The homeowners countered with their own expert – a licensed engineer – who had personally inspected the property and reviewed photographs, reports, and other records. The engineer acknowledged the possibility that the leak began unnoticed before July 2019, but crucially, he argued that there was no clear evidence of damage before October 2018, when the policy began. Specifically, he noted the absence of signs typically associated with long-term water intrusion: rotted wood, swollen drywall, or widespread mold growth.