The situation
Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.
In a hypothetical townhome community in unincorporated Jefferson County with a Littleton address, a stovetop fire damages cabinets, a section of ceiling and the wall shared with the neighboring unit. Firefighters put it out quickly. Smoke reaches the upstairs bedrooms through an open stairwell. The neighbor's side of the shared wall has smoke staining but no fire damage.
- The owner reports the fire to their own insurer and to the homeowners association, which carries a master policy for parts of the buildings.
- The association's manager and the owner's adjuster sort out which parts of the structure each policy covers under the community's governing documents.
- Mitigation removes the burned cabinets and drywall and cleans smoke from the upstairs rooms.
- The rebuild contractor confirms with the association that the shared wall is a fire-rated assembly and plans to rebuild it to the same rating.
- A permit is applied for through Jefferson County, since the property is outside city limits.
- Framing is cleaned and sealed, wiring in the kitchen is replaced, and rough inspections are passed before the shared wall is closed.
- Cabinet and countertop selections are made early because of lead times, and the owner submits any exterior vent change to the association for approval.
The shared wall was rebuilt to its original rating with the inspector's sign-off, the neighbor's side was cleaned and repainted under the appropriate policy, and the kitchen was finished once cabinets arrived.
Order of events in a shared-wall rebuild
- Day of the fire
- Notify your insurer and the association; ask the association for the policy and governing documents.
- First weeks
- Mitigation, odor work, and a coverage split between the unit owner policy and the master policy.
- Before design
- Confirm fire-rated wall details and any exterior or vent changes needing association review.
- Permit stage
- Apply through the jurisdiction for the property, here the county.
- Rough work
- Structure, wiring and the rated wall assembly are inspected before covering.
- Finish stage
- Cabinets, counters, paint and flooring; neighbor's side completed under the agreed coverage.
Questions a townhome owner should ask
- Which parts of my unit does the association's master policy cover, and which does my policy cover?
- Is the wall between units a fire-rated assembly, and what rating must be restored?
- Does the association need to approve any exterior changes, such as vent caps or windows?
- How will repairs on the neighbor's side be coordinated, and by whom?
- Is there a master policy deductible that could be passed to me as an assessment?
General information for Littleton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.