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 repair costs. This includes the cost of the restoration 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 repair 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 contamination. This water is called “grey water” because of the presence of mold, bacteria and viruses 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 mold as well as raw sewage.

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 rust different types of metal. The rusting can be minor and appear as a few speckles on metal pipes. In extreme cases, the rust 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 flooding. This exposes the floor to more damage and increases the rate of deterioration.

Mold and Toxins

Mold is one of the most dangerous problems caused by water damage that only worsens if left untreated. Black mold 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 sewage.

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 drying 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 mold, the extent of staining, or some other major problem could increase the rates.

After the cleanup, there are additional charges for ongoing maintenance 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 maintenance 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 restoration services to repair 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 restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold 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 restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold 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.