Water Damage Restoration Cost

When a severe flood warning results in flood water wreaking havoc in your home, the last thing you want to do is think about the cost of water removal.

The problem is that if you want your home to be protected against further damage, acting quickly is the name of the game.

You can expect to pay anywhere from £500 to £5,000 to remove the flood water, with additional costs being incurred depending on how much structural damage your home has suffered.

Basement Repair and Restoration

So that you know whether or not you’re being quoted a competitive price, here are the ranges you can expect. The specific amount will depend on the volume of water and the square foot area you need to fix:

Pumping water out of the basement: £500 – £5,000

Cleaning up the basement: £5,000

Extracting water from other rooms: £200 – £1,000

Hiring an underwater pump: £25 – £35 per day

Hiring a dehumidifier: £50 – £150 per week

Hiring a plumber: £40 – £60 per hour

Emergency drainage: £80 – £250 per hour

You may also need to take a number of flood prevention measures to protect your home in the future, for example:

Fitting a floodgate will cost anywhere from £1,000 to £4,500

Fitting a flood-resistant front door will cost £1,500 to £4,000

Raising your door threshold will be in the range of £1,000 to £2,000

You may need an immediate response

If your property is on higher ground, there are a number of other issues that will result in significant water damage. Flood water is far from the only issue that you may face.

A leaky roof that is damaged in a storm may well mean you require water removal even if there is no flood damage in the surrounding area.

Rising damp, although rarely requiring emergency services unless it causes breathing issues, can require water extraction if the basement becomes flooded.

Burst pipes will cause similar destruction to the flood damage we all see during storms and may even require you to go and seek temporary accommodation.

Third-person causes, such as overflowing baths, accidents, or poor work by contractors, can leave you faced with the prospect of paying for costly water extraction. Even tap water that overflows for just a few minutes can cause issues.

Sewer leads are of the most unpleasant water removal jobs — and the most expensive — because of the other nasties that come with it. In these unfortunate cases, the restoration work can approach five figures.

Clearing up and making repairs after a flood

Once the flood water has been removed, you will be faced with the arguably larger job of restoring your property to its former glory. While you will want to tackle damage restoration as soon as possible so you can recover from the water damage, be sure to contact your insurance company and local council at the earliest opportunity.

Knowing your rights and what you’re covered for will ensure that you know how much it will cost to put your soft furnishing right and repair any damaged hard surfaces, and they may even recommend hiring specific local contractors. Just what you need when you want to start removing all that moisture from your home the right way.

Once you do that, there’s a standard set of actions you will need to work through:

• Pump out the flood water once the emergency services say your property is safe to re-enter
• Remove damaged property, material from damaged walls, and any large amounts of debris
• Start drying out your basement and work upwards through your property
• Get quotes from at least three contractors and send them to your insurance company
• Ask them to include labour, parts, materials, and any damp proof measures required

At all times, it’s of paramount importance that you take special care and avoid hasty speed when working on your property. While you might want to take care of the installation of some equipment or new materials yourself, it’s always best to leave it to a professional when you’re dealing with the fallout from a flood warning that came to fruition.

The cost of floor and hardwood repair

While carpet will likely have to be pulled up and thrown away, you can often restore a wooden floor with the right treatment. To dry it, rework it, and seal it, you can expect to pay in the region of £40 per m2. It’s important to note that this will vary depending on the level of damage — a deluge of tap water will not inflict as much damage as a sewer overflowing, for example.

The water damage restoration drying process

While you may think you can handle some of the repairs to your property yourself, it’s always best to contact your insurance company and have them assess the level of damage and the extent of the issues.

One of the issues is that, while trying to dry your home sounds relatively simple, there is a risk of there being a number of underlying issues caused by the flood water:

• Damaged or faulty electricity supplies can be potentially lethal
• Water extraction requires specialist equipment that must remove all flood water before you start drying
• Your insurance company will likely have rules about how you can and cannot work in your home after a flood
• You can only fully dry out your walls when you have a specialist heater and dehumidifier
• A damp proofing professional will be required to quantify the level of damp with a damp metre that measures the amount of moisture retained by the plaster

Rather than trying to charge ahead with the next steps yourself, get the advice, guidance, and professional work of an expert.

