Household floods are devastating on many levels. Not only are you dealing with the financial repercussions of repairs and cleanup, but there’s also emotional devastation that comes from losing priceless possessions and existential devastation knowing that no matter how well-prepared you are, Mother Nature gets her way more often than not.
This post examines the actual cost of flood damage repair in all its forms and offers a solution to minimize the effects as best one can.
The Average Financial Cost of Cleaning Up After a Flood
The changing climate is creating more extreme weather episodes than we’ve seen in the last few decades. And whatever your opinions are regarding the nature of climate change, there’s no denying there’s been a significant uptick in rising sea levels, tropical storms, and the damage they leave in their wake.
An article posted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory says,
Due to global warming, global climate models predict hurricanes will likely cause more intense rainfall and have an increased coastal flood risk due to higher storm surge caused by rising seas. Additionally, the global frequency of storms may decrease or remain unchanged, but hurricanes that form are likely to become more intense.
The increasing frequency of significant storms affects people in areas where flooding hasn’t been an issue. While people living further inland don’t get the brunt of hurricanes and cyclones, heavy rainfall can quickly cause streams and rivers to overflow, and storm drains to back up, catching people off guard.
Because many people don’t have flood insurance or aren’t prepared to deal with the aftermath, the cost to repair flood damage can be exorbitant.
According to Fixr.com,
The national average cost for cleaning up a flooded basement is between $2,000 and $7,000. Most people spend around $4,000 for full flood remediation and cleanup of a 500 to 80 sq. ft. basement with 2 feet of water and category two damage. A serious category three cleanout with major damage restoration in a larger space costs up to $15,000.
But the financial cost is only half the story; there’s the emotional cost that few people talk about.
The Time Cost
People tend to focus on the financial cost of flood clean-up, but one must factor in time. If there’s been a flood in your home, there’s much to do to repair the damage and restore your life to normal, which can take days or months, depending on the severity.
Companies are operating in most major cities that specialize in flood cleanup and restoration that can reduce the time it takes to get you back on your feet. Still, if you’re a family of modest means, you may be doing a lot of the work yourself or doing piecemeal repairs as you can afford them, dragging out the length of time until it’s finished.
On average, it takes about 72 hours for water-damaged areas to completely dry, but again, it largely depends on the amount of water and the affected regions. Other factors can stretch out the time it takes to return your home to normal, such as whether there was asbestos present and whether the water was contaminated.
The Emotional Cost
If you were to ask people who suffered a home break-in, they’d probably tell you about losing that feeling of being safe in their home and the stress and PTSD that lingers after such an event. Every noise heard in the middle of the night is amplified by the thoughts of another incident.
And the same can be said for those who have experienced a major home flood. Every time it rains, people stress and become fearful and anxious that their home will flood again.
A study published by the National Library of Medicine says,
A number of studies have shown a range of symptoms resulting from exposure to natural disasters such as flooding. Among these conesquences, individuals may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Emotional damage is nearly always worse than financial because it lingers long after an event and may never go away entirely.
As you can see, the actual cost of flood damage is all-encompassing and can affect every aspect of your life, sometimes for years to come.
How EndruaFlood™ Wall Paneling System Can Reduce Flood Cleanup Costs
Whether you’ve survived a flooded house or have never been affected, it’s wise to prepare for the worst to minimize the damage and expedite the cleanup time. There are many steps you can take to prepare your home to survive a flood better, and one is installing waterproof wall panels in rooms that are likely to be affected, especially the basement.
The EnduraFlood Flood-Proof Basement Wall System is a breakthrough answer to replacing wet basement drywall. Our wall system is constructed of cement and is not only water-resistant, but they’re also durable and designed to last for years.
What makes our product unique is that the panels are easy to remove and replace, thanks to the snap-in fittings. And, EnduraFlood installs quickly with no need for repeated spackling and sanding. The result is that you get a water-repellant lower wall system that can endure submersion in water for as long as it takes to pump it out of the basement. If the areas behind the panels get wet, remove the panels, allow the site to dry thoroughly, and reinstall.
Another feature that makes our system stand apart is its look. EnduraFlood wall panels are modeled after traditional wainscot panels, giving your home an elegant, sophisticated look with the added benefit of flood protection. Our panels look great in the basement, family room, living room, bathroom, or any room in the house that may be in danger of flooding.
The EnduraFlood Flood-Proof Basement Wall System makes it easier and less time-consuming to clean up after a flood, and it’s a cost-effective investment that will quickly pay for itself if you ever find yourself dealing with the aftermath of Mother Nature’s wrath.