Buildings insurance - Repairing the damage

Do not get any permanent repairs done – or replace damaged fixtures and fittings – until you have your insurer’s agreement. Your insurer will expect to see several competitively priced estimates for repairs to be done or for the costs of replacements. Your insurer may also ask for receipts for fixed items that you want to replace. Do not assume that you will automatically get a replacement for something: even with new-for-old policy, your insurer can insist on having an item repaired or cleaned rather than replacing it.
If you are claiming for damage to part of a matching set – a bathroom basin, for example – the insurer will not necessarily agree to replace the whole set if you cannot find a matching replacement. They should, however, agree to pay for ‘colour matching’, if appropriate.