Vin,
One of the interesting things for me is what happens with me after a job is complete. It goes from being my child to someone's brat. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Seriously, I can look at a job that I've done and it's like it was done by someone else. I know I did it. But I can walk away from it and that's it.
So the damage is mine to fix. Mostly because I'm the only one who knows all that has to be done for the repair to make it like it was before. It would be interesting to see what competive bids would look like on this one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jim,
I've given an estimate to the adjuster. And they've agreed to my guesstimate on what it's going to take to make it back like it was.
First the star stone is a total. And new stone has to be found, carved, plumbed, and rehung. Due to new law this month I'm not allowed to hook up the camera so that will be done by another vendor.
I will remove the gate and hinges from the hinge post. I will remove the overhead at the sweeps. I will prepare the posts for pulling. This will involve welding a strap suitable for a thirty five ton truck crane's lifting ability.
Once the old posts are gone. Then I will install new posts, reattach the overhead, rehang gate, install new star stone, and then paint the whole structure two coats of paint.
If everything goes according to plan they will get by with spending something over nine thousand dollars. If it doesn't go according to plan, concrete driveway gets broken by pulling hinge post or a fifty ton crane is required etc. It could easily exceed ten thousand for the repair.
The insurance adjuster's first words to me was "when I saw that gate I said a prayer of thanks that he didn't hit that too."