Average Cost Of Flooded Basement Cleanup And Water Damage Repair

How much does it cost to clean, repair, and restore a flooded basement?

Here we will be looking at the average service prices for basement cleaning, repair, and water damage restoration.

Basement cleaning is one service that’s either performed alone or included with general home cleaning.

Here, we’re talking about professional cleaning. Several situations will require basements to be cleaned.

These range from the routine cleaning of accumulated dirt to or cleanup of a flooded basement.

What Does Flooded Basement Cleanup Cost Cover?

Basement areas of homes pose the most challenge when it comes to moisture issues. Due to their below-ground positioning, it makes them most vulnerable to damage caused by moisture.

Now, there are lots of moisture control techniques designed to combat such problems.  However, some homeowners might experience water damage before taking any real preventive action.

A flooded basement cleanup process is the response strategy adopted to restore the basement or make it usable again. Of course, such restoration procedures will require fixing the things needed to prevent a repeat.

This article will be discussing the cleanup costs associated with basement water damage.

What Does Basement Cleanup Entail?

Before we get into specifics about flooded basement cleanup costs, it’s necessary to first discuss what’s involved. In other words, let’s take a look at what the process covers.

For a better understanding, we’ll consider the different categories of cleanup known as water loss cleanup.

Water loss cleanup is categorized from 1 through 3. Here, the extent or severity of damage caused by flooding increases from 1 to 3.

Let’s discuss what’s involved.

• Category 1 Water Loss

Basement flooding under this category is mostly caused by clear water. This is called so because the water is free of harmful bacteria and toxins.

Despite this, the water still causes damage to a variety of items submerged. Although some level of disinfecting will be needed, it isn’t as significant as those involving gray or black water.

• Category 2 Water Loss

This type of basement cleanup is more difficult to deal with compared to category 1 water loss.

Here, the water involved is gray and needs to be cleaned up. Gray water simply refers to contaminated water resulting from backed-up sump pumps, washing machines, etc.

As expected, gray water requires a significant level of disinfection. Also, the problems have to be fixed or addressed to forestall future reoccurrence.

In terms of cost, dealing with category 2 water loss will be much higher compared to category 1.

• Category 3 Flood

As stated earlier, flooded basement cleanup difficulty increases as the situation gets worse.

Under this situation, floodwater could come from several sources ranging from sea or river, groundwater, or even sewage. Because it involves black water, you’re exposed to a high level of health risk.

Apart from removing the water and disinfecting affected areas, appliances and any other items will have to be cleaned and thoroughly disinfected before usage.

In terms of costs, it’s likely to be much higher when compared with categories 1 and 2.

Basement Cleaning Prices

Basement areas of homes are the worse-hit areas when it comes to flooding.

This is understandable due to its position which goes below the ground surface. In a flooding situation, tidying up would be necessary. As the homeowner, part of the things needed is to determine the cost of cleanup.

This is what we seek to discuss right here.

In this article, you’ll find all relevant information on basement flooding cleanup costs. With such information, you’re able to determine what it takes to get the job done.

As you read on, you’ll find other relevant information that will make your cleanup process much easier.

Here, house cleaning prices are determined by multiple factors as you’ll soon learn. If you’re looking to hire a professional cleaning service for your basement, the information here should prove very useful.

You only need to read along to have an idea of what it will cost you to have such a task performed.

Aspects of Cleanup Costs You should know

As part of our discussion on basement cleanup costs, it’s important to consider certain contributory factors. Such include the type of damage, cleanup costs by size, class of damage, as well as category of damage.

It will be vital to also take a look at the causes of such water damage with a view to addressing or preventing a repeat.

After performing a basement water damage cleanup procedure, it’s important to have preventive measures put in place. Sump pump installation will go a long way in preventing such problems in the future.

These basement water damage cleanup costs cover a number of situations. Here, costs could be significant depending on the type of damage, the size of your basement, as well as the source of water.

You’ll need to call a basement cleanup service for a quote on how much your job will cost.

• How Much Does Basement Cleaning Cost?

