Once you have an idea of how extensive the damage is and what the cost will be to fix it, you’ll need to find out what the status of the home is like. Is it structurally sound? Is it water damage only? If there is water damage only, this would mean that the roof needs to be repaired or the floor needs to be dried out and replaced. On the other hand, if the water damage is severe, the walls may need to be replaced and the entire house could become structurally compromised.
Here are some things to consider when estimating the costs of repairs:
- You should consider the source of water damage. When pipes become damaged, they tend to swell and then leak. A common place for pipes to leak is around kitchen cabinets. Leaky pipes can cause your drywall to crumble and make your home look even worse than it did before the leak occurred. If your source of water supply is not the result of a flooded kitchen, it is likely that you can repair the water damage yourself.
- You should assess the extent of the water damage caused by your leaky pipes. Look at the walls and cabinets. Are they visibly damaged by water or steam cooking in a kitchen? Have they been leaking for a long time? It’s often best to just start over with your kitchen cabinets, rather than replacing them and worrying about the cost of replacement later. Even if you decide to purchase new cabinets after replacing water damaged ones, you may end up saving money in the long run.
- Next, consider the type of water damage you have. Is the water damage kitchen water leak a slow drip that has been slowly leaking for months or a rapid leak that is covering large areas? Depending on the type of water damage and where it occurred, the repair costs could be very different. For example, if your leak is the slow drip variety that has been happening over time, you can probably usually get away with applying some type of sealant over the area to protect it from further damage.
Best Way Dealing the Kitchen Water Damage
However, if the water damage came from a sudden fast leak, you may need to tear up the entire kitchen and start fresh. The best way to go about kitchen water damage restoration is to hire a professional to help you clean up. When it comes to kitchen water damage, you want to make sure you don’t skip steps or leave any room for mold to grow. Hiring a professional kitchen water damage restoration company can save you time, money and aggravation in the long run.
Now that you know how extensive the damage is, you can better determine how much it will cost to fix it. Keep in mind that hiring a professional water damage company is going to cost you. A little bit of research and comparison shopping can go a long way toward reducing the cost. For example, you may be surprised to find that one of the most inexpensive products for cleaning up kitchen water damage is dish soap. In addition, there are some specialty cleaners that can help to cut down on the mold build up. Just keep in mind that you’ll likely have to buy a few supplies to do an effective job and you may not want to skimp on quality in favor of price.
Cause of Kitchen Water Damage
Kitchen-water damage is often the result of overflowing toilets, leaking sinks or clogged drains. In most cases, the water will quickly evaporate and the damage will be repaired. However, in some cases, water damage from kitchen sink leaks can create the need for extensive repairs. In these instances, it is best to consult a professional to estimate the overall cost of repairs. In most cases, it will be more expensive to fix leaking pipes than it would be to replace kitchen cabinets with water damage from kitchen sink leaks.
As you can see, it can be difficult to know exactly what the damage is, how extensive it is, and what the long-term cost to repair it will be. That said, having realistic expectations about the damage and its effects will help you better cope with the situation. There’s nothing worse than thinking you have to start from scratch because you ended up with a kitchen water damage problem. Although the mess is nearly impossible to clean up, you can at least rest assured that you will not end up replacing the entire house because you failed to take care of a minor problem