What affects the cost of water damage restoration?
The cost depends on four things, the type of water, how much of the building it reached, how long it sat before drying started, and how much material has to be removed and rebuilt. Covered losses are usually paid by homeowners insurance after your deductible.
1. The type of water
Restoration standards sort water into three categories. Clean water from a supply line is the least expensive to handle. Gray water, like a washer or dishwasher discharge, needs more cleaning. Black water, like sewage or outside floodwater, requires removing porous materials it touched, which raises the cost.
2. How far it spread
Water travels under baseboards, into wall cavities and down through floors. A leak that reached one room costs far less than one that soaked through the ceiling into a finished basement.
3. How long it sat
When drying starts within the first day, carpet, drywall and wood can often be dried in place. After a few days, more has to be torn out and replaced, and mold remediation may be added.
4. How much gets rebuilt
Drying is one part of the bill. Replacing drywall, flooring, cabinets and paint is often the larger part.
Who pays
Sudden, accidental water damage, like a burst pipe, is generally covered by homeowners insurance after your deductible. Sewer backups usually need a backup endorsement, and outside flooding usually needs flood insurance. We document everything in the format adjusters use. See insurance claims, explained.
The fastest way to keep cost down is to start drying fast. Call us 24/7.