When it comes to cleaning, your type of basement will play a role in determining costs. There’s the finished basement, as well as the unfinished basement.

Cleaning prices for finished basements tend to be higher than those for unfinished basements. In all, your project cost will range between $45 and $100.

For a deep clean procedure, a significant amount of junk may have to be removed.

Depending on the volume of junk, you may end up paying around $250 or more for a junk removal service to get the job done.

Sometimes, cleaning services also offer junk removal. What you end up paying depends on who you hire.

i. Cleaning Prices for Flooded Basement

The prices discussed above involved the usual deep cleaning of a basement. However, there are times when the situation could be significantly different.

When faced with a flooded basement scenario, cleaning techniques and scenarios are much different. In other words, this requires a specialized approach to cleaning.

When it comes to cleanup, multiple steps are followed.

Depending on the type of water (clean, gray, or black water), labor costs typically range from $3.50 per sq. ft. to $7 per sq. ft. Of course, gray and black water attract the highest cleaning costs due to the toxins contained and disinfection required.

Here, the processes include pumping, disinfecting, and drying out. For pumping, expect a fee between $1,500 and $3,000. A vital piece of equipment mostly used for such a job is a submersible pump.

A wet/dry vacuum is also put to use when water levels aren’t as deep.

Basement disinfection after flooding will likely incur a fee of around $2,000 to $4,000. While some items may be salvaged and usable after disinfection, others will have to be thrown out or disposed of completely.

A wide range of disinfection products is used here.

One other cleanup process necessary to complete the job is drying out a flooded basement. This costs between $1,000 and $2,000. While drying, there’s a need to get rid of odors and mildew.

Air purifiers come in handy for such procedures.

In terms of drying out flooded areas, the use of dehumidifiers and fans is necessary. All cleanup costs mentioned cover both materials and labor.

• What’s the Cause of Flooding?

One of the primary things that need to be addressed before cleaning commences is the cause of flooding.

Basement flooding could be due to two reasons; rainwater or flood leaking through a crack or opening, as well as waste or sewage back-up from leaky pipes.

So, how does the cause of flooding relate to pricing? In a lot more ways than you think! Cleaner water is easier and less costly to clean than dirty water.

Also, the volume of water to be removed determines the cost of cleaning.

When it comes to the cost of cleaning a flooded basement, the prices are much higher than regular deep cleaning (in the absence of water). Cleaning costs range from $450 to $7,000.

In special circumstances, costs could significantly exceed the $7,000 mark.

ii. Factors Influencing Basement Cleanup Cost

Cleaning costs for a flooded basement can be looked at from different angles such as the cost per square foot, cost per inch of flooded water, cost per hour, and the type of water.

Other cost influencing factors include the level of damage, and additional costing details.

• Cleaning Cost Per Square Foot

Cleaning services have per square foot billing plans.

Here, the average cleanup cost per square foot is around $3.7 to $7.0. So, a 10 sq. ft. space will cost about $37.7 to $70, while a 100 sq. ft. basement will cost between $370.7 and $700 to clean.

As expected, cleaning prices will climb for a 500 sq. ft. basement which will go from around $1,875 to $3,500. For a 1,000 sq. ft space, you should expect around $3,700 to $7,000.

These prices are only the average range of cleaning prices.

• Cleaning Cost Per Inch of Flooded Water

Another pricing parameter that’s likely to determine basement cleaning cost is the depth of water or liquid. When clear or clean water is involved, it will usually cost between $500 and $1,500 to clean up.

Different cleaning services might have pricing structures that either include or exclude the cost per inch of flooded water.

• Cleaning Cost Per Hour

Labor cost for basement cleaning is often determined by hourly estimation.

The cost per hour for such cleanup is determined by your location. If you wonder how to consider this; certain locations or cities are known to have higher living costs than others.

This is most common in large cities. So, if you live in a large city with high living costs, expect higher cleaning fees. The typical price range per hour for all locations is between $70 and $200.

