How much does water damage restoration cost?
Depending on the water source and the extent of damage to your property, the cost of water damage restoration services can range from $1,200 to $5,000 on average.
Note that these cost estimates depend on several factors. For instance, this cost can go as low as $350 for simple repairs caused by an overflowing faucet to highs of $12,500 for black water extraction.
Factors that affect the cost of water damage restoration include:
Water Type
The type of water that infiltrates your home can significantly affect the cost of water damage restoration. Water damage restoration cost based on water type typically ranges from $3.75 to $7.50.
- Water type 1: Clean water: Clean water damage issues sprout from sources like leaking toilet tanks and faucets, sprinklers, water heaters, burst pipes, and rainwater. Although clean water does not contain harmful contaminants, it can still cause structural damage to a building if left to sit for too long. Clean water damage restoration costs between $3.75 to $4.25 per sq. ft. depending on the volume, affected area, and equipment used.
- Water type 2: Gray water: Gray water comes from sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines. This water contains some level of toxic substances but not fecal matter. On average, gray water cleanup and restoration cost about $4.5. per sq. ft. Any repairs are additional costs. Gray water may hold toxic substances. Gray water damage restoration costs between $4.10 to $6.50 per sq. ft. depending on the volume, affected area, and equipment used.
- Water type 3: Blackwater comes from toilets and sewer backup. This water is tainted with feces, and coming into contact with it can have adverse health issues. Its cleanup is more complex, and further treatment of all contaminated areas is necessary to prevent potential bacteria growth. Blackwater damage restoration costs between $7.0 to $7.50 per sq. ft depending on the size of the area affected, the volume of water, and the equipment used.
The degree of damage
It’s another critical factor to consider when determining the water damage restoration cost. For instance, if you’re only dealing with moisture, the restoration process will not be as complex as when you want to repair water-damaged drywall.
Class 1
Minimal water damage: This includes small leaks in toilet faucets to damp carpeting. Most homeowners can repair these issues alone or seek the services of a professional at a small cost.
Class 2
Whole room damage: This damage occurs when water infiltrates an entire room, including the drywall, up to about 1 foot. Class 2 damage repairs involve moisture removal as well as cleanup and restorations.
Class 3
Saturation: When class 3 water damage occurs, moisture saturates the walls, floors, ceiling, and even the subflooring and insulation. Usually, the source of class three water damage comes from above, resulting from a leaking roof or a burst pipe.
Class 4
Damage from long-standing water: Water from a storm surge or flooding can saturate brick, stone, and hardwood. Since these materials don’t soak up moisture quickly, the damage is considered severe if they get drenched. Stage 4 water damage garners higher costs to clean up and restore the damaged area.
Size of the area
Of course, the cost of repairing water damage is also affected by the size of the area. According to the National Flood Services, it costs about $3.75 and $7 to repair water damage per square foot. This cost is affected by other factors, including:
- The type of water damage
- The extent of damage
- The root cause
