How Much Does it Cost to Fix Water Damage in a House?

One of the most common questions that a homeowner would naturally ask after experiencing water damage is “How much does it cost to fix water damage.” Getting an answer to this question will go a long way to help manage the homeowner’s finances in this situation.

While the most convenient way to find out the cost of water damage restoration is to get quotes from a professional restoration company, getting a straightforward answer is not simple.

In this article, we discuss what you need to know to calculate how much it would cost you to fix water damage. Visit website for more information about water damage.

Cost Factors for Water Damage Repair

As earlier stated, coming up with a figure is not a straightforward process. There are many factors to be considered when trying to find out how much water damage repair would cost you. 

The following are the things that water damage repair professional or company has to know before an estimate can be given:

The category of the loss

When it comes to water damage restoration, there are three kinds of water. They include:

• Clean water: This kind of water could be rainwater that got in through an open winder, or water from a broken or leaking pipe, tap, or hose. They usually contain little or no contamination. A clean water loss is the safest and cleanest to handle, and most of the things damaged can be salvaged. More so, it is the least expensive.

• Greywater: More effort is required to repair this kind of damage as more contamination is involved. Greywater could come from broken or malfunctioning appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, etc. While many things can be saved from greywater damage, the carpet pad is not one of them. 

• Blackwater: This comes from extremely contaminated sources, and it is the most difficult and expensive to clean up. When you hear black water, just think about water from sources like sewer pipes and other dirty sources you can imagine. It is impossible to save materials that are damaged in this case.

Duration

How long the water sat before the restoration process will also affect the cost. Given enough time, even clean water or greywater damage will degrade to a black water loss, especially when the temperature doesn’t help matters. 

Also, the likelihood of mold growth increases when a water loss remains unattended to, thereby causing bigger problems, and increasing the cost of restoration. Mold growth can begin in two days after materials get wet.

The severity of damage

The professionals must be sure of what they are dealing with before they can give you an estimate. If they only have to deal with moisture, then that’s easy; it will only take them drying out the area. This level of damage is a less expensive one when compared to more extensive water damage. In a situation where your drywall has been touched, replacing the drywall will be necessary, and the cost of restoration will also increase.

The size of the affected area

Some companies charge per square foot. This goes to say that the larger the affected area and surfaces, the more the cost of the water damage restoration. Some of the areas that may be affected include the floors, walls, and ceilings.

The equipment to be used 

To dry an affected space correctly, the appropriate equipment must be used. The determinants of what tools and equipment are needed are the type and the severity of the damage. This is another major factor that will affect how much you should expect to spend on fixing water damage.

Average cost

According to Home Advisor, the cost of water damage repair or restoration is between $1,234 and $5,256, the average being $3,220. With the help of a licensed water damage repair professional, the cause and the severity of the damage can be determined. These two factors are the biggest factors in estimating your total cost.

The national average cost of fixing a ceiling water damage ranges between $255 and $308 per patch. So, your total cost will be determined by the number of patches, the conditions, and the finish options you choose. 

Home Guide’s cost guide shows that the cost of repairing water damages in drywall ceilings and walls ranges from $200 to $500 for minor damage or $500 to $2,500 for major damage with roof leak repair. Other repairs may be required before the water-damaged drywall is fixed.

What type of water damage is covered by Homeowners insurance?

If the water damage is caused by an accident, most Homeowners' insurance policies will cover the repair. In some cases, where an upstairs pipe burst and the ceiling below is saturated, or your drywall gets drenched after your water heater ruptures, then your Homeowners insurance may be of help in the repairs.

The following types of water damage are not covered by Homeowners insurance:

• Damage as a result of maintenance issues that have been unresolved
• The repair or replacement of the source of the water damage
• Flood
• Water backup from an exterior sewer or drain.

Water damage can be prevented to a large extent by keeping up with home maintenance. However, when things go wrong, it is important that you consult your agent to know what is and isn’t covered by your Homeowners insurance. There may also be extra coverages that may be available for your home.  

Conclusion

The best way to reduce the cost of cleanup and repair is to ensure that you carry out preventive maintenance. Also, you don’t want to delay cleaning up after water damage, as this will go a long way to save you lots of money on restoration. Leaving moisture for long will only worsen the damage and create the opportunity for mold growth. 

Ensure that you engage the service of a professional immediately to diagnose the source of the problem and do the necessary repairs; it could save you thousands of dollars later. Above all, contact your agent to know if your Homeowners insurance policy covers you.