How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?

Water damage is one of the most common disasters to occur in both commercial and residential properties. Due to their proximity to faulty appliances and pipes, building materials like ceilings, wood floors, crawl spaces, walls, and kitchen cabinets are usually the first to get damaged. The cost of water damage usually depends on various factors including time and material affected.

On average, you can expect to pay $2,500 – $5,000 to dry one room worth of damage plus the cost of building materials being replaced. The average water damage drying process will consist of a simple cleanup and extraction, followed by drying of the material.

The cost breakdown of the cleaning process will average from $4-$8 per square foot depending on the amount of water, the area affected, and equipment used. For example, a regular hallway will require 2-3 air movers and 1 dehumidifier for 48-72 hours. The cost of air movers will be around $30-50 dollars per day depending on the size and $80-120 dollars per day for dehumidifiers.

Water damage costs can increase if action is not taken immediately as the longer the material is exposed to water, the more expensive it will be to dry and then restore it.

Water damage over time will significantly increase the cost of restoration

After a building is exposed to water damage, the following occurs:

• Within minutes of water damage, moisture-sensitive surface swells and water contamination spreads.
• Within an hour, pre-existing moisture problems are activated and drywall swells and bacterial odor start.
• Within a day, wood floors warp and carpets delaminate.
• Within 3 days, mold starts to form.
• After a week, the structural integrity of your property could be permanently compromised and mold can permanently damage the property causing health hazards.

Other factors affecting the cost of water damage restoration

In some cases, the unseen water damage that goes unnoticed will grow mold. With faulty appliances and leaks in walls, it is impossible to notice until the damage is too late.

As with any professional restoration company, asbestos tests must be taken prior to opening any walls if the property was built before 1985. Asbestos testing usually costs between $400-$600 and will take 24-48 hours to come back with results.

The most important factor affecting the cost of water damage restoration will be how long the water damage restoration takes. You can find out more about the length of water damage in that article!