So, at the end of the cleanup, hours clocked are multiplied by the cost per hour.

• Type of Water

In terms of the water origin, your basement could be flooded with three types of water; blue water, greywater, and black water. Cleaning costs determine the type of water being cleaned.

So, what do these water categories mean? Let’s explain.

Bluewater mostly comes from burst or leaky pipes containing drinking or bathing water. Such could connect to your faucets etc.

Here, the damage will have to be fixed and the water pumped out to get the basement dry. The cost range for such a project is usually between $500 and $1,500.

When greywater floods your basement, the situation is quite different. Greywater is usually from appliances like washing machines or dishwashers.

Having this cleaned will cost more than freshwater.

Apart from pumping out the water, all hazardous materials will have to be removed and the place cleaned. This cleanup procedure should cause you anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.

When a flooded basement contains black water, it’s a different ballgame. Here, extremely hazardous materials are involved. This job will need to be performed by a specialized cleaning service.

Your basement will have to be pumped and deep-cleaned.

This is followed by disinfecting the whole area. Due to the type of cleanup, it will attract much more expenses with prices going as high as $10,000 or more.

• Level of Damage

Water damage usually results in the property.

Having the area cleaned and possibly fixed will be determined by the extent of the damage. At low levels of damage, you’re likely to incur between $500 and $1,000.

Medium damage will see your spending anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.

When dealing with serious problems like black water damage, the price is typically around $9,000 and higher.

• Repair Costs May Apply

As part of basement cleanup requirements, the professional service hired may also offer repairs to damage resulting from flooding. Such fixes may cater to problems like leaky basements, carpet cleanup, foundation issues, and wood repair.

Other related issues include flood cut drywall repair, and restarting furnaces after a flood.

Fixing a leaky basement will attract a cost ranging from $250 to $10,000. Such issues might range from minor to major. For carpet cleanup, expect a fee between $75 and $300.

Fixing faulty foundations will cost around $500 to $25,000 depending on the extent of the problem. Water-damaged wood repair goes for around $200 to $3,000.

The cost of restarting a furnace after flood ranges from $250 to $1,500.

• Additional Costing Details

Asides from cleaning the basement, a whole lot of other cleanups may be required.

Such include carpet cleaning, mold remediation, debris removal, fixing a damaged furnace, and cleaning a damaged heating system among other things.

Here, the cost of cleaning could range from as low as $50 to as much as $6,000.

• Who You Hire Matters

As part of figuring out the cost of basement cleanup, you’ll need to know that the company hired will determine at what cost the project is done. In other words, different cleanup companies have unique pricing structures.

To take advantage of their competitive rates, you’ll need to seek multiple quotes for purposes of comparison. Get as much as 3 to 5 from different companies.

This enables you to go with the company that offers the best deal.

How Much Does Flooded Basement Repair Cost?

Here is what it cost to repair a flooded basement.

Basement flooding is a condition that’s caused by multiple factors. As expected, water gets into your basement and causes a wide range of damage.

Getting things back in shape can be quite costly. Plus, the response time largely impacts the cost of repair. So, how much exactly does fixing a flooded basement cost?

This article is about finding answers.  If you have a flooded basement that’s damaged, you might want to read through to the end to have an idea of the cost of fixing the problem.

Being able to budget adequately for the repair procedure will be of great help to you.

Looking at the Root Causes

Before we get into details about the cost of basement repair due to flooding, let’s first consider the root causes. In other words, let’s identify the causes of basement flooding.

Several conditions could be responsible. These range from poor floor and wall sealing, as well as unsuitable or flood-prone locations.

Other likely causes of basement flooding include accumulated debris in gutters, faulty drainage systems, as well as poor landscape gradient.

All or some of these conditions could cause a wide range of basement leakage issues with translate to damages.

Basement Flood Repair Cost

When your basement becomes flooded, fixes may be necessary.

The extent of repairs will be determined by your basement’s condition. For minimal repairs to a 500 sq. ft. basement, expect an average cost of $4,000.

This is the national average cost for jobs of this nature.

