Repairing water damage can be costly. However, immediate water damage restoration is necessary to protect occupants from potentially toxic waterborne bacteria and the property from structural collapse. Costs to fix water damage in Los Angeles County vary based on numerous factors.
Cost to Repair Water Damage in Los Angeles County
The national average to restore a water-damaged property is roughly $3150. Prices vary, however, and can range from $1200 to $5000. The cost includes water damage cleanup by a licensed water damage restoration professional or company. Either uses high-tech equipment during cleanup.
Looking at the national average for water damage repair gives a rough estimate of potential costs in Los Angeles County. However, the national average rarely provides an accurate final price for the area, especially since many variables affect the cost of local water damage restoration.
The costs of water damage restoration in Los Angeles County may differ from the national average due to a variety of reasons.
What Determines the Cost of Repair Water Damage in L.A. County
- Local labor hourly rates
- Price of materials
- Surface preparation
- Machinery
- Cleanup fees
- Cost of obtaining permits to perform the water damage cleanup in the county.
The average water damage repair project in Los Angeles County hovers around $2500. Material for water damage repairs costs an average of $12 per square foot. The average price for the most populous county in the US includes local labor costs.
Why should homeowners avoid DIY cleanup?
While homeowners may be tempted to perform water damage cleanup on their own, it is highly discouraged. Cleanup may be accomplished to a certain extent. However, failing to perform a thorough water damage cleanup can lead to even costlier fixes in the future.
Missing a small area affected by water damage can result in explosive mold growth. Mold remediation will be an additional, hefty expense. If the source of water damage is left unaddressed, the damage will reoccur (such as fixing a water-damaged ceiling, but not repairing the leaky roof).
Hiring expert water damage restoration professionals is essential to preventing re-occurrence of the problem and subsequent mold infestation. A pro will assess the extent of water damage and pinpoint its cause. The type and extent of damage largely influences the final price of water damage repair.
How do water categories affect the cost of cleanup?
Water damage falls into three categories:
- Clean water
- Gray water
- Black water
Licensed professionals are trained to identify how clean is the water that caused the damage. The more toxic the water, such as with black water, the greater the repair costs will be.
What is Clean Water?
Restoring a home affected by clean water is the least costly, as this type of water poses no threat to health.
Examples of clean water include:
- Water from a faucet
- Sprinklers
- Burst pipes
- Water heaters
- Rain.
Fix clean water damage quickly to prevent a degradation to gray water.
What is Gray Water?
Gray water is the next category and costs slightly more to clean than clean water. Gray water contains minor traces of contaminants, like detergents, which can cause minor illness.
Examples of gray water include:
- Water from a dishwasher or washing machine.
Without swift action, bacteria can grow and create blackwater.
What is Black Water?
Blackwater is the most toxic, as coming into contact with it can cause serious health issues or even death. Water damage specialists utilize advanced equipment, making repair costly.
Black water comes from:
- Sewage backups
- Flooding containing contaminated groundwater
- Storm surges.
