What Affects the Cost of Water Damage Restoration

Every water loss is different, so there is no single price for water damage restoration. The cost depends on what the water reached, what kind of water it was, how long it sat, and how much work it takes to remove it and dry the building. Here is what drives the scope of the job, so you know what to expect when you call.

The main cost factors

• How much water and how far it spread. One wet room is a different job from water that ran under walls into several rooms or down to a lower floor.
• Which materials are wet. Carpet, pad, drywall, insulation, wood flooring, cabinets and concrete absorb and release water differently. Some can be dried in place; others take longer or have to be removed.
• The water category. Clean water from a supply line is handled differently from washing machine discharge, sewage or outside flood water. Contaminated water requires protective equipment, containment and removal of affected porous materials before drying. See sewage backup cleanup and storm and flood cleanup.
• How long the water sat. Water that is addressed quickly usually reaches fewer materials. The longer materials stay wet, the more may need to be removed.
• Hidden moisture. Water travels under baseboards, behind cabinets and into subfloors and wall cavities. Moisture meters and thermal imaging help show the real extent, which can be larger than what you see.
• What has to be removed. Removing wet carpet pad, insulation or the lower part of drywall adds labor and disposal. Before materials are removed, they are reviewed for asbestos or lead-based paint; in buildings constructed in 1986 or earlier, or when a material looks suspect, an independent environmental professional evaluates them first, and if asbestos or lead-based paint is present, that work is handled by appropriately licensed or certified professionals.
• Drying equipment and time. The number of dehumidifiers and air movers and how long they run depend on the materials and conditions. Most water-damage drying projects take approximately 3–5 days, but actual moisture readings, not an arbitrary number of days, determine when drying is complete.
• Access and the building. Attics, crawl spaces, multi-story buildings, commercial spaces and mobile or manufactured homes each have their own access and drying considerations.
• Contents. Moving, protecting or cleaning furniture and belongings adds to the scope.

What is usually separate

Fixing the source of the leak is done by the appropriate trade, such as a licensed plumber, roofer or HVAC contractor, and is not part of water removal and drying. Repair and reconstruction work that requires a contractor license, such as new drywall, cabinets or flooring after drying, is performed by an appropriately licensed contractor of your choosing.

How you can keep the scope down

• Stop the water at the main valve or the appliance supply as soon as you can.
• Call early. Prompt water removal and drying can limit how far water spreads and how much has to be removed.
• Take photos and video before anything is moved.

See what to do right after water damage.

Estimates and documentation

We provide detailed, itemized estimates and invoices for the work we perform, along with photos, moisture readings and drying records.

Insurance

Insurance coverage for water damage depends on the cause of the loss and the terms of your policy. We document the restoration work with photos, moisture readings and job records, and we can communicate with your insurance adjuster about the work we perform. Coverage and claim decisions remain with your insurance company.

How we work with insurance

Service area