Laminate Flooring - Insurance Won't Pay Out

[FrillyPancake]

Wonder if any one of you can see where we stand with this please?
Laminate flooring in the living room had a large glass of water spilt on it the other night. Wasn't subsequently noticed for a couple / 3 hours by which point the water had travelled fairly afar, and right underneath, making the laminate bubble up. It's ruined the floor and the patch that's affected is about 6ft by about 3/4ft diameter.
Called out Insurance company, one question was asked to the effect of "does laminate go under your skirting boards?". Husband answered that it does, and we were told immediately that we weren't covered due to the fact that it travels underneath the skirtings.
Our policy, which I will need to read more in detail - feel that this is a complete get out clause if ever I heard it?
It will cost literally an arm and a leg to fix, and we haven't got this type of money at the minute to replace the whole thing.
Any ideas guys? Any loopholes on getting around this? My beautiful floor is actually properly ruined - I'm so sad!!!
Thanks
Frilly

[Barmaid]

Ask the insurance company to confirm under which part of the policy they are denying liability.

THen post policy wording.

[Mamyalynne]

I struggle to read fine print but check this thread from some time ago, an ombudsman intimates that laminate that goes under skirting could be seen as a fixture.

Sorry if it's useless.

https://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?27051-Halifax-Home-Insurance-**SORTED**

[sapelesam]

Hi Mamya, very interesting, I would never have thought that about laminate. Amazing the things you learn.

[FrillyPancake]

It's apparently because the basic insurance policy we have for building cover doesn't cover for accidental. Only covers forces of nature that type of thing.

If I were to accidentally spill a glass of red wine on the sofa however we would be covered. That is classed as fittings and therefore a contents claim as opposed to building cover...........

[hc4361]

Could you put a rug over it?

[FrillyPancake]

Yes lol a large rug is but YES! Just been looking them up....
Thanks everyone. Looks like I will be resigned to covering my lively floor up but rather that than pay goodness knows what to replace IT!!!!!!

[Barmaid]

Look, this is not my area, but in my view, kick up a proper stink........Pick their policy apart, make it clear yu are not going away. Insurance companies work on the basis that no one will challenge them. Crack on with it, I say.

[bhg481]

Had it been a water leak you would probably have been covered (check the policy). Did the water leak out of the glass ? Mind you, we have a £300 excess on our policy for water leaks.

[Deskdiary]

This is pretty simple really.

The laminate is not considered part of your contents and is therefore considered part of the buildings (people do not take a laminate floor with them when they move house). If you do not have accidental damage cover on your buildings policy, then knocking over a glass of water will not be covered.

[Barmaid]

I'll defer to deskdiary who speaks perfect sense.

Read your policy.

[ToraToraTora]

Can you not just replace the damaged sections yourself?