Water Damage Repair: How To Fix Water Damage In Your Home

In the years of owning a home, new or old, there’s going to be many times where you’ll need to break out the toolbox. It could be as simple as patching a hole in the drywall, but it could also be something that requires a bit more effort to remedy, like water damage.

Water damage is a hard repair to tackle as they require replacements rather than repairs. It’s important to understand the many factors that go into a proper water damage repair, so let’s get into what to expect when handling water damage and the steps to take to achieve the best results.

What Is Water Damage?

Water damage is any kind of damage to your home that was caused by water flooding or leaking anywhere it shouldn’t be. A burst pipe, leaking washing machine or flooded basement are just some of the causes that lead to structural damage to your home.

Signs Of Water Damage

Take a look around your home. If you do have an issue with water damage, there are certain signs you can look for that could mean potential leaks. Here are some indicators:

• Peeling wallpaper and flaking paint: When water seeps in-between wallpaper or paint and the wall you put it on, the adhesive will start to loosen and peel your wallpaper and flake your paint.
• Small cracks: A heavy amount of water is going to weaken your home’s structural integrity and cause your walls to crack under the pressure.
• Water stains on the ceiling or wall: Water stains are going to be brown rings on your walls or ceilings. At the center of these rings is where your water is pooling, maybe even dripping.
• Warped walls, ceilings or floors: Water damage can get deep into your home’s structure, and things that aren’t waterproof like wood or drywall will start to bend, wrap or sag.
• Mold growth: Mold is found where there is moisture, so check for water nearby if you find it. Large amounts can be highly dangerous to live and breathe in, so any sign of it should be taken care off immediately.

Fixing Water Damage: How To Clean Up In 5 Steps

If you have water damage in your home, the first step is to figure out whether you can manage the cleanup yourself or need a home water remediation service. If you’re wondering how to repair water damage, here are five steps you can take.

1. Prioritize Safety First

Anytime you’re dealing with water damage, safety should be your first priority. Start by turning off all water and electrical sources in your home. To turn off the electricity, you may need to have a licensed electrician remove your home’s electrical meter from its socket to ensure that all electricity has been disconnected.

If you’re going to be wading into the water, it’s a good idea to wear some sort of protective clothing to keep your skin from becoming irritated. The water may look clean, but you still can’t be sure it hasn’t been contaminated in some way.

2. Remove The Water

Next, it’s important to remove any pooled water from the damaged area of your home. If you’re dealing with a small amount of water, you may be able to use a wet vacuum to remove it. If you’ve experienced more significant flooding, you may need to rent a water pump to get the water out of your home.

If you have a lot of water in your basement, you shouldn’t remove it all at once. Instead, pump out about a third of the water per day. If you remove too much at once, the water in the ground surrounding your basement can cause the floors to buckle and the walls to collapse from the sudden pressure loss.

3. Dry Out The Space

Because mold can start to grow in as little as 24 hours, you want to dry out the area as quickly as possible. If the water damage is minimal, setting up fans can help. But if it’s more extensive, you may want to rent a large dehumidifier.

4. Disinfect The Damaged Area

Once your home is dried out, everything that came into contact with flood water will need to be disinfected. Any items that came into contact with sewage – particularly absorbent items like furniture, rugs and carpet – should be discarded since disinfecting them may not remove all harmful bacteria and parasites.

5. Figure Out What Can Be Salvaged

Once you’ve finished cleaning up the water damage, you need to determine which items in your home can be salvaged. If you’ve experienced a flood, you may find that many of your items won’t be salvageable. You’ll also have to replace any damaged carpeting, drywall, and insulation.

If your home is located in a flood zone or you purchased additional insurance to cover flood damage, you may be able to file a claim with your homeowners insurance provider. Before making major repairs or discarding your belongings, contact your insurance provider to discuss your claim.

Costs Of Water Damage Repair

Repair costs can be expensive, but keep in mind this isn’t going to be a reoccurring cost for homeowners to pay.

Costs to repair water damage are going to depend on multiple factors, like surface area of the damage, how much flooring or walls need to be replaced and how much labor you’ll need to cover your damaged areas. According to Forbes Home, costs for repairs can range from $450 – $13,000, with an average of around $3,300 in 2023.  

Water Damage Category

Like mentioned before, water damage can come in three categories: clear, gray or black. As the water gets darker in color, the more damage and the more labor you might have to hire in order to repair. Black water isn’t something to take care of yourself, as it often means some kind of sewage leak and can have harmful bacteria in it.

Water Damage Class

After figuring out what kind of water damage you have, classify the level of damage made to your home. Here is a scale you can use to determine damage levels and cost:

• Class 1: The easiest level of water damage to repair. Materials absorb very little of the water at this level, meaning the homeowner can often fix it themselves.
• Class 2: At this level, water has a fast rate of evaporation, which means that carpets and cushions may be damaged. It can be fixed fairly inexpensively unless the flooring has to be replaced.
• Class 3: Class 3 deals with water damaging the entire room, like broken sprinklers soaking the walls and furniture. It is possible that the structural integrity of the room is compromised, leading to greater expense.
• Class 4: Last but not least, a class 4 level of water damage is going to require special water restoration and water removal procedures. This type of damage may affect hardwood floors, plaster and concrete. Class 4 damage is often a result of extensive flooding.

As you might have guessed for both categories and classes, as you move down the list to murkier water and higher levels of damage, the cost to repair is also going to increase.

How To Prevent Future Water Damage

The last important step after you’ve done your repairs is make sure your hard work stays put for a while. One way is to divert water away from the home. This can be done in many ways, like extending your downspouts so water falls out further away from the home or installing a rain barrel, especially if you live in a wetter area.

Other exterior updates you can make to help keep water away from your home is to regularly check and keep the gutters clean or repairing a leaky roof. Both are easy fixes that will prevent a water damage disaster that will be harder to repair.

And just in case, waterproof your basement in case preventative measures fail in keeping things dry. This can be done by sealing as any cracks or openings, along with an overall waterproof sealant to cover floors and walls.

The Bottom Line

Water damage can be an emotionally tough event to deal with, so it’s important to take the time to place preventative measures. Of course, we can’t always predict the weather or natural causes. In that case, remember to take the proper steps and precautions needed to repair your water damage.

Apply for a cash-out refinance to help finance your home repairs.