The average range is typically between $3,000 and $10,000. At the minimum, expect a fee of around $2,000. On the flip side, the cost of fixing a flooded basement could cost as much as $15,000.

There are finer aspects of pricing you’ll need to know of.

Before a basement gets fixed, it has to be cleaned.

There are other considerations like the basement category, as well as the size. Let’s have a look at these price-determining factors for a better understanding of what’s involved.

i. Flooded Basement Cleaning Costs

As mentioned earlier, getting a flooded basement ready for repairs begins with cleaning out the area. Here, actions taken include pumping, disinfecting, and drying out.

Each of these procedures attracts certain fees. Cleaning costs also cover both materials and labor.

Now, the cost of getting floodwater out of your basement is determined by the type of water involved. For clean water, the removal process will be charged at about $3.50 per sq. ft.

For black or sewage water, the costs climb up considerably with charges going for around $7 per sq. ft.

For a 500 sq. ft. flooded basement, expect pumping costs between $1,500 and $3,000.

Disinfecting the same space will cost around $2,000 to $4,000, while the cost of drying out the area will go for around $1,000 to $2,000.

ii. Basement Repair Costs by Category

Fixing basement damage due to flooding follows certain categorizations. Such categorizations help technicians identify the level of damage involved.

Clients can look at such categorizations to know where their problems lie.

There are three categories; that is, categories one through 3.

Category 1 & 2 are mostly identified as water loss problems while category three is identified as floodwater. So, what do these categories mean and how do they translate to repair costs? Let’s take a look

• Flooded Basement Repair Costs Category 1

Category 1 damage mostly involves clear-water flooding problems. Because such water is free of harmful bacteria and toxins, it poses fewer complications when fixing damages caused.

Here, there’s no need for disinfection, plus the average cost of the repair job is around $2,000

• Flooded Basement Repair Costs Category 2

Category 2 basement issues due to water flooding involve gray water. Such greywater originates from washing machines, toilets, and other sources of dirty water.

Of course, a significant level of contamination is involved. It requires disinfection and the cost of the repair procedure starts from $4,000.

• Flooded Basement Repair Costs Category 3

Flooding conditions worsen under this category. This involves black water which needs to be cleaned up and thoroughly disinfected with resulting damage fixed.

This is mostly due to flooding which could be storm-related from sea or groundwater upsurge. Repair costs for such start from $10,000.

iii. Basement Repair Costs by Size

Size plays a key role in determining flooded basement repair costs.

Basements vary by size. Size variations include those measuring around 500 sq. ft. to others measuring around 1,800 sq. ft. So, what are the typical basement repair rates for the different sizes?

The following provides greater insight into costs.

The severity of damage also plays a key role in determining basement repair costs. For a basement measuring around 500 sq. ft. expect repair costs of around $1,750 to $3,500.

A basement with a size of around 1,000 sq. ft. will cost between $3,500 and $7,000 to fix.

Flooded basements with sizes beyond 1,000 sq. ft. (about 1,800 sq. ft. or higher) cost between $6,300 and $12,600 to fix.

iv. Flooding Repair Costs

When it comes to fixing a damaged basement due to flooding, many things are involved. The extent of damage varies from one job to the next.

Certain basement components will have to be fixed or completely replaced. Developing foundation issues cost the most to resolve at around $500 to $25,000.

Other possible problems that might need repairs or fixing include flood cut drywall repair that costs around $200 to $280. For carpet cleanup, expect to pay between $75 and $300.

Fixing leaky basements will incur repair fees in the region of $250 to $10,000.

The water-damaged wood repair will mostly require a complete replacement.

The cost of such a procedure ranges from $200 to $3,000. For restarting a furnace after flooding, you might be charged anywhere from $250 to $1,500.

Your Location Will Determine Flooded Basement Repair Costs

Certain locations are considered more economically viable than others.

Here, living costs are factored into the pricing structure. You’re likely to pay more for flooded basement repairs if you live in a large city with higher living costs.

The reverse is the case for low-cost cities.

