Posts Tagged ‘Insurance’

Replacing Scrim With GIB – Why Should I Do It?

Written by Claire on . Posted in About Houses, Renovation

Last blog post we discussed just what Scrim and Sarking was and how to identify it. This week we are discussing why it should be replaced. If you want to skip right to the practicalities check out our posts on - what is re-GIBing and what will it cost to re-GIB.


What’s Wrong With Scrim and Sarking?

Scrim and Sarking is a fire hazard – is it dry and brittle – having been aging and drying within your house for nearly 100 years. Combined with aged wiring, the risk of fire, and risk or significant damage from a fire, is much higher than that of a modern home.

Scrim wall linings are also very unsuitable for the purposes of redecoration. When scrim deteriorates, it comes away from the Sarking leaving an unstable base for painting or wallpapering (particularly in room corners – this is a very tell-tale sign of Scrim).

Why Should I Re-GIB?

Insuring your home can be problematic when you have inferior wall linings. Your insurance company will ask if your house has been relined when you get insurance, they consider Scrim & Sarking wall linings an increased risk factor for damage.

If you have Scrim & Sarking wall linings, especially combined with old wiring your insurance company may not be prepared to offer you their most comprehensive insurance policy.

Replacing Scrim with GIB - Re GIBing - Why should you do it?

Sarking Boards Exposed

Replacing Scrim and Sarking - The Result

Replacing Scrim and Sarking with GIB will give you a stable, fireproof, smooth wall that when GIB Stopped and redecorated (painted or wallpapered) will give you the ability to get a high quality finish. Removing old wall linings before re-GIBing also gives you an opportunity to access and repair the wiring, and insulation a room.

So to ensure you home is safe, to be able to get a comprehensive insurance policy and to get the most benefit out of any renovating and redecorating – removing Scrim and Sarking and re-GIBing is essential.

Next Post - Replacing Scrim with GIB – What is Re-GIBing?

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Insuring Your House Before Settlement

Written by Claire on . Posted in About Houses

Before you even can settle on your new home you will need proof that you have house insurance. Why? In most cases you need to borrow money off a bank to buy, your bank is using the house as collateral for the loan and wants to make sure that if anything unexpected happens to the house there is insurance to cover it – they are protecting their collateral! Therefore your bank will require house insurance as a condition of your mortgage. Get your insurance organised well in advance when buying a house and get your insurance company to send a certificate with proof of cover to your lawyer. The settlement day process, and drawing down of your mortgage, cannot be done if this proof of insurance document is not available. Insurance can be a bit of a minefield and it really pays to shop around and to read the fine print of each policy carefully before choosing. Things such as market value replacement, versus sum insured replacement should be fully understood and what is covered and not covered should be worked out. What kind of insurance you choose to take out is ultimately a personal choice. The consumer website has the most comprehensive information on insurance, and even compares policies. Gradual damage is an interesting part of insurance, and it can be a real surprise as to the level of cover for this you have in your policy. Here is a great article about gradual damage and insurance. Cost of insurance can vary widely and it is a good idea to find out what insurance is the best value for money. Lately insurance premiums seem to have gone up hugely, so it may be a good time to look around at someone other than your current insurer. With insurance, the cheapest insurance is likely to be inadequate when it comes to insuring your home – so make sure you know what you want/need in your insurance policy and choose one that gives you this. Like with many things, putting some time and effort into getting familiar with house insurance will mean you don’t get any nasty surprises and you will know what you are paying for. Are you about to settle on a house? The settlement section in the Propertytoolbox house buying guide has all you need to know.