Water damage restoration in Dallas: costs, process and how to hire

The ranges below are national figures from published cost guides. No Texas agency publishes Dallas-specific restoration prices. Use them to check whether a written estimate is plausible; the category of water, how long materials stayed wet and how much has to be torn out drive the real number.

HomeGuide's per-square-foot extraction prices also rise with contamination: $4 to $6 for clean water, $6 to $9 for gray water and $9 to $12 for black water. Its guide notes that after-hours work adds cost but gives no fixed surcharge.

Most companies describe their process in terms of the ANSI/IICRC S500, the industry's standard for professional water damage restoration. The current edition is the 5th, from 2021. It is a voluntary standard, not a license, and it describes procedures and precautions for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. A typical job runs like this:

1. Stop the source. The S500 says finding and correcting the source of the water intrusion is the property owner's responsibility, not the restorer's. In practice that means a licensed plumber for a pipe, a roofer for a roof.
2. Inspection and preliminary determination. According to S500 language quoted by the S500 Consensus Body, the restorer should conduct a safety survey, verify the source, identify how far the water migrated, identify pre-existing damage and establish dry standards and drying goals.
3. Category of water. If the water is Category 1, the restorer can proceed without contamination controls. For Category 2 or 3, the standard says remediation should occur before restorative drying, with contamination controls and worker protection.
4. Extraction. Standing water is removed with pumps and extraction units. Our water extraction page covers this step.
5. Removal of unsalvageable materials, such as soaked pad, insulation or swollen drywall.
6. Drying and monitoring with air movers and dehumidifiers until materials reach the drying goal.
7. Repairs and rebuild, which may need separate trades and permits.

• Materials still wet after a day or two. The EPA says mold usually will not grow on wet materials that are dried within 24 to 48 hours.
• A musty smell, stains or soft drywall near tubs, toilets, water heaters, AC drain lines or under sinks.
• Indoor humidity that stays high. EPA recommends keeping it below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent.
• Water from a drain, toilet backup or outdoor flooding, which may be Category 2 or 3 and needs more than fans. See sewage cleanup.
• Visible mold.TDLR says that in most instances areas under 25 contiguous square feet can be cleaned by people who are not licensed; larger areas generally need licensed professionals; see mold remediation.

Texas has no state license for water damage restoration itself. Three related areas are regulated:

• Mold. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licenses mold assessors and remediators under Chapter 1958 of the Occupations Code and 16 TAC Chapter 78. Search them in the TDLR license search.
• Plumbing. Pipe repairs need a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
• Repairs and rebuild. The City of Dallas says a residential permit allows you to start construction, renovation or major repairs on your home. Ask the contractor which permits the rebuild needs and who applies for them. Suburbs have their own building departments.

1. Get the scope in writing. Ask how they classified the water, what they will remove and what drying goals they will document.
2. Check the credentials that apply, especially TDLR mold licenses if mold is involved. IICRC certification is a private credential; the IICRC Global Locator lets you look up firms and technicians it lists.
3. Read the contract. The Texas Department of Insurance warns against contracts with blank spaces and contracts that sign over your insurance proceeds, and says it is against the law for a contractor to offer to waive your deductible.
4. Document everything for insurance. TDI advises photographing damage and not making permanent repairs before the adjuster sees it. Our insurance claim guide goes further.

Water Damage Dallas Pros is an independent guide, not a restoration company. To reach a restoration company, call one of the companies listed on this page or see all listed companies. If you prefer, you can email us your question through our contact page.