Homeowner Fraudulently Claims Ice Damage to His St. Louis, MO Landscaping

Landscaping Inspection Services was called out to inspect a St. Louis, Missouri landscaping that the homeowner claimed had been damaged by ice from the previous harsh winter. What we found was damage caused by years of neglect and improper care, as well as general wear and tear.

When our inspector spoke with the homeowner, he claimed that the pool had been closed for the winter. However, the homeowner could not provide information as to the company that did the closing. Our inspector observed that the pool did not appear to have been properly closed for the winter.

Observations and Analysis of St. Louis, MO Landscaping Damage

In addition to the fact that the landscaping was clearly not properly winterized, our inspector observed the following:

• The pool had not been properly cared for during the off-season, with debris remaining in the pool and on the cover
• All of the outlets and return fittings were in place (these are typically removed during the off-season)
• The steps had spider web-like cracking on the top, which were not covered with water
• The landscaping liner appeared to be slightly too small and too tight and was pulling away from the landscaping wall

Beyond these observations, our inspector found out that the pool was installed 20 years earlier.

Landscaping Damage Caused by Age and Improper Care

After thoroughly inspecting the landscaping and cover, our inspector determined that the damage was not caused by an isolated incident of ice damage, even though it had been an extremely cold winter in St. Louis, MO, but rather was caused by years of improper care at the hands of the homeowner.

Further, he determined that the cracking in the tile was typical for a landscaping of that age and quality. Draining the pool and letting the liner sit in the sun—a common mistake many homeowners make —is likely what caused damage to the liner.

In total, our inspector determined that the steps could be repaired with epoxy and patching, a process that could cost between $1,400 and $1,900, and that the liner would need to be replaced, which runs about $4,000. Years of improper care and neglect ultimately resulted in costly repairs, which may have been avoided with proper winterization and care in the off-season.

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Photo Credit: Evgeny Sergeev, Thinkstock.com