Water damage in your house is a scary sight, whether it comes from a burst pipe, a malfunctioning toilet, a leaky roof, or a natural disaster. Knowing the cost of repairs can help you respond to these problems effectively, especially if you have an older house or reside in an area that is visited by tropical storms or hurricanes.
Water damage restoration typically costs between $1,270 and $5,376, or an average of $3,250. This guide outlines everything you need to know to get through any type of water damage emergency.
In this cost guide:
- Average Cost of Water Damage Restoration
- Cost by Category
- Cost by Class
- Cost by Damaged Area
- How Location Affects Price
- Related Services
- FAQ
Average Water Damage Restoration Costs in 2024
Water damage restoration costs can basically be broken down into two stages:
- Water extraction and cleaning.
- Structural repairs to walls, roof, floors, and ceilings.
While it’s possible to tackle some of this work yourself, significant damage will likely require the services of a professional water damage restoration pro, especially if the water has been contaminated by human waste, fuels or dangerous chemicals.
Water damage restoration typically costs between $1,270 and $5,376 and has a national average price of $3,250. The range is affected by a variety of factors, such as the size and location of the damaged area, severity of the disaster, type or class of water damage, and any provisions in the homeowner’s insurance.
The lowest cost for such a restoration project is generally about $430 to repair damage from a simple flooding mishap. A homeowner’s average cost for removing gray water, drying everything and repairing drywall is $3,250. On the high end, removing black water, drying everything and cleaning up the contaminants can go as high as $20,400.
Water Damage Restoration Costs
| National Average Cost | $3,250 |
| Typical Price Range | $1,270 – $5,375 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $430 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $20,400 |
Water Damage Restoration Cost Per Square Foot
| Average Price Range | $3.15 – $7.5 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $1 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $17 |
Water Damage Restoration Cost by Category
When you have water damage, a qualified professional will first determine the source and classify the damage based on how clean or dirty the water is. What do we mean by “dirty.” Well, a burst water pipe generally floods a home with clean water. But if the water is contaminated with sewage, dirt, grime, and other foulness, you’re not only looking at the cost of removing the water but also cleaning up the pollutants and replacing everything they touched.
Note: Only a licensed pro is qualified to categorize water damage and it is the most influential factor in determining the cleanup costs. Your homeowners insurance will require this information before it pays a claim for water damage cleanup and restoration.
Let’s take a look at the three categories of water damage and the related costs to repair each:
Category 1: Clean Water Damage
Clean water is defined as water that is not contaminated with any chemicals or biohazardous materials, such as fecal matter. It poses no immediate health risks but will cause structural damage and can breed mold and mildew if left unchecked. Common sources of clean water damage include leaky water heaters, toilet tanks, or faucets, rain, sprinklers, or burst water pipes.
Repair costs for damage caused by clean water typically range from $3.3 to $4.10 per square foot. Clean water damage repair costs are pretty low compared to other categories because the only major task involved in cleanup is drying everything.
That doesn’t mean it’s cheap. It may cost $1 to $11 per square foot to dry or replace a wet carpet, and $1 to $3 per square foot to replace or repair damaged drywall.
IMPORTANT: If a professional has classified flood as clean water, time is of the essence. Category 1 damage can turn into Category 2 damage quicker than you might expect, and this would increase the restoration cost too.
Category 2: Gray Water Damage
Gray water is water that comes in contact with any substances other than fecal matter and hazardous chemicals. These can include detergents, cleaning products, and food. It can pose some health risks.
Because the risk of contamination is higher with gray water damage, the cost of remediation is higher as well. Homeowners can expect to pay an average of $4.10 to $7 per square foot.
As with clean water, you might also have to pay additional costs to repair structural items damaged by gray water. Is the drywall damaged? It costs between $1 to $3 per square foot to clear that up. Or maybe your hardwood flooring needs partial or total replacement. That will cost $10 to $15 per square foot. Plaster damage repairs cost somewhere between $6 and $19 per square foot.
If gray water damage is left unattended, it creates an ideal habitat for mold and bacteria growth, which increases remediation costs.
Category 3: Black Water Damage
Black water is water that has been exposed to a dangerous contaminant such as fecal matter or hazardous chemicals. Everything that comes in contact with black water needs to be replaced.
The average cost of black water restoration is between $7 and $7.50 per square foot. This figure will climb depending upon how many items have to be replaced: flooring, drywall, furniture, carpeting, and more.
Water Damage Restoration by Class
Water damage is further classified into different classes of damage. The damage categories discussed earlier essentially explain the source of damage, while the class type describes the extent of the damage. This means determining how much work is required to clean and restore the damage. Homeowners should contact a pro for the correct damage classification.
