Water is one of the main causes of damage to homes in the United States. Not all types of water damage are equal. Different parts of the house are affected differently by water and then there is damage caused by “clean” water and damage caused by wastewater, which poses a threat to the home dwellers as well as causing damage to the structure.
Once water damage has been detected one of the first questions the home owner has is how much is the water damage restoration going to cost? Is it covered by insurance? We’ve made a list of 10 factors that affect water damage repair costs.
- The Type And Source Of The Water
As mentioned, when water damage in a home is caused by sewage water the issue becomes more urgent because it is a health hazard. Clean water is water that does not pose a danger, such as rain water or water that has dripped from a tap in your home. Grey water is water from appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers that contains chemicals and black water is sewage or wastewater that poses an extreme health risk.
- How Much Water
The amount of water that must be extracted has a direct affect on the cost of repairs. The less water that needs to be extracted from the house, the less expensive the cost of work.
- Size Of The Damaged Area
As with the amount of water, the size of the area has a direct impact on the cost of water removal and restoration. Usually, the quicker the water is removed the less damage to the house.
- How Long Ago Was The Leak?
The quicker water is removed after the leak starts the less damage will be caused. Sometimes a leak, which may be in a hard to detect area like the basement or the roof, is not noticed for some time and by that time the damage has become more severe and expensive to treat.
- What Part Of The House Was Damaged
Different types of work will be done on different parts of the house.
- What Materials Were Damaged?
Different materials take longer to dry and some will have to be replaced if they have suffered water damage.
- How Accessible Is The Damaged Area
Some areas are difficult to work in, such as crawlspaces, which make restoration work more difficult.
- Mold Removal
If mold has started to grow in the damp areas, mold removal should be added to the cost.
- Your Location
The cost of living in your location will affect the price of the work.
- How Much Reconstruction Work Is Needed
The more severe the water damage the more reconstruction work will be needed.