The cost of water damage restoration after a fire is put out using water can be high, but the cost depends on several factors.
Water damage can be caused by natural means, such as a flood or tropical storm, but it can also be the result of human intervention when a fire breaks out. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of water to put out a blaze, and that water can be almost as damaging as the fire itself.
This article focuses on restoring a property to its prior condition after water has been used to extinguish a fire.
What Does Water Damage Restoration Include?
Water damage restoration usually involves clean-up services to remove the water and remedy its effects. Depending on the water damage restoration service provider, the remedy may include repair services.
A water damage restoration service usually includes:
- Removal of surface or standing water from the affected area: $2 to $5 for every square foot of water removal
- Removal of items damaged by water, for example, drywall: $800 to $4,000
- Mold prevention care: $300-$500 (no mold formed at this stage)
- Intensive dehumidification (to assist with the structural drying process by removing excess moisture)
- Deodorization
Factors That Determine Cost of Water Damage Restoration
As mentioned, the cost of water cleanup and the restoration process after a fire varies. The factors responsible for cost variations may include:
- Geographical location of the property
- Type of water that caused the damage (clean water)
- Extent of water damage
- Materials affected (counts if the restoration includes repair or replacements)
- Size of the property/size of the affected area (damage class)
- Nature of the homeowner’s insurance policy for the property
How Much Will Water Damage Restoration Cost After a Fire?
You could pay between $1,000 and $5,000 for water damage restoration that includes cleanup services only. The average cost for water damage cleanup for an average-sized home is $3,000.
The HomeAdvisor places the national average water damage restoration cost at $3,292, with a typical range of $1,303 to $5,490 and a low-end to high-end range of $450 to $13,000.
However, these figures by the HomeAdvisor are for general water damages, such as those caused by natural causes, flood damage, burst pipes, and leaky plumbing, rather than damages caused by the water used to extinguish a fire.
Cost of Water Damage Restoration Based on Damage Category
Water damage categories are assigned based on the type of water that caused the damage. The three categories are:
- Category 1 (clean water)
- Category 2 (gray water)
- Category 3 (black water)
Since we are talking about water damage restoration after a fire, the idea here is that the damage will have been caused primarily by water used by the fire department to put out the fire. Or it could be from water from the property’s fire sprinkler system.
The water held in fire sprinkler systems is clean water, as is the water used by the fire department.
However, gray or black water damage may be a secondary outcome of the fire. For example, a fire may damage a dishwasher, causing health risks from contamination by dishwasher detergents.
A fire could also cause a sewer burst, which in turn causes sewage water to flood the property.
Clean water is the safest and cheapest to remove. The removal will cost you between $3 and $5 for every square foot of water extraction from the surface.
Gray water poses standard health risks to the restoration workers, making it necessary to charge $4 to $7 for each square foot.
The most expensive water to remove is black water, given that it poses more health dangers to the workers. You could be charged $7 to $8 for each square foot of water removal and cleaning services.
Cost of Water Damage Restoration Based on Damage Class
The water damage class is based on the size of the area affected by the water damage. The classes range from 1 to 4 with varying costs:
- Class 1: Damage sustained by only a part of the room: $150 to $500
- Class 2: Damage sustained by the whole room and the water floods to a height of 12″ inches: $500 to $1,000
- Class 3: Damage sustained by several rooms or a massive part of a single room, including critical areas like ceilings, insulation, walls, and flooring: $1,000 to $3,000
- Class 4: Damage sustained after prolonged exposure to water: $20,000 to $100,000
Cost of Water Damage Restoration Based on Type of Damage
Types of water damage and the attendant costs include:
- Cosmetic damage (minimal or superficial damage, may include upholstery cleaning and carpet cleaning): $100 to $1,000
- Electrical system damage: $1,500 to $3,000
- Mold remediation (where mold removal is necessary and measures are taken to prevent regrowth): $1,500 to $4,000
- Replacing personal items (depends on the value of items): $500 to $10,000 or more
- Structural damage remediation (depends on what is to be repaired and how much damage has been done): $1,500 to $100,000
Not all water restoration service companies will provide structural water damage repair and item replacement. You might have to find separate service providers for these restoration services.
Cost of Water Damage Restoration Based on Location of Damage
The cost of water restoration may differ based on the exact location of the sustained damage and whether the cleanup crew will repair it. You’ll have to find a separate contractor if the company doesn’t offer repair services.
Critical places usually damaged by water from fire extinguishing processes include:
- Bathroom: $3,000 on average to clean up
- Roofs: $1,000 on average countrywide. This can be as much as $10,000 if you factor in repair costs
- Basement damaged by clean water: $500 to $2,000, depending on the size and extent of the sustained damage
- Basement with black water involved: $2500 to $3,000
- Kitchen: $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the amount of damage caused by the water, its interference with items like cooking oils, and repairs for cabinetry
Cost of Water Damage Restoration Based on Property Location
The cost of water damage restoration services varies from location to location and from company to company. It may be challenging to know what companies charge in different states or cities upfront.
Preventing Water Damage Caused by Clean Water From Fire Sprinklers
While you may not prevent water damage caused by the fire department’s clean water when a fire occurs, you can always prevent water damage from clean water in fire sprinkler systems.
If you accidentally set off fire sprinkler heads, you can run up to $35,000 or more in just a few minutes before the fire department can shut down the water from the main supply.
In case of accidental sprinkler head activations, you can protect your building with Shutgun, a tool specially designed for stopping water flow from a single sprinkler head. Having this handy tool can save you thousands of dollars in water damage and the hassle of the repair process. Contact us today to find out how a Shutgun can protect your home and business!
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