This is as far as we’ll go on our discussion of flooded basement repair costs. You’ll have to call for estimates from reputable services to get the exact costs applicable to your situation.

Basement Water Damage Restoration Cost

How much does basement damage repair cost? What does it cost to fix a flooded unit completely? We have provided estimated prices in this cost guide.

Basements can be a very useful part of the home for many reasons. It offers you some privacy if you wish to have some quiet time in an isolated space, and it can also serve as a work area.

However, many homeowners will tell you that maintaining the basement is not an easy task. One of the reasons they attest to this is water damage.

Cost To Repair Wet Basement Damage

As you already know, the basement is the lowest point of your home, and that makes it more prone to water damage than any other part of the house.

Factors like hydrostatic pressure can contribute significantly to the deterioration of your basement walls, and the structure of your home as a whole.

Flooding on the other hand can damage your furniture, which will cost you decent sums of money in repair or replacement.

Basement Water Damage Repair Cost

That being said, you must fix all the leakages that can cause damage to your basement. These leaks may not even originate from the basement but other parts of your home.

It could be from your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. As long as there is a leak in any part of your home, the water will always flow to the lowest point – Your basement!

Of course, fixing leaks can’t be done for free unless you plan on doing the job yourself. Other than that, you will need to hire professionals who have the skills and experience needed to do a good job.

But how much does water damage repair cost?

Keep reading, as I’ll be giving you all the information you need.

Roof Water Damage Repair Cost

The basement might be the lowest part of your home, but the water damage may have originated from the highest point – The roof!

Heavy rainstorms or other forms of natural disasters can rip your roof off or damage some of its shingles.

When the roof is compromised, rainwater will pour in and flow as low as it possibly can. Hopefully, you’d be able to control it before it gets out of hand and cause even more damage.

If you’re wondering how much it would cost you to replace broken shingles, expect to spend around $750 per 500 sq. Ft.

Bathroom Damage Repair Cost

Another part of your home that can experience leakages is your bathroom. It is not uncommon for bathroom leakages to affect the basement, especially if the bathroom sits just above it.

A leaking faucet, tub, or even an overflowing toilet can have water trickle down and seep through your basement ceiling. This will leave watermarks on the ceiling surface and the moisture will make the area perfect for mold growth.

To avoid having a damp basement ceiling, you need to fix the leakages originating from the bathroom.

So, how much will these repairs cost you?

Expect to spend about $250 for a 10×10 area of drywall or sheetrock.

Kitchen Water Damage

Leaks in your kitchen sink pipes are just as bad as any other leakage in your home.

This too can promote mold growth around or under the sink.

Keep in mind that mold is both toxic and allergenic, and you wouldn’t want such an organism in a place where you cook your meals.

To fix the damage caused by leakages on your drywall, you can expect to spend about $50 to $60 to have 1 drywall sheet replaced.

As for plaster wall damage repairs, you could spend up to $250 for a 4 sq. ft area.

Vinyl or linoleum 4-floor replacement can cost you about $1,000 per 200 sq. ft.

Flooded Laundry Room

If the electrical systems in the laundry room have been damaged, then you may need to replace the washer and dryer altogether.

A standard washer and dryer can cost you between $1,000 to $3,000 for a brand new set.

Hydrostatic Pressure Basement Repair Cost

Hydrostatic pressure can cause all sorts of damage in the basement. It can leave cracks in your structure, through which water can seep and settle.

When this happens, you will begin to experience mold growth in your basement, and mold remediation experts don’t work for free.

If you have no experience with basement mold removal, or the extent to which the infestation has spread has gone beyond amateur level, then you have no choice but to hire a professional.

This will cost you around $1,500 on average.

You may also have some plumbing issues to deal with, such as a damaged water main break. Fixing this will cost you around $800 or so.

Dealing With Leaks To Prevent Water Damage

Basement leaks are hard to deal with and can make the area extremely uncomfortable to live in.

Dampness on basement walls, floor, and ceiling can lead to the formation of efflorescence and mold. It can also leave your basement with a damp and musty smell.

