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Dear reader if you have a water damage clean up need please call Jeff the owner 24 hours seven days a week at 410-458-5371 if you are in Maryland
How Long Does Water Damage Repair Take?
How long does water damage repair takes is one of the most popular questions we are asked. Hi I’m Jeff co owner of SI Restoration in Baltimore Maryland and Washington DC and surrounding areas.
After 35 years of being in the water damage repair industry , the answer is it depends on many factors . let’s discuss these factors. The water damage repair is divided into two main parts , the extraction of the water and drying and the construction related repairs . Let’s take each part and discuss the time it takes to complete .
Water extraction and drying using drying equipment such as fans and dehumidifiers :
- Clean Water Damage – Instead of using IICRC terms I am using lay persons terms to describe each type of water damage . Clean water damage includes anything not included with your sewer line or inside your toilet . It also doesn’t include water damage that has been sitting for over 3 days although that can depend on the particular situation. When water damage has been sitting more than 3 days bacteria and other organisms will start to grow in the water . This type of water is called unsanitary water . Now I need to also add any water that comes from outside the home and rivers etc. These sources also are not considered clean water .
Most “ professional and experienced water damage restoration companies follow what is called the IICRC S 500 Guidelines . The IICRC is an organization that offers the IICRC S500 Guidelines for all types of water damage . Most insurance companies and state agencies , demand that the IICRC S500 guidelines are followed . The time it takes to follow and complete the water damage repair process following the IICRC S500 Guidelines is usually around three to five days .
The basic steps are as follows:
- Extraction
- Opening all areas that are not accessible
- Placing the correct drying equipment including air movers and dehumidifiers .
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Daily moisture checks USING GPS MOISTURE EQUIPMENT
- Unsanitary water – As you can imagine unsanitary water includes sewage lines, water from outside the home and clean water that has been sitting for more than three days . Where clean water takes less demolition as many home materials ( drywall , carpet , etc.) can be dried and saved , any materials that have been touched by an unsanitary source must be removed except wood studs, concrete block and maybe floor tile . Those items are not absorbent if a IICRC certified water damage restoration company comes in quickly . Although there is more materials that are removed or demoed , it should only take three to five days including drying to bring your home ready for rebuilding of damaged or removed materials .
Rebuild, Structure Repair , Build Back
These are all terms used to describe bringing your home back to what is called a pre loss condition . I know the term Pre loss condition lacks sensitivity , but remember we are dealing with insurance companies for the majority of water damage repairs . They want everyone to know that they are not improving what was there originally , but to bring in back as closely as possible to the original before the water damage . You will hear rebuild, structure repairs and build back . but don’t worry it all means putting your place back together . But how long will it take to finish ? Can I get a ballpark price ? The answer is it depends on many factors lets discuss those .
Estimating the cost : Ok so your water damage has been dried and all materials that couldn’t be saved have been removed . I can only speak for my water damage restoration company located in Baltimore Maryland and tell you that after 24 hours after everything is dried we will send out a project manager to collect all he information to estimate . But not all water damage repair companies have that service . You’ll need to ask your contractor how long it takes for a visit to obtain the repair information.
But also remember that you need to think about weekends , holidays and your schedule . You maybe be going away and schedule the repair estimation appointment a week later . You need to also remember that during a storm or weather related event , everyone is behind helping lots of people . But let’s assume everyone follows SI Restoration quick response and gets the information within 24 hours of the drying .
Your project manager or estimator now either has to create an estimate or send the information to the estimation department . If it was as easy as writing a few costs down and a final price I would say that the insurance company could get in a day .
The problem is your insurance company needs the estimate in a form that they are comfortable with . 90 % of all insurance companies use one estimating software called Xactamate . This software also has agreed prices on all services and costs for water damage repair that is accepted by “ professional water damage repair contractors” . Water damage repair contractors use the same software so communicating the estimate is easy . What’s not easy is filling out all he little costs that the insurance company needs . So it usually takes about half a day assuming the estimator is backed with other estimates . I can safely say that in the perfect situation your insurance adjuster should receive our estimate on your home water damage repairs within 24 hours ( again weekends and holidays ).
Waiting for the adjuster - Ok so were at the last approval stage and that’s adjuster making sure they agree on what we have estimated . Don’t worry if your contractor used Xacatamate software and estimated your “ loss “ ( yes another insurance term ) correctly . On average an adjuster can approve the estimate within 48 hours assuming it’s not a holiday and Friday . But if you decide to use a contractor who doesn’t use Xactamate , be prepared to wait weeks as the adjuster doesn’t understand your contractors estimate . Your contractor and your adjuster will go around and around arguing the cost for estimate .
So let’s assume that the adjuster has now approved your estimate for your repairs or as I said your Loss. Your contractor calls you to schedule , but there are a few issues that could effect how long it takes to finish your water damage repair .
- Out of stock or special order : That carpet you ordered that you must have is a special order and could take weeks or months . So be prepared to wait as your contractor has no control over the manufacture .
- Weather : Weather plays a part in delaying the completion of your water damage repair .
- Mismanagement – Yes as positive as your contractor may sound , they may be good at talking but bad at managing their sub contractors and employees .
- Government regulations and permits
Well sorry for making what looks like an easy answer to the question “ How Long Does Water Damage Repair Take?” into a complex novel . But just saying it looks like a few weeks as you can see is mis leading . So the simple answer to the question is to follow the process mentioned above and be patient .
SI Restoration water damage and mold remediation services are available in the following Maryland areas :
Towson
Pikesville
Catonsville
Bel Air
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Dundalk
Essex
Laurel
Parkton
Westminister
Columbia
Silver Spring