Broke 57″ Plasma TV as well as falling on new leather couches, etc., etc.

Insurance just DENIED US! What the hell!

Does anyone have any further comments or suggestions? Did the lawyer come up with any suggestions or ideas on what could be done to avoid the out of pocket expenses!

Any help would be appreciated!!!!!

1) if there had been any appreciable moisture in my attic, mold, mildew or some other nasty growth would have set up quickly and there would be evidence of such.

2) My attic is well ventilated. I’ve got two of those metal spinny things, and large vented openings on both ends of the roof. My bathroom vent is ducted directly to one of the metal spinny things as well…

I did notice that the sheetrock was no more than 3/8 (if not 1/4) of an inch thick. 5/8″ sheetrock is now used on ceilings.

Let me know if you’d like to come take a look at the damage, I’ll be around Saturday morning until about 3pm.

I don’t think that’s really the case, though. It’s a pretty inert product and more likely to degrade based on its environment – not its constitution. The failure seems consistend with a general weakening of the material (likely caused by a moist environment, if not specific water damage) and a pressure that exceeded the remaining strength in the nail connections (either gravity, physical expansion, or air pressure) I doubt your attic is so tight that it could actually be pressurized (though if the morning sun hits it hard, who knows…). But I could imagine an overall swelling combining with gravity to cause this sort of thing.

If you’re interested in changing insurers, I’ve heard that Chubb is pretty darn good.

And I am having a lawyer look over my policy.

The contractor didn’t really have any ideas, unfortunately.

The insurance company said that this is happening more and more with homes built from the late 40’s to the early 60’s.

I’d take that bit of info w/ a grain of salt though :-/

Regarding the insurance claim, it might be worthwhile to consult with a lawyer. Logically there IS a cause regardless of whether their agent can identify it.

My first stab at a probable cause would be a poorly ventilated attic and the textured celing finish, which is probably acting as a vapor barrier. The attic stays hot and humid while you’re conditioning the living space and allows the gypsum in the sheetrock to suck up enough moisture to expand and soften. The force of the expansion causes the ceiling membrane to balloon out, overcoming the strength of the gypsum around the nail heads. A powered attic ventilator, in addition to a well-secured new ceiling, might be in order.