Our association is comprised of several historic buildings. For the first time I am repenting why I bought a place in historic neighborhood. Several of the buildings were impacted by tornado and looks like we are looking for a temporary place for at least 1.5 years and so are several of my neighbors. Parapet walls were damaged and it is going to cost $57K just to get the brick for parapet wall let alone fixing it. Insurance is hosing us completely, they are not approving the repairs even though we have contractors lined up.
- 398
Sorry to hear. I know there is a lot of damage. I was a bit worried the funds being given by all forma of government will not fully supplement the gap between the cost and insurance.
- 2,056
You should honestly call the mayor's office... and/or Hawley's office. I've never heard anyone threaten insurance companies out in the open like Hawley did, but if there was ever a time to use that leverage, it would be now.stlurbanist wrote: ↑Jun 19, 2025Our association is comprised of several historic buildings. For the first time I am repenting why I bought a place in historic neighborhood. Several of the buildings were impacted by tornado and looks like we are looking for a temporary place for at least 1.5 years and so are several of my neighbors. Parapet walls were damaged and it is going to cost $57K just to get the brick for parapet wall let alone fixing it. Insurance is hosing us completely, they are not approving the repairs even though we have contractors lined up.
pattimagee wrote: ↑Jun 19, 2025You should honestly call the mayor's office... and/or Hawley's office. I've never heard anyone threaten insurance companies out in the open like Hawley did, but if there was ever a time to use that leverage, it would be now.stlurbanist wrote: ↑Jun 19, 2025Our association is comprised of several historic buildings. For the first time I am repenting why I bought a place in historic neighborhood. Several of the buildings were impacted by tornado and looks like we are looking for a temporary place for at least 1.5 years and so are several of my neighbors. Parapet walls were damaged and it is going to cost $57K just to get the brick for parapet wall let alone fixing it. Insurance is hosing us completely, they are not approving the repairs even though we have contractors lined up.
Starts at 13:25 on the video - Hawley said he has an email and phone hotline on his senate page just for making sure these claims get paid.
This is helpful. I am definitely going to reach out to mayor's and Hawley's office. Thank you!!pattimagee wrote: ↑Jun 19, 2025
Starts at 13:25 on the video - Hawley said he has an email and phone hotline on his senate page just for making sure these claims get paid.
Too bad. Some of my friend's bricks fell three stories and were fine.stlurbanist wrote: ↑Jun 19, 2025we absolutely cannot. they got damaged.quincunx wrote: ↑Jun 19, 2025Can you reuse your bricks?
- 2,056
Good luck!
When my house was severely damaged in a storm way back in 2011, we were able to salvage more bricks than I expected from the 2nd and 3rd floor walls that had completely blown over to the ground. But friends and family and I did most of the work to pick the good brick out, hence, minimal monetary cost. We could have salvaged a lot more than fell into my neighbor's yard, but he wouldn't let us in there. The contractor his insurance hired just threw everything out because they weren't going to take the time to go through everything. I suspect that is probably pretty common. Demolition contractors hire day labor for cash to pallet brick. Most contractors are not getting that super cheap and often paid under the table labor.
- 474
^ they are not just bricks but coping bricks, molded bricks, corbelled bricks, decorative ends.
- 474
Could you please let me know what historic tax credits are? I am going to look it up. As I own a condo, not sure if I can claim them as a unit owner?quincunx wrote: ↑Jun 20, 2025Can you get historic tax credits?
I'd ask the state.
Shouldn't the parapet wall be the condo association's responsibility?
Shouldn't the parapet wall be the condo association's responsibility?
- 474
yes, it is condo association's responsibility but looks like insurance adjuster is doing number crunching and it is a time consuming process. looks like i just need to sit tight.quincunx wrote: ↑Jun 20, 2025I'd ask the state.
Shouldn't the parapet wall be the condo association's responsibility?
- 2,056
It might be tough because "the costs associated with the rehabilitation of the property must exceed 50% of the total basis of the property"quincunx wrote: ↑Jun 20, 2025I'd ask the state.
Shouldn't the parapet wall be the condo association's responsibility?
Chicago Tribune - St. Louis was a brick ‘epicenter.’ Can it keep its bricks after the tornado?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/ ... uis-brick/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/ ... uis-brick/
- 474
This is a picture of my kitchen with brick facade on the exterior side which is visible in the picture. This is being ripped open by the condo association due to moisture damage following may 16 tornado. I have always experienced cold drafts - could it be due to no insulation as seen in the picture? I am a novice so can someone explain if there is any code requirement in STL city that prevents adding insulation to brick facade or a shoddy job back in 2004?! Shouldn't there be at least insulation batts so that brick is not visible?? I am also attaching my bedroom picture which is also missing insulation - i am freaking out because I finally have answer to my cold walls!!!
What solutions can I use to improve the insulation? I understand spray foam is out of question due to insurance.
What solutions can I use to improve the insulation? I understand spray foam is out of question due to insurance.
You could get sheets of foam and cut it to fit in-between all that.
My house isn't framed in like that, just plaster on brick.
My house isn't framed in like that, just plaster on brick.
- 111
My house is the same, just plaster on brick. The air spaces in between the courses of brick within your walls act as an insulator. My house has 2 courses bc it's old--I'm guessing yours has 3 based on the neighborhood's age. Some foam panels would increase the R-value if you wanted to, but making sure windows and doors are airtight carries the biggest payoff.
StlToday - Messenger: St. Louis man fixes his tornado-ravaged block one house at a time
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... 68e06.html
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/col ... 68e06.html
I would be very cautious about adding insulation on inside exterior brick walls. For one you can very easily end up with water condensing inside your walls and mold forming but also depending on age of building it might be bad for the brick. The bricks rely on heat from inside to dry out and old bricks can be very porous so heat-thaw cycles can be damaging if the heat source is cut from inside. There is a company in boston that was a bit of a pioneer in the brick remodel space and wrote a lot of resources but I don't recall their name, however there are a lot more resources these days all over the internet. In general there have been new methods developed for different wall systems that help prevent moisture and mold and people shouldn't just slap some foam in there. This is not my field tho, I just enjoy reading about things.johnnyqnola wrote: ↑Jun 21, 2025My house is the same, just plaster on brick. The air spaces in between the courses of brick within your walls act as an insulator. My house has 2 courses bc it's old--I'm guessing yours has 3 based on the neighborhood's age. Some foam panels would increase the R-value if you wanted to, but making sure windows and doors are airtight carries the biggest payoff.
- 474
@flipz oh man. looks like now i need to consult with a professional.
- 1,621
I’ll second the notion that the drafts are likely from gaps around your windows and doors. Foam spray all those, make sure air tight.
I was told not to foam board the frame gap at our house (had work done after 2022 deluge) for the condensation reason.
I was told not to foam board the frame gap at our house (had work done after 2022 deluge) for the condensation reason.