What are the costs of mould and water damage repair?

As a very rough guide, you can expect to pay in the region of £200 to £400 per room if your home has been flooded with clean water. These costs may be significantly higher if you have mud, black water, or sewage inside your property.

Getting rid of contaminated items safely

A big risk is getting sick due to parasites and bacteria carried into your home by flood water. While the water removal cost may already sound higher than you would like, the last thing you want is burst pipes leading to a prolonged stay in the hospital.

Your local council will have waste centres where soft furnishing that is damaged can be disposed of as part of the clean-up process. In many cases, a specialist team that carries out these repairs on a full-time basis will be your first point of contact about how to get rid of contaminated items.

If your insurance company covers the cost of using them, follow their advice and tell them everything you want to dispose of so that you don’t compromise your own safety.

Food and water safety

When rivers burst their banks, they bring so much from the wider environment into your home that restoring your home becomes as much a healthcare exercise as it does a building restoration project.

Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you take in any flood water, change your clothes, and wash in clean water where practically possible.

Stagnant water, not to mention sewage, will contain parasites and bacteria that will make you unwell and significantly add to the stress of your unexpected damage restoration project.

How to get fair damage restoration costs

The Federation of Damp has changed the game when it comes to lifting the standards in the damp proofing and repair industry. If you want to make sure that you get a contractor you can trust to put things right after a devasting flood, we’re always here to put you in touch with experts in your local area.

They will provide itemised quotations based on the square footage of your affected area, allowing you to see what’s included at a glance. Exactly what you need when you want to understand the water damage restoration cost without any stress.

How much does it cost to fix a flooded basement?

You can expect to pay £500 to £5,000, depending on the extent of the damage your house has suffered. Contact your insurer to check you are covered, contact a damp specialist they recommend for advice, and then allow them to get to work so that you can get a clean home sooner rather than later.

Will my home insurance cover water damage?

Contact your insurer at the earliest opportunity after water damage to check if you are covered. They will offer advice and let you know if you have full or partial coverage. One of the issues many homeowners face is that they find they are not covered in the event of a flood because they live in an area that is frequently flooded.

What determines the cost of water damage repair?

The following factors will impact the cost of putting things right after a flood or any other form of water damage:

• How much water needs to be pumped out and how dirty it is
• The square footage and size of your property
• The exact cause of the water damage and whether your insurance policy covers it
• How much of your home needs to be repaired or replaced

Leaky pipes, storms, and rising damp will all cause different issues within your property and require a different type of clean-up process.

The type of water matters because not all types of excess water in your home are created equal. Clean, grey, black, and sewage-laded water will each come with a different clean-up price determined by the damage and contamination.

Before we leave you to check your insurance policy and start the flood recovery process, here are some answers that will help you on your way.

How do you dry out flood damage?

Due to the potential issues with your electricity supply, wait for the professionals to give your house the all-clear before trying to start the process of drying and trying to clean it yourself. There may also be potential issues with your gas supply that further complicate matters.

Hiring a damp proof and mould removal team who knows how to dry all types of walls and floors quickly and safely is always the best approach to take.

What should I do immediately after water damage?

While you may start to worry about your soft furnishings, the priority in a flood or other incident should always be the preservation of life. If you want to be able to stay safe, act with speed, but as calmly as possible, and contacting the fire brigade should be your first port of call.

How long does it take for mould to set in after a flood?

Your property can fall foul to mould in as little as 48 hours after a flood. If left unaddressed for several weeks, the price of future water damage restoration can significantly increase as a result of rapid mould growth in all areas of your property.

What to do when a house is flooded?

Contact the emergency services for help, your insurer to report flood damage, and remove any soft furnishings to a higher floor only when it is safe to do so.