Class 1
If you sustained Class 1 water damage, consider yourself fortunate because it’s the least expensive to deal with. Class 1 damage is typically contained to just a section of a room and involves clean water.
Most homeowners can handle Class 1 cleanups without professional assistance at a cost of around $140 to $400.
Class 2
Class 2 water damage describes water damage to an entire room. This includes damage to walls at least 12 inches above floor level. The moisture may also seep into the structure, flooring, carpeting, or any nearby fixtures or appliances. Restoring such damage can cost $500 to $1,000 because it requires more work.
Class 3
Class 3 water damage occurs when the water affects one room or more. This means walls, ceiling, insulation, flooring, or even subflooring has been saturated.
Restoring Class 3 water damage requires professional care because structural materials must be replaced. Homeowners can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000.
Class 4
The most severe type of water damage is Class 4, which occurs when water covers a large area. Think tornadoes, hurricanes, or extensive river floods that leave a large volume of water standing in the house and affect structural materials like brick, stone, hardwood, and fixtures. Recovering from Class 4 damage may cost somewhere between $20,000 and $90,000.
Water Damage Restoration Cost by Area Damaged
When you’re estimating water restoration cost by location of damage, it’s important to remember that the average repair cost per square foot also depends on class and category of damage.
Floor and Subfloor Repair
Water doesn’t discriminate; it will damage most kinds of floor coverings – carpet, laminate, or hardwood. The average cost to repair water damage to hardwood floors ranges from $200 to $550.
More permeable flooring is generally more susceptible to water damage than a material like tile or concrete. For instance, carpets, vinyl, linoleum, and laminates are more permeable than other flooring types. So when water filters through them, it will also affect the subflooring. Subfloor repair costs run from $250 to $700 for a 150-square-foot section.
Drywall Repair
Replacing damaged drywall costs around $300 to $850, or between $1.50 and $3 per square foot. Whenever drywall is exposed to water, there is a high risk of mold formation. Most kinds of drywall will need complete replacement after coming in contact with water and high moisture levels.
Ceiling Repair
Repairing a ceiling costs between $350 to $1,300. It’s a wide price range because the restoration depends on how extensive the damage is. Also, the labor costs may vary depending on different companies and locations. Professionals generally charge around $75 per hour to repair a sagging ceiling.
Roof Repair
Roof leaks require immediate attention. When caught early, roof repairs cost around $378 to $1,186, but the price goes up if the damage spreads and affects underlying structures like trusses, insulation, ceilings, and more. The repair cost depends greatly on the roof material. Leaky roofs are often a product of winter ice dams, missing shingles, storms, inconsistent runoff, or structural issues.
If the damage is beyond repair and you need a replacement, roof replacement prices range from $5,706 to $11,185.
Foundation Repair
Repairing a leaky foundation can run from $2,000 to $10,000. This range is so flexible because every house is different. Foundation damage is generally caused by standing water from flooding, which causes concrete to crack or shift.
Basement Repair and Restoration
Basement water damage is caused mainly by flooding, but can also occur as a result of leaking or broken pipelines.
The cost of repairing and restoring a basement can vary drastically since there are several different factors that influence the total cost. Such factors include the severity of the damage, the number of fixtures or appliances exposed to water damage, and the level of standing water. So, the repairs can range from simple water removal to major work on the electrical and structural features of the house.
The condition of your basement also plays a key role. You’ll spend less to restore an unfinished basement with concrete floors than a finished basement with flooring, drywall, and ceiling tiles. The type of water in the basement is also critical in determining the repair costs.
For example, extracting one inch of clean water from a basement may cost $500 to $1,500, while dealing with two feet of black sewage water could cost $3,000 or more.
It’s safe to say that the total cost for basement remediation ranges from $500 to $90,000. The low end of this range covers simple, small leaks, whereas the high-end cost is for dealing with several feet of freestanding sewage water. Oftentimes, serious damage in basements is only caused by flooding. You might want to budget for a little more if you live in or near a flood-prone area.
Bathroom Repair
Things as simple as a leaky faucet or a burst drain pipe are frequent causes of water damage. But costs rise quickly if the water affects the fixtures, flooring, or walls. There are multiple pipes in the wall and numerous plumbing fixtures that can overflow, burst, or leak, so bathrooms are a hot spot for water damage.
Bathroom repairs often include water extraction, and minor repairs of the ceiling, drywall, and flooring. Here are the costs you can expect to pay for various bathroom problems:
- Leaking Pipes cost as little as $150 and as much as $400 to repair.
