Bathroom floods can happen for a number of reasons, from a broken sink pipe to an overflowing toilet. When this happens, the cost of water damage could be considerable and you may be worried about the total cost of repairs, However, before you move forward with replacing drywall or draining away dirty water, it is important to consider the factors that may affect your flooded bathroom cost, no matter what caused it.
1. Water Quality
The type of water that caused the flood can have a serious impact on the cost of repair. Floodwater is usually graded into three categories:
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Category 1 (from a sterile source)
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Category 2 (may contain detergent or gray water)
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Category 3 (contains raw sewage and other contaminants)
Water that comes from a sterile source may be simpler to drain than Category 3 flooding, which is also known as black water. Handling and disposing of the water may vary depending on its quality; for example, Category 3 typically requires professional removal by a service with the proper equipment, such as sump pumps and commercial-grade drainage hoses. If you are unsure about the condition of the water in your flooded bathroom, call United Water Restoration Group for assistance.
2. Severity of the Flooded Bathroom
Some floods can be cleaned up in a matter of hours if the source of the water is discovered quickly and can be diverted or shut off, as with a broken sink pipe. However, if the flooding goes unchecked, you may be facing a repair estimate totaling several thousand dollars. This can be especially common in commercial spaces when a flood happens over the weekend or during a vacation period when the building is vacant. Moisture monitors and cameras may help you prevent severe floods and allow you to act quickly if a pipe bursts or a toilet overflows.
3. Drywall Damage
One factor that can affect flooded bathroom cost estimates is the extent of drywall damage. Unlike other building materials, drywall can absorb dirty flood water and trap moisture, foul odors and encourage mold growth. Over time, this can damage interior wall space, fixtures, and wiring. Your flood control technicians may perform a flood cut into the drywall, which is performed approximately a foot above the waterline, to gauge how much of the material will need to be replaced and whether insulation and wiring have been compromised. Flood cuts are usually required when floodwaters are deep.
4. Location of the Flooded Bathroom
If the flooded bathroom was on the second floor of your home or business, you may find yourself facing a higher repair estimate than you would for a first-floor flooding. For example, if your toilet has overflowed due to a sewer malfunction, the dirty water may spread to other rooms and cause ceiling stains or weaken the flooring. You may want to include funds for a professional inspection into your repair estimate if your insurance does not cover such a service.
5. Mold Growth
Flood damage is usually not limited to problems caused at the time of the incident, and problems can develop days or even weeks later. One common issue that can crop up after a flood is mold growth, and this can be especially problematic in bathrooms, where humidity levels are often high, Mold spores thrive on moisture and can grow behind walls, inside cabinets under the sink and around or behind the base of your toilet. If a damp or musty odor starts to permeate your bathroom after a flood, you may have to add mold removal costs to your repair estimate.
Check out this video below for some commonly asked questions regarding Mold Damage Restoration.
6. Building Material Replacement
Certain types of bathroom flooding, such as those caused by an overflowing toilet, can cause lingering odors and warping problems with wooden structures. When this happens, cabinetry and other bathroom surfaces may need to be replaced. Tiles suffering from severe mold growth can usually be cleaned and disinfected, but you may want to ask your repair and restoration crew which materials should be replaced, especially if the water was Category 3.
A flooded bathroom cost estimate can vary widely depending on the circumstances of the incident. Water quality, building material damage, and other issues may raise or lower the total amount of repairs, but working with a professional restoration company can help you to better gauge the extent of the damage and how much it will cost to remodel your bathroom.
Check out the video below for more information on Bathroom Flood Restoration.
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Adan:
Welcome back to another episode of Restoration Talk, and today’s question is, all-around bathroom flooding. Now, a lot of you guys have had questions on our blog about what to do and what to expect when it comes to bathroom flooding. And I have one of our experts and master technicians out in the field with United Water Restoration Group.
Liam:
Good. How are you?
Adan:
Awesome, man. So I have a couple of questions. Some of our viewers and some of our homeowners experience flooding, and it’s kind of a scary thing, right? Imagine coming home, you have water all over your living room. What are the common causes of bathroom flooding?
Liam:
Well, you have your supply lines for your toilets and your showers and also your vanities. And a lot of times those can go, or it can be a backup and a flood from your sewage tank overflowing. That can be a pretty nasty one as well.
Adan:
Wow, that’s a… There you’re talking category three water, right?
Liam:
Yeah.
Adan:
Which is that sewage, and dirty water.
Liam:
Sewage, feces, what have you, yeah. And it can be pretty rough. And very unsanitary.
Adan:
Wow. All right. Well you know when it comes to the flooding, are there typically warning signs that something could happen, or is that something that spontaneously happens?
Liam:
Well, I mean it depends on if it’s a slow leak. Because if it’s coming from underneath of your toilet, it could actually… You won’t see the water itself, but you could see the floor started buckling. You could see rippling in your vanity if it’s plywood or if it’s wood particleboard. A lot of signs you can see; cracking on the baseboards, the cock-line, water staining. You might not always see the water at first, because it could be underneath your building materials.
Adan:
Wow. I have a question about that. Is that something typical of a toilet that’s just… Or an installation of a toilet that’s very old or can that happen really at any time?
Liam:
Yeah, you have a flange underneath. It has a wax ring on it and over time, whether you have kids jumping off and on it, or if it’s just an old deterioration, it can shift and you can get a slow leak from the bottom of it.
Adan:
Wow. That’s very interesting. Now, when it comes to restoring that, some of our viewers have questions of how long does it take? What’s the typical process for repairing a flood like that? And also what are the implications around the toilet in that area? Because I’m sure there are plumbing lines, there’s maybe even electrical lines. I mean I’m sure that could get kind of dangerous.
Liam:
Yeah, absolutely. And your biggest thing is finding where the source came from, so you can correct it before we would start our work. We don’t want to start removing anything, or start drying anything out until we know the source has been fixed, so the water has stopped coming into the home. And given your time frames, if it’s an actual flood that you see right away, you want to get somebody out immediately so there isn’t secondary damage. If you’re noticing cracking or warping on anything, it’s usually a sign that’s been happening for an extended period of time and we would have to address it cautiously.
Adan:
Wow, that’s a lot of great information.
Well, Liam, thank you so much. I think this is very… Been very, very informative. If you guys have any questions whatsoever for our technicians, or if you have any issues with bathroom flooding, vanities, anything like that, please go ahead and leave us a question or comment below the video. And we’ll catch you next time on Restoration Talks.
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