The True Cost of Water Damage
Water is typically the cause of loss and damage that occurs in a home after a storm. In addition to storms, common causes of water damage include leaks from burst pipes or melted snow from a snowstorm. Water damage causes a wide range of unique problems in homes. What is more challenging than cleaning up the damage is estimating the repairRepair is the act of fixing or restoring damaged property, m... More costs. This includes the cost of the restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More and maintaining the home after the initial cleanup crew leaves. The following are several problems that are unique to water-damaged homes.
Categories of Water Damage
What is more challenging than cleaning up water damage is estimating its repairRepair is the act of fixing or restoring damaged property, m... More costs
Water damage is classified into three main categories. Category one involves clean water that poses the smallest threat to the property, such as an overflowing sink. Category two poses a moderate level of property damage and toxic contaminationContamination is the presence of harmful or unwanted substan... More. This water is called “grey water” because of the presence of moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More, bacteria and virusesViruses are microscopic infectious agents that can only repr... More that may cause illness. Category three includes the presence of “black water” and the most severe damage that causes serious illnesses. This category includes water contaminated with black moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More as well as raw sewageSewage is wastewater containing biological and chemical cont... More.
Water Stains
Water stains are the least severe damage caused by leaks and flooding. This type of staining can be unsightly as it discolors walls and ceilings along with furniture, carpeting and other property items.
Wood Rotting
When wood gets too wet and cannot dry off quickly enough, it begins to rot. Rotting causes wooden structures to fall apart at a person’s touch. It also leads to insect infestations that could get worse the longer that the wood remains rotted.
Corrosion
Water can rustRust is a reddish-brown oxide that forms on iron or steel du... More different types of metal. The rusting can be minor and appear as a few speckles on metal pipes. In extreme cases, the rustRust is a reddish-brown oxide that forms on iron or steel du... More accumulates in layers on a metal surface and can cause damage to the metal, including burst pipes in your home.
Delamination
Delamination occurs when the laminated coating is stripped off a surface. An example is a de-laminated tile or hardwood floor that is the result of floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More. This exposes the floor to more damage and increases the rate of deterioration.
Mold and Toxins
MoldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More is one of the most dangerous problems caused by water damage that only worsens if left untreated. Black moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More is highly toxic and linked to severe respiratory illnesses. Bacteria is the worst threat to public health after a storm as these dangerous materials can accumulate in standing water. Deadly strains of bacteria can be found on any surface that is touched by highly polluted floodwater or sewageSewage is wastewater containing biological and chemical cont... More.
Different methods of reducing costs may include obtaining a home warranty or setting up a budget
The True Costs of Water Damage
The process of water damage remediation includes one or more services. The first step is the removal of the water, the second is dryingDrying is the process of removing moisture from materials, s... More the affected areas, and the last is decontamination. Each service is charged a different rate that varies based on several factors, such as the amount of square footage covered. So, removing several feet of floodwater in a small apartment may cost more than originally expected.
The national averages for a water remediation project vary from $1,000 to $10,000. This work includes every important service from the removal of standing water to the replacement of carpeting.
Other sources estimate the costs of water damage from $1,000 to $4,000, which is an average of $2,500. In general, you can expect the costs reach the thousand-dollar range at or below $10,000.
The final costs vary from one region to another. A city’s or state’s current economy could affect the prices of goods and services. In addition, different remediation companies charge different prices for the same services.
Comparing the rates of different water remediation providers is recommended. To get the most accurate quote, an expert has to arrive at the property and perform a thorough assessment of the damage. Generic quotes are available online, but the costs are not accurate.
Categorizing the water damage into one of the three categories is an important step. First, a water remediation expert must assess how severe the damage is and the extent of the coverage. The presence of moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More, the extent of staining, or some other major problem could increase the rates.
After the cleanup, there are additional charges for ongoing maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More that lasts for weeks, months or years. A remediation project that is completed in one week may continue needing services for another year. Hiring one company to handle the remediation and another cheaper company to handle the maintenanceMaintenance is the routine care, inspection, and repair of a... More is an option.
The true costs of water damage cannot be estimated until you do your research. Know about the types of damage and their classifications. Then, know the damage that is found in your home along with the rates charged by different professionals. Look for different methods of reducing costs that may include obtaining a home warranty or setting up a budget. Having all of this information is necessary to get the best rates on your home remediation project.
Professional Water Damage Restoration
The best thing to do when you have experienced water damage on your property is call a water damage restoration professional that can provide an accurate estimate. These professionals can also provide comprehensive restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More services to repairRepair is the act of fixing or restoring damaged property, m... More the damage caused by water and work with your insurance company.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More, water damage, fire and smoke damage, moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like floodingFlooding is the overflow or accumulation of water in areas t... More, fire, smoke, and moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
