NZ Concrete Contractors Association

Solid Concrete was pumping concrete for a new driveway.  A block formed in the hose, but this was not noticed by the insured.  The hose then burst due to the pressure build up and concrete was sprayed over the neighbouring home and car.

The concrete sprayed onto the neighbour’s property was considered third party property damage.  The cost of cleaning the neighbouring home and car was covered by the Solid Concrete’s public liability policy. Solid Concrete arranged for a cleaning company to attend the neighbour’s home the following day and the invoice was sent to the insurer for payment.

Steve’s Concrete Placing was laying concrete for a residential driveway and patio. The concrete cracked in a number of places and the homeowner blamed Steve’s Concrete Placing for this.

The cracks were considered third party property damage and because the insured’s policy did not exclude damage to property being worked upon the insurer accepted the claim. They paid for the concrete to be ripped up and replaced.

Note: this response is not universal from all insurers and will depend on their specific wording or policy interpretation. Some insurers will apply a “rip and tear” exclusion, so there is no cover if the insured is liable for digging out and/or replacing concrete.