Water damage restoration costs depend on the severity of the problem, the type of water, and the length of time the damage has been occurring.
How Long Does Water Damage Restoration Take?
Considering more than just drying time
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Water damage restoration timelines range from 24 to 48 hours for minor damage to six months for severe flooding with structural issues and mold growth.
Expect to pay $3,800 on average for water damage restoration, with costs ranging from $450 to $16,000 depending on the extent of damage.
Acting quickly protects your home from worsening damage, mold growth, and pest infestation that can extend your restoration timeline and increase costs.
Hiring a local water damage restoration professional speeds up drying and repairs, helping you avoid delays and ensuring your insurance approvals move smoothly.
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Water damage is one of the last things any homeowner wants to see in their home, and getting it remediated can seem nearly impossible if the damage is severe enough. But how long does water damage restoration take, and what’s involved? In this guide, we’ll explain the average timeline, factors that can affect it, and more to get you prepared for the work.
How Long Does Water Damage Restoration Take?
Water damage restoration takes an average of two weeks, but minor damage could take just 24 to 48 hours, and major flooding that leads to structural issues and mold growth could take up to six months to remediate.
Factors That Affect the Timeline
The timeline for the work varies so much because there are a few factors that affect the process.
Extent of the Damage
Water damage can include anything from a small amount of mold damage and ruined building materials from a minor plumbing leak to large-scale issues stemming from a flood or a burst pipe. Minor damage behind a single wall should take no more than two days to restore, while more severe damage that causes issues with mold growth and structural damage can take up to six months to restore.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Repairing water damage is technically DIYable, especially if the job is relatively minor, like replacing some damaged drywall and insulation and drying out a small wall void. You could also DIY larger jobs, but the repairs will take significantly longer. A good rule of thumb is to assume that DIYing work will take at least twice as long as it would take a professional.
Insurance Approvals
If your water damage is the result of a natural disaster, like a flood, hurricane, or tropical storm, chances are your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover most or all of the repair costs. While this is great news for your wallet, it does mean you’ll need to wait for an inspection and for your insurer to approve the repair costs. For minor jobs, you could be looking at just one to three days for approval, while approval for major restoration could take up to three weeks.
Water Damage Restoration Process
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Understanding the water damage restoration process can help you get a more accurate estimate for how long remediation will take for your particular situation.
Initial inspection: If your insurance company is involved, they’ll first need to conduct an inspection before approving repairs. This should take 1 to 3 days.
Removing standing water: The water damage restoration professional you hire will start by removing standing water and puddles. This should take a few hours but can take up to a day.
Drying: Next, your professional will dry the interior using industrial fans. This process can take 2 to 7 days, depending on the size of the area and the extent of the damage.
Cleaning: Next, your professional will clean up and sanitize any resulting mold growth, as well as remove damaged materials that are beyond repair. This can take anywhere from a day to an entire week.
Restoration: The actual restoration process involves replacing damaged materials, which could take just 2 days for minor damage but can take up to 4 to 6 months in extreme cases where structural damage occurred.
How to Speed Up the Water Damage Restoration Process
It may be discouraging to hear that getting your home back to normal can take weeks or even months. Luckily, there are a few water damage restoration tips you can use to speed up the process.
Act quickly: The longer you let water damage sit, the higher your risk is of resulting structural damage, pest infestation, and mold growth. Contact your insurance provider and a restoration professional immediately for the fastest results.
Hire reputable specialists: It might be tempting to DIY some of the work, but it will always be faster to hire local water damage restoration professionals. They’ll work more quickly, which will reduce the risk of mold growth and worsening damage. A reputable contractor will also help water damage insurance approvals go more smoothly.
Communicate: Remain in communication with your insurance provider and your restoration specialist to avoid delays and keep things moving along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Water and smoke damage repairs reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.8★ avg. • 2 total reviews
- Julio V.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The Waterworks - Brent C.
Carpet repair done well. Scheduling was easy. Showed up on time.
BR Flooring Installation - Mike Z.
As usual with ECO, tech Jordan was outstanding, very professional, very knowledgeable, and very thorough with repairs made to tankless water heaters. Very highly recommend ECO!!!
Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians - Austin Y.
I would recommend this company to anyone! He showed up on time, was friendly, completed a very difficult repair on our dryer vent cover, was responsive, and pricing was extremely fair and competitive. I would have him back to do any of our repairs or cleanings without hesitation!
U.S.A. Dryer Vent, LLC - Micki B.
Everything from initial contact to completion was absolutely top notch. We contacted the business during off hours to leave a message, and the owner still reached out to feel out the issue within minutes. We were scheduled and repaired within 48 hours. I cannot say enough about the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Donald L.
Ace Fireplace Services came to the rescue for my chimney repair. They were quick to pinpoint the issue and worked their magic to fix it. My chimney is now in excellent shape, and I'm a satisfied customer.
Ace Fireplace Services - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
- Angie M.
When we had the winter freeze, I called Quantum Waterworks Waterline & Drain Cleaning Services and within 1 hour I received an e-mail and he sent someone out the next day and he was on time, he was nice and did the job quickly and cleaned up after himself. We had a leak in our kitchen from...
Quantum Waterworks Waterline & Drain Cleaning Services, LLC - Heather M.
On time, clean and finished fast. Windows seem sturdy and the finish is good. Caulking was done with no smudges. Would recommend.
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Michael S.
Did a great job replacing the ice maker and water regulator on my refrigerator. He was quick and thorough, very friendly and professional. If I needed a heart transplant I'd want him to do it!!!
The homeowners guide to water and smoke damage repairs
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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