,
Jim

 

[DCarr]

Very sorry to hear about this. I hope that no one was hurt.

I am another one that is interested in the cause.

I brought up the Insurance on the Shop issue with my Wife last week.

 

[csargents1546]

Sorry for your loss. Hope everything gets worked out with your insurance company. Glad no one was hurt.

 

[davidj]

that ***** so bad. I am sorry to hear that. at least no one was injured. lets hope insurance comes through.

 

[eyeboltman]

Sorry to hear of you lost . eyeboltman

 

[JoeMopar]

Wow..............sorry to see this happen. Hopefully in the end everything will work out.

 

[84bimmer]

This is awful. I wish the best for you. I am a little worried for you though. I have always had cheaper home owners insurance. Never really had the need for more. I am not 100% sure, but if I recall right my policy is like this......
On outbuildings it is either 5K or 10K coverage on the contents of the building. I have the option to buy up and increase that amount for tools and such. I hope your policy is better than mine.

 

[rodm1]

So does anybody know what happens to sockets and wrenches when they get really hot?I will post pictures of the carnage tomorrow. The toolboxes and air compressor look really sick, I couldn’t even see the welders, and there is not much left of the generator.

Did the air compressor have air in tank? How many gallons whose the tank? So very sorry to here this! I spent all my adult life building nd perfecting my tool collection I would be sick.

 

[Falcon67]

Very sorry to see this and very glad no one was hurt. Lots of scary tank fulls of stuff in there.

- sockets: In a hot fire, I think that everything metal will lose it's temper and will be scrap. I would not expect you to be able to salvage very much.

- I'll have to check the policy, but IIRC standard insurance (meaning - without a rider) will only cover outbuildings to 10% of your homeowners. That is all inclusive, contents and everything. It's real easy for some of use to loose our azz on an outbuilding disaster unless we have a rider on the policy.

EDIT - I checked a copy of Allstate Texas Homeowners A (your state my be different - all policys of a specific type in Texas are the same by law as I understand it, so the company makes no different) and yes, the TOTAL liability for other structures is 10% of the insured value of the main property. And if the other structure is used for business, it is NOT covered - period. Our current GEICO policy reads the same.

 

[LIVELY]

YOU have to have a specific rider on your policy for the value of your building and contents on most insurance around here to get paid much at all.
PLUS if arson is suspected they will drag their feet ALOOONG time if they are alowed to.
I hope you have a great insurance company and get your stuff replaced. Everything is expensive.
SORRY about your fire and loss

GOOD LUCK

 

[nehog]

As well as my prior post, this points out the necessity of doing an insurance review with your insurance agent. Make sure that your coverage is replacement value (not depreciated value, as they'll depreciate tools, equipment, and fixtures to nothing.) Also find out what it will cost to replace the building as well. not what you paid to build it.

Make sure you have 100% coverage! In some locations if you have 50% coverage, they pay 50% of your loss even if the loss is less than 50%! You must insure to the full value of the property, and add a bit more just in case.

But do a review with your agent (and this is why you don't normally buy insurance online, you really should have an agent who you can talk to.) If your agent doesn't understand the tools and equipment, have him/her contact the carrier, and confirm all is covered. Nothing ***** more than having a 200,000 loss, and finding you are only going to get 56K because of limits, low coverage, and failure to insure at replacement value!

A video of your home, and shop are vital, and store that tape in a different location, such as at work, or a safe-deposit box. If the tape burns, it is worthless. Best, make a bunch of tapes, keep one in the shop, one in the house, and give one to a relative who lives away from you. Use video tape, not DVDs, if possible, and if you use DVDs be sure to confirm they are still good every six months--DVDs do have a limited life. And make sure you have a way to play back the tapes! (Yea, I have four Sony 8-MM cameras, so I'm OK there...)

Oh, and don't trust a so-called fire proof safe if you buy it at a 'big box store'. Those consumer grade boxes are usually inferior and will fail in the event of a fire. I recommend if you use a safe, keep in it the basement, and put all documents and other water sensitive stuff in a fire resistant, water proof (say a glass jar with a metal cap) inside it. The basement (a corner location is best, that way two sides will have outside, cement, walls against it) will be the coolest location, but it will be flooded after a fire.