Fixing basement leaks can cost you anywhere from $250 to $1,500.

Sealing could take between $500 to $1,000 from your pocket, while minor foundation crack repairs can cost between $250 to $800.

For more serious foundation issues, you can expect to spend between $2,000 to as high as $10,000 to fix. For foundation inspection reports, you could cough up between $300 to $1,000.

Family Rooms

Besides ceiling leak repairs and flooring repairs, there might be other rooms in your home in need of fixes such as new windows and doors. This all depends on the extent of the damage and how it happened.

For example, storms can rip doors off their hinges and can cause window glasses to shatter.

For window replacement, you can expect to spend $650 to $1,500, while replacing a damaged door can take as much as $500 from you.

Water Damage Costs By Class

Water damage repair experts will typically classify the types of damage into one out of four groups, and the magnitude of the job determines what group the damage falls into.

Class 1 jobs are those that affect a relatively small part of your home, where a minimum amount of moisture has been absorbed by wall and floor surfaces.

A common example of a class 1 job is something as minor as an overflowing toilet. Fixing an issue like this will not cost you more than $200, specifically between $100 to $175.

As for a class 2 job, it falls under issues like water cleanups in wider areas with a medium rate of evaporation. A common example of this is an entire kitchen with a damaged wooden floor joist system. This could cost you anywhere between $250 to $400 to fix.

For class 3 water damage jobs, this would involve leaks from the overhead, which has affected large parts of the walls, floors, and ceilings.

A good example of a class 3 water damage is when a heavy rainstorm rips off the roof shingles or damages parts of it. This could cost you up to $1,000 in repair.

As for class 4 jobs, these are reserved for more specialized water damages with accessibility problems. A stormwater flooding of a wooden enclosure is a good example of class 4 water damage.

Fixing such damage will cost around $2,500, though it could be slightly higher depending on the extent of the damage.

Labor Costs to Fix Water Damage

Usually, professionals will charge for labor according to the size of the affected area.

Water cleanup teams will typically assess the affected areas, then calculate how much effort will be needed to clean up the mess per square footage.

Clean water and gray water cleanup don’t cost much. You can expect to spend between $4 and $4.75 per square foot.

As for black water clean-up jobs, you should expect to spend around $7.25 per square foot.

For a 300 square foot room, you might spend between $1,500 and $2,500 for cleanup. If the contractors charge per hour, then you can expect the rate to fall somewhere around $75 per hour.

The work may involve other special circumstances such as the removal of debris, and this will increase the coat of labor. In this case, you can expect to pay surcharges of $200 or more.

Choosing The Fairest Prices For Flooded Basement Repair

Contractors charge differently, and their fees may be determined by factors like experience level, company reputation, and location.

All the same, you need to get value for money when hiring a professional to fix damages. The surest way to get the best deal is by contacting more than one repair company.

Nothing is stopping you from reaching out to as many as 5, just so you can compare and get the fairest price.

Conclusion

Basement water damage can happen at any time and in any part of your home. It could be as a result of a worn-out pipe, an overflowing toilet, or something we cannot control like a heavy rainstorm.

Regardless, any of these will cost money to repair, depending on the extent and cause of the damage.

When it comes to cleanup costs, different jobs will require unique pricing strategies. However, the average cost range is between $3,000 and $10,000.

The least or minimum cost for such jobs is around $2,000 while costs can go for as much as $15,000. The national average cost for flooded basement cleanup is $4,000.

There are other finer costing details you’ll need to know of. When the pros are contacted to get the job done, a thorough assessment of your flooded basement and other adjoining areas is performed.

All professional services have a pricing structure they follow.

Such pricing structure is determined by multiple factors.

There you have it.

In our discussion, we’ve considered the different scenarios and cost implications involved.

The cost of cleaning your flooded basement shouldn’t be difficult to figure out once you go through each of the points provided above.

That’s about all we have on basement cleaning and water damage repair prices.

Further details on these will be determined by who you hire, and where you live among other factors.