When water damage occurs in your home, it’s important to act quickly. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to experience secondary damage from mold and other contaminants. The cost of repairing water damage will vary depending on the type and amount of water damage, the location in your home where the water damage occurred, and the types of materials affected by the water damage. The cost of water mitigation will also depend on how much extra work is required to remove and replace damaged materials.
Water damage mitigation refers to the immediate steps taken by a water restoration professional to mitigate the effects of a water event This includes stopping the flow of water, assessing the damage, and extracting and drying out the affected area. It is always followed by water damage restoration, which is the actual repair and reconstruction of the affected areas of your home.
Different types of water damage are defined by how clean or dirty the water is, which illustrates how much contact it has had with dirt, grime, and other pollutants. Only a licensed pro can categorize and classify water damage, as DIY diagnoses often fail to accurately reflect the true extent of the issue.
The three categories of water damage are:
Class 1 is clear water from a clean source. This includes water supply lines, melting ice, condensation, and collections of standing water that don’t contain dirt or other contaminants.
Water from this category usually only affects the floors of a room, although it may also damage furniture and other personal items that touch the floor.
If a room’s walls, flooring, and even insulation are affected by water from this category, it is considered to be class 2. This type of water can cause serious structural problems for your home, so it is important to call in a professional to assess and dry out the area as soon as possible.
In many cases, removing the outer layer of drywall will allow professionals to reach the dampness behind it. This is especially necessary for homes with older drywall, which can swell and retain water when exposed to water. In some cases, this may involve tearing out sections of your ceiling if the leak originated upstairs.
If your home’s water is classified as class 3, it means that the structure and integrity of your home have been compromised by long-standing water that has saturated or permeated most building materials. This is the most expensive class of water damage, and it can require complete remodeling or rebuilding of your home.
Water damage can be devastating to your home, not only because of the cost of repair and restoration but also due to loss of belongings. Oftentimes, irreplaceable family heirlooms and other valuables will be lost to water damage. If you’re interested in selling your home with severe or recurring water damage, consider selling it to real estate investors who specialize in buying and restoring houses in need of major repairs.