Knowing how much to repair a water damaged wall is necessary so you can budget your repair costs and other bills at home. Generally, the fees range from about $1,100 to $4,500.
However, there are other factors to consider, like the type of water that caused the damage and the like. We will talk more about that later.
Apart from costs, we will also tackle detecting water damage on your wall and how to prevent water damage. Lastly, we’ll talk about the costs of the repair of a water-damaged wall.
How To Detect Water Damage On Your Wall
There are various causes of water damage. Water damage can happen due to floods, sewage backups, or burst pipes, which lead to leaks.
The most notorious of all are hidden leaks. Hidden leaks can give way to mold growth and structural damage before you even get the chance to fix them.
It is imperative to act on the causes of water damage quickly to prevent further damage. Here are the signs of water damage on your wall that you have to watch out for.
Warped walls
This happens when your walls absorb too much water. As it absorbs water, it bends and curves. This leads to warping, which can result in structural damage.
Musty odors
Warping is not the only thing that happens when your wall absorbs water. Absorbing water can also lead to a musty smell due to mold growth.
Mold growth
While molds are typically seen in moisture-rich areas of your home, it is uncommon to see them on your living room walls. If you see them on your living room walls, there may be excess moisture behind your walls.
How To Prevent Water Damage On Your Wall
Aside from sealing your walls to waterproof them, here are ways you can do to prevent water damage on your wall.
1. Ensure good drainage
If you have poor drainage, then your home is at risk of water damage. Poor drainage leads to water pooling, which can lead to water damage complications on your home.
To amend this, clean your gutters at least twice a year. However, it is good practice to clean your gutters before and after heavy rains. The former is to prepare them for heavy rains, and the latter is to prevent water pooling.
You can also direct the downspouts away from your house, away from your exterior walls. Lead them about five to ten inches away from your home.
2. Maintain your home
This is a general but helpful instruction in preventing water damage on your walls. You can do this by assessing your sump pumps regularly.
We also encourage you to replace your missing roof shingles to prevent ceiling leaks, which can add moisture behind your wall. Apart from replacing missing roof shingles, be sure to act immediately when there is a water leak in your home.
To fix water leaks, assess and repair noticeable dripping pipes. Inspect dark spots under pipes and ceilings. Lastly, fix cracked caulking.
Costs of repairing a water-damaged wall
The costs of water damage do not only center around fixing leaks. Cleanup and structural repairs also incur fees.
Cleanup involves removing water from your space, drying it out, and restoring the damaged area. Mold remediation is included in the cleanup costs. On the other hand, structural repairs involve replacing the affected walls, fixtures and fittings, and wirings.
As mentioned above, the typical cost of repairing a water-damaged wall is around $1,100 to $4,500. However, you can compute it per square foot as well. The price of water damage per square foot ranges from $3.75 to $7.00.
The type of water can also affect the price per square foot. Blackwater incurs $7.00 per square foot.
Greywater costs $4.50 per square foot. Lastly, for clean water, you will pay $3.75 per square foot.
Drywall damage is usually structural damage and mold growth. This is typically priced at $275 and can reach up to $785.
Apart from the costs mentioned above, there are other costs you have to worry about. One of which is labor costs, which range from $70 to $200 per hour. You will have to pay every laborer for every hour they work in your home.
For emergencies, you may incur a call-out fee. Call-out fees range from $50 to $500.
Lastly, since walls are difficult to dry, you may need to rent a dehumidifier. Standard ones cost $200 per week of rental.
Water-damaged walls are usually under Class 2 to Class 3. The former can reach up to an overall cost of $1000 for the materials while the latter can reach $3000.
You can incur fewer costs if the water damage is included in your insurance coverage. In this situation, contact your lawyer and your insurance company for clarification regarding your insurance.
Conclusion
Knowing how much to repair a water damaged wall may motivate you to maintain your home better because of the costs it can amount to. We hope this article about the costs of water damage was an eye-opener for you!