Water Damage Restoration Costs

Water damage results in thousands of dollars in claims every year in the U.S., and according to the Insurance Information Institute, 1 in 50 homes files a water damage claim each year. How do you prepare to cover water damage restoration if it affects your home? How much will it cost? Restoration 1 is here to help. 

There are several factors that need to be taken into account when determining water damage restoration costs, such as; location, size of the affected area, category of water damage, how long damage has been present, extent of the damage, cost of labor, and cost of materials. All of these factors will fall into one of three categories of expenses following water damage:

1. The cost of water removal and drying
2. The cost of structural repairs
3. The cost of replacement of property

Let’s break down these different factors, and explain how they cause prices to vary – starting with the size of the affected area. This is pretty self-explanatory; the more square footage that has sustained damage, the more costly removal and repairs will be. Depending on the type of water that has damaged the area, cost will be less or more expensive. Damage from category 1, or clean water damage is the easiest and least expensive to cleanup, estimating around $3.75 per square foot. Gray Water, or Category 2 Water, may have chemical contaminants that makes cleanup more expensive. Damage sustained from gray water estimates around $4.50 per square foot for cleanup. The third category of water, Black Water, is grossly contaminated water and is deemed hazardous to health. Cleanup from this type of water estimates $7.00 per square foot. 

The amount of time water is allowed to sit will also affect repair costs, because the longer water damage is present, the more extensive the damage will be. Delaying drying and repairs after water damage could end up costing thousands of dollars more because water damage escalated very quickly. FIXR Cost Guides estimates that repair costs can increase by $10,000 when 1 inch deep or more of water is not dried out or cleaned up in a timely manner. The extent of damage will only increase the longer water is left to penetrate and seep into materials in the home. Repair costs will also vary depending on your location, but there are some general ballpark prices for basic home repairs that we can use to help calculate water damage repair costs. 

• Replacing carpet: $4.00 – $5.00 per square foot
• Replacing drywall: $1.40 per square foot
• Repairing plaster walls: $6.00 – $18.75 per square foot
• Refinishing hardwood flooring: $10.45 per square foot
• Remediation of mold: $5.00 per square foot

Water Damage Restoration

All of these costs add up, and water damage restoration can become a pricey affair. Because your home and possessions have more than just monetary value, it is important to make sure the right people handle your water damage repairs. Restoration 1 has the knowledge and training to effectively dry the area and restore materials that are costly to replace, meaning you get high quality results for the best price. We also have experience working with all insurance companies, so we can help make sure you are taken care of in every aspect. Put your trust, and your money, in the right hands and let the professionals take care of your water damage restoration.