- Clearing Clogged Drains costs around $200 to $250.
- Malfunctioning Toilets may cost $150 to $600 to fix. This range covers repairs and replacements of tank, flange, drain, and unclogging toilet drains.
- Shower Area and Bathtub repairs can cost between $200 and $800, but if the damage is just to the surface or a minor plumbing problem then it may cost just $100 – $300.
Laundry Room
If your laundry room has sustained water damage, the price range may stretch a little. Expect to pay $1,000 – $5,500 because although laundry rooms are small like bathrooms, they might require flooring repairs and minor electrical work, too. The most common water damage in this area of a house is from a leaky washer hose or an overflowing washer.
Here’s a summary:
| Location of Water Damage | Average Price Range to Repair and Restore the Area |
| Floor, subfloor, and hardwood | $200 – $700 |
| Drywall | $300 – $850 |
| Ceiling | $350 – $1,300 |
| Roof | $378 to $11,185 |
| Foundation | $2,000 – $10,000 |
| Basement | $500 – $90,000 |
| Bathroom | $150 – $800 |
| Laundry room | $1,000 – $5,500 |
Cost of Water Damage Restoration by Location
Water restoration costs vary all across the country. The price is affected by labor and supply costs in the area. Here are some cost averages for water restoration across the U.S.:
| City | Average Cost | Typical Range |
| Detroit, MI | $4,040 | $1,980 – $6,100 |
| Portland, OR | $3,100 | $1,230 – $4,980 |
| Raleigh, NC | $6,450 | $1,940 – $12,100 |
| Boise, ID | $10,730 | $8,840 – $12,610 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,300 | $1,560 – $7,540 |
| Los Angeles | $2,750 | $1,370 – $4,480 |
Related Services and Costs
Here are some of additional factors that may affect the cost of water damage restoration:
Mold Removal and Restoration
The cost of mold remediation ranges from $1,373 to $3,325, with an average price of $2,347. Mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours of exposure to moisture on most surfaces and materials and poses serious health risks. You can tell there’s mold growth by a musty smell in the kitchen, crawlspace, bathroom, vents, or attic.
Mold remediation should only be performed by a qualified pro because it can be dangerous.
Burst Pipe and Leak Repairs
Leaky plumbing often results from poor maintenance. Repairing a burst pipe and fixing the resulting damage costs between $1,000 to $4,000.
Sump Pump Installation
If you live in an area with frequent flooding or a high water table, installing a sump pump can help. The pump will redirect water away from your home’s foundation and prevent water pooling and subsequent damage. The sump pump will cost somewhere between $50 and $400, or as much as $1,200 for professional installation.
Labor costs
Labor costs can vary widely for water damage repairs and restoration. Depending on the type of repair needed, companies charge between $70 and $200 per hour, on average. The class and category of water also play a role because higher health risks require more extensive cleanup.
A simple water extraction and drying restoration job will have a lower labor cost than one that needs drywall or carpet removal or woodwork. When budgeting for water damage, homeowners should note that they might have to hire multiple contractors to handle all the needed repairs.
Some common price ranges for different services are:
| Type of Contractor | Average Labor Cost per Hour |
| Roofer | $35 – $90 |
| Electrician | $40 – $100 |
| Painter | $40 – $60 |
| Plumber | $45 – $150 |
| Carpenter | $40 – $120 |
Emergency Fees
Water disasters can hit any time of the day, any day of the week, and they need immediate action to minimize the damage and cost. For instance, in case of backed-up sewage and black water flooding, you’ll need to extract the contaminated water as soon as possible because it is a health hazard. The same goes for electrical damage.
Water restoration companies usually charge an emergency fee to make sure their services are accessible for restoration jobs as quickly as possible. The fees cover the required staff, transportation, and equipment to respond to issues timely.
Some companies don’t charge a separate emergency fee, while others bill an extra $100 – $200 but quote lower prices for the job.
Frequently Asked Questions
DIY water damage restoration is only possible for small-scale damages. This includes clean water leaks limited to one room. Anything more serious would need a water restoration pro. Large-scale cleanups are better left to experts with technical knowledge and experience, safety equipment, and specialized tools.
Your homeowners insurance might or might not cover water damage. Check with the provider and go over the fine print to make sure. Note that homeowner’s insurance generally does not cover damages caused by lack of maintenance or negligence.
In Conclusion
Water damage may be rare, but is a possibility homeowners should be prepared to deal with. Professional cost of water damage restoration is $3,250 on average, with a typical range of $1,270 – $5,375.
You might have to pay more or less, depending on your specific situation, but calling in a pro to evaluate the extent of damage is the first step.
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
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