If you experience water damage in your home, it’s important to start the repair process as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the steps involved in repairing water damage can be confusing, particularly when it involves working with both an insurance adjuster and a restoration company. Knowing what to look for and who to contact about water damage is key to completing repairs in a timely manner.
Signs of water damage in your home
When you find water damage in your home, it’s crucial to know the extent of the damage, the source of the water, and the materials that have been affected. For example, a leak in the ceiling of the ground floor of a two-story house can indicate water damage in the floor on the second level.
Water stains on drywall may indicate a leak directly above the wall that is seeping through to the studs, insulation, and electrical fixtures—which can cause extensive internal damage to your home. While drywall can easily be repaired, replacing rotted studs requires professional help.
Catching and repairing water damage early can help prevent headaches and save you a lot of money. The longer you leave water damage untreated, the more detrimental it becomes. Mold can begin to develop, which is harmful to the health of your family and pets.
How much does it cost to repair water damage?
The cost of repairing water damage to your home can vary, depending on the area of your house that has been affected and the materials—including floors, ceilings, walls, bathrooms, and kitchens—that need to be replaced.
Repairing water-damaged floors on the second level of your home can be costly. The work required to remove and replace the floor may take up to five weeks to complete. In addition, the beams, plywood, and flooring materials needed to rebuild a second-level floor can be expensive.
However, ceiling repairs tend to have a lower price tag and often amount one-fifth the cost of a second-level floor repair. If the water damage on the second floor causes the ceiling on the first level to leak or have water stains, you may be able to combine the repairs and save money.
If the water damage is contained within the drywall, repairs are usually less expensive. But if water has damaged anything deeper, such as the studs or insulation, the repair will require more time and materials. Whatever the situation, ESR Disaster Hero water damage restoration professionals can ensure the damage has not compromised the structure of your home.
Repairing more extensive water damage
Drying out water-soaked carpeting that results from an overflowing toilet or burst pipe can be expensive. The process requires pulling up the carpet and separating the pad from the carpet and foundation.
Estimating the cost of repairing a bathroom or kitchen that has suffered water damage can be difficult, as every bathroom and kitchen is different. The work required to repair or replace fixtures and appliances tends to be extensive and costly.
Similarly, damage behind a tiled surface or tub may warrant a complete re-tiling of the entire surface after the underlying damage has been repaired.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover water damage repairs?
While homeowner’s insurance covers some types of water damage, it may not cover damage that results from other circumstances—or incidents you can’t control.
Most insurance covers sudden water damage that is due to an overflowing toilet, burst pipe, or a water or sewer backup, but it won’t cover damage that results from neglect or lack of maintenance.
Insurance coverage for water damage from storms or floods is a mixed bag. Some insurance providers lump this type of water damage into the same category as sudden water damage, like a sewer backup. Others offer coverage as a separate plan, along with other “acts of God.”
As a general rule, if the damage just happened, it’s probably covered. However, if time has passed between the damage and you claim, it probably isn’t. Always check with your homeowner’s insurance provider to determine whether or not the water damage in your home is covered. Either way, ESR Disaster Hero can provide you with a quote for the repair.
How to get a quote for water damage repairs
Both an insurance adjuster and a restoration company can give you an estimate of how much it will cost to repair the water damage to your home. However, a restoration company can also provide a detailed plan of action for completing the repairs.
In order to complete the process, you need to talk to your insurance provider and a disaster restoration company. Your provider will send an insurance adjuster to your home to assess the damage and determine what is and is not covered under your policy, give you an estimate of how much the repairs will cost, and clarify how much of that cost will come out of your pocket.
The highly skilled and experienced professionals at ESR Disaster Hero will talk you through the process of repairing the damage and getting your home back to its original state.
Contact ESR Disaster Hero for water damage repairs
If you find signs of water damage in your home, contact your homeowner’s insurance provider and ESR Disaster Hero as soon as possible. Once the proper steps have been taken, it’s time for ESR Disaster Hero to come in and remove the damaged materials and fixtures and begin the repairs.
The process can be long, but we’re here for you. We will complete all of the repairs in a timely fashion and work around your schedule to give you as much peace and quiet as possible during the restoration project.
ESR Disaster Hero serves Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and surrounding areas. Our highly skilled and experienced workers are ready to repair even the hardest water-damaged homes and commercial buildings. No job is too big or too small for us. The sooner you contact ESR Disaster Hero, the sooner you can get back to living in a home free of water damage.