BTW, I agree with the other posters, even if you can clean up tools the odds are the temper is going to be gone, and they will not be usable.

 

[fflintstone]

Thanks for all the well wishes. I will wait till I here from the insurance company before I worry about getting new tools. Thanks for all the tool offers.
I will be looking into certified public adjusters. Let them fight the insurance company. I am fortunate to have it not be much of a threat to my friends that were here and my family. The fire department got here just in time to keep the forest from burning down. I took more pictures before church this morning. Unfortunately my wife inadvertently gave the camera a bath, so we are trying to slowly dry it out.
I was amazed at how much melted. I had 4 chainsaws and one cutsaw inside the shed and I have only found the remains of one chainsaw. The motor of the generator pretty much melted. I had a 1,000’ roll of CAT 5 wire out there. It looks pretty interesting.
I had 3 fire extinguishers inside the shed, and they are all toast. All the tanks (oxygen, acetylene, propane all bled of like they are supposed to. I have 2 40” roll cabs that are back to back on a homemade cart, they are toast. My wife’s mountain bike was in front of the shed, I think it is pretty much toast as well. some things are just vaporized, I see the remains of my framing nailer, but my roofing nailer is nowhere to be found. The Mig and plasma cutter are almost unrecognizable. Fortunately I didn’t have the time this fall to build the lean to on the other side, or I would really be crying if my jeep burnt.
Most of my hand tools were Craftsman, some were my gramps. My prized ratchet was a 1950’s craftsman speeder. I can see it in the drawer, the handle is melted and it is fused to the drawer. AARRGGHH! This *****!

I will not be revealing my SPECULATION as to what the start of the fire was until after a settlement.

 

[Skin]

Were they large O/A tanks? Sounds like it was one hell of a hot fire.

 

[OBNXIOUS]

Really sorry to hear of this!! Wish you all the best getting this sorted out!

 

[tdkkart]

First, sorry for your loss.
I wouldn't get too fired up about bringing in public adjusters just yet. Meet with your insurance agent and see how it goes, if you feel like something is not going your way, then bring in the big guns. I've had a couple experiences with insurance companies in stuff like this and actually came out in very good shape, if not ahead of the game in both instances.
Please let us know how it goes. This is one of those places where a quality insurance company will make things nearly painless for the customer.

 

[c_mccann]

I had ratchets and wrenches in a fire years back that got burned real bad. The finish disclolors to a orangeish tint, but the char and water damage from the fire dept's efforts are the ugly stuff. 1/2 of mine were Cman- just returned them for new at Sears, the rest were SO, Proto, SK, Plomb- I made small sets of them and gave to friends or sold them. The SK looked the worst of the bunch- the SO and Proto looked ok, they rusted the least. The Plomb looked bad before the fire, can't blame the fire for those.. I probably had 8 or 9 sets total and 3 rollaways. The rollaways were So and Kennedy and were given away- too much to handle at the time, just needed some progress with the heap. All the rollaways needed was paint and to service the slides. My insurance just told me to go out and replae what I lost, and send them the bills to pay. You will need to prove the ownership of afew items to get the adjuster on your side. My adjuster thought I was full of **** until he came to the site and saw how much tooling there was and the appearance of the building before the fire, then he was on point and cool. Our fire lost about $1M in CNC machines and other machinery, so it fit the story about the high inventory of hand tools. We opted for the cash on most of the items, that is where things got hairy, but the direct replacement was a snap. Be very careful of any insurance salvage/cleanup company, they are the lowest life form imaginable- and they are casing the rest of the joint while they are there- It took swinging crowbars to get them to leave and stay away. Sorry for your fire, there is that smell of a douced building fire that I smell every once in a while that gives me the willies..

 

[jhelrey]

You mean... Mr. insurance guy, my tools were all Snap On! Not Craftsman.