Water damage restoration guides

Restoration technician using a moisture meter on a water-stained wall in a carpeted living room

Cost Guide

Water damage restoration cost

Technician measuring a water damaged floor with a tape measure

Cost Per Sq Ft

Water damage restoration cost per square foot

Restoration technician climbing wet porch steps toward the open front door of a home with visible water staining on the entryway wall

Emergency

Emergency water damage restoration

Restoration technician positioning an air mover and dehumidifier in a water damaged living room

Process

Water damage restoration process

Technician in waders and rubber gloves positioning a submersible pump in a flooded basement

Extraction

Water extraction process

Air movers and a dehumidifier drying a water stained living room wall

Structural Drying

Structural drying process

Homeowner reviewing a written estimate with a water damage restoration technician in a damaged living room

Hiring

How to choose a water damage restoration company

Water damage restoration technician taking a moisture reading on exposed wall studs beside running dehumidifiers and air movers

Certifications

Water damage restoration certifications

Homeowner on the phone taking notes at her kitchen counter with a water-stained wall visible behind her

Questions to Ask

Questions to ask a water damage restoration company

Three glass containers showing clean, gray, and dark contaminated water side by side

Categories

Water damage categories explained

Injection drying mats and hoses laid across cupped hardwood flooring in an empty room, with a dehumidifier running near the window

Classes

Water damage classes explained

Technician holding a moisture meter against a water-stained wall in a partially dried room with an air mover and dehumidifier running

Vs. Mold Remediation

Water damage restoration vs. mold remediation

Homeowner shining a flashlight on a water stain spreading across a ceiling

Warning Signs

Signs of water damage in your home

Restoration technician positioning an air mover next to a water-stained wall in a homeowner's living room

What to Expect

What to expect during water damage restoration

Restoration technician kneeling at a plastic-sealed hallway doorway setting up an air mover, with water staining on the wall inside

Staying Home

Staying home during restoration

Homeowner reviewing a water damage restoration checklist on a clipboard beside an air mover fan and dehumidifier in a water-stained living room

Checklist

Water damage restoration checklist

Restoration technician holding a moisture meter reading 27 percent against a water-stained drywall panel in a home hallway

Timeline

How long does water damage restoration take

Homeowner reviewing a printed insurance claim document beside a water-stained living room wall

Insurance

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage

Homeowner filling out a home insurance claim form at a kitchen table next to a laptop showing a water damage report

Insurance Claim

How to file a water damage insurance claim

Homeowner reading a water damage insurance denial letter at a kitchen table with a water-stained wall in the background

Claim Denied

Water damage insurance claim denied

Homeowner photographing a water-stained wall in a living room with a smartphone for an insurance claim

Documentation

How to document water damage for insurance

Homeowner reviewing a flood insurance policy document at a kitchen table in an open-concept home

Flood Insurance

Does flood insurance cover water damage?

Homeowner filling out a seller's disclosure form at a kitchen table

Disclosure

Do you have to disclose water damage when selling a house

Renter photographing a water-stained wall in her rental apartment living room

Renters Rights

Tenant rights for water damage in a rental

Water stain spreading across a ceiling corner in a condo living room, city high-rises visible through a window

Condo

Water damage in a condo

Homeowner using a wet dry vacuum to remove standing water from a hardwood floor

DIY Cleanup

DIY water damage cleanup

Homeowner kneeling to place a smart water sensor in the cabinet under a kitchen sink

Prevention

Water damage prevention

Burst copper pipe spraying water across a laundry line near a washing machine

Burst Pipe

Burst pipe water damage

Frost coating an exposed copper pipe in an unheated crawl space

Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipe water damage

Water stain spreading across a ceiling in the corner of a furnished living room

Roof Leak

Water damage from a roof leak

Thick ice dam and hanging icicles along the snow-covered eave of a gray house, with a snow-covered yard and frosted tree in the foreground

Ice Dams

Ice dam water damage

Flooded living room with several inches of standing brownish water reaching the base of upholstered furniture and a visible tide line on the wall

Flooding

Water damage from flooding

Technician in full protective gear extracting standing water from a residential basement floor with a submersible pump

Sewage Backup

Sewage backup cleanup

Water pooling on the floor at the base of a water heater next to a furnace in an unfinished basement

Water Heater Leak

Water heater leak cleanup

Water pooling on the floor in front of a leaking front-load washing machine in a laundry room

Washing Machine Leak

Washing machine leak cleanup

Water pooling on a kitchen floor in front of an open dishwasher

Dishwasher Leak

Dishwasher leak cleanup

Water pooling on a kitchen floor beside a refrigerator built into a run of cabinetry

Refrigerator Leak

Refrigerator leak cleanup

A homeowner crouched beside a flooded sump pump with its discharge pipe still attached, flashlight aimed at the pump as shallow water spreads across the basement floor

Sump Pump Failure

Sump pump failure water damage

Plumber kneeling on a home's floor using an acoustic leak detection device to locate a slab leak

Slab Leak

What is a slab leak?

Water pooling against the base of a home's foundation wall after heavy rain

Foundation

Foundation water damage

Water stain spreading across a ceiling below an attic HVAC access panel

HVAC Condensation

HVAC condensation water damage

Plywood boarded over windows on a house with dark storm clouds gathering overhead

Storm Damage

Storm and hurricane water damage

Standing water covering the floor of an unfinished basement beside a stained foundation wall

Basement

Basement water damage

Water stain and warped baseboard around a toilet in a home bathroom

Bathroom

Bathroom water damage

Person inspecting a water-stained kitchen cabinet base under the sink with a flashlight

Kitchen

Kitchen water damage

Water staining and damp insulation along the roof deck of a residential attic

Attic

Attic water damage

Technician crouched in a crawl space inspecting standing water near exposed floor joists

Crawl Space

Crawl space water damage

Water stain spreading across a ceiling near a light fixture

Ceiling

Ceiling water damage

Water pooled across a garage concrete floor, spreading from the base of a water heater at the back of the garage

Garage

Garage water damage

Water-stained hardwood flooring near a baseboard, with discoloration along the board seams

Hardwood Floors

Water damaged hardwood floors

Technician using a wet/dry vacuum to extract standing water from a flooded living room carpet

Carpet

Water damaged carpet

Water stained and bubbling drywall panel with paint peeling away from a leak

Drywall

Water damaged drywall

A section of vinyl plank flooring bubbled and lifted at the seam in a hallway

Vinyl Flooring

Water damaged vinyl flooring

Swollen, lifted laminate plank seams along a kitchen floor with visible water staining

Laminate Flooring

Water damaged laminate flooring

Open kitchen cabinet under a sink showing a water-stained particleboard base

Cabinets

Water damaged cabinets

Cut-away section of drywall with a faint water stain above it, exposing water-stained wood framing inside a home

Structural Damage

Structural water damage