damage from party wall construction

My neighbor is renovating, and the plans indicate installation of structural columns in the shared party wall. During this installation, visible damage appeared in the drywall along my first floor apartment, including several breaches that now need to be repaired. The work has approved plans but these depict a much wider party wall than what is actually there (wood frame, 4″), so it appears that the contractor went ahead with the installation anyway even though this meant opening up the party wall all the way to the back of my drywall, knocking out the brick nogging and causing some drywall damage in the process. I plan to have the damage repaired myself, and their contractor has said that he will pay for this, but only after it has been completed. My question is, what should I do to ensure that the contractor actually follows through with payment? I have tried to resolve this matter with them without involving the DOB but am concerned that the contractor will simply not pay once the work is done and I will have little recourse without filing a complaint of some sort. thanks for your assistance Brownstoners –

qbert

in About Brooklyn 10 years and 3 months ago

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riva | 10 years and 3 months ago

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This is a possible insurance claim, and in turn if you contact your insurance company they will in turn come out and take a look at both the job next door and the necessary repairs its now caused on your home. Let your neighbor know you intend to file a clai, and Once the contractor/neighbor hears this In my opinion he/she would probably want to just fix the damage or pay up. You will need a written estimate for the repairs from a licensed and insured contractor. WWW.WORKWITHRIVA.COM

zag0r | 10 years and 3 months ago

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This sounds bad in general but I don’t understand the description. The total “party wall” thickness is only 4″ frame and nogging? They should not cross over the property line period.

shahnandersen

in About Brooklyn 10 years and 3 months ago

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I would also request to be named as an “additional insured” party on the owners construction insurance. BTW, I am surprised that DOB approved those plans involving work on your without requiring your sign-off, or at least an official notification to you of that work.

Arkady | 10 years and 3 months ago

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DOW is right. Hope you have pix of ‘before’ & have taken them of ‘after’. Write to the owner – registered mail w/ return receipt – laying out what you anticipate in the way of reparation & ask him/her to sign & return.

resident2 | 10 years and 3 months ago

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Communicate with the property owner. The property owner is the person who is ultimately responsible for damage done to your property by their contractors.

dorkofwindsor | 10 years and 3 months ago

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well, you could request it in writing. having said that, either way you should take pictures of the damage and know that you also have recourse in naming your neighbor as well as the contractor in any small claim (were it to ever come to that – unlikely imo). that would probably light a fire under many to resolve. ultimateley, it sounds like it is only drywall damage so pretty tame as far as complexity and budget goes and i would assume that they won’t have a problem repairing or reimbursing. I have heard this story many times and the fix is not too hard. if there were questions as to the structural integrity (which sounds like they were repairing in the first place) i’d be much more nervous but that sounds resolved.