Water Damage Restoration Cost in Memphis, TN

What Water Damage Cleanup Costs in Memphis

Water damage restoration prices depend on the type of water, the size of the affected area and the materials that got wet. National consumer guides and insurer loss data below give a rough scale for comparison, not a Memphis quote.

• The water itself. Clean supply water, used "gray" water and sewage or floodwater are priced differently in consumer guides.
• The affected area. Many guides price by the square foot, so a larger wet area moves the total.
• The materials. Drywall, flooring and ceiling material that must be replaced cost more than material that can be dried.

If water is still entering your home, use the main shut-off valve only if you can reach it safely, or seek qualified help. MLGW says it will turn off the water supply for a burst pipe or water heater leak inside the home that threatens to flood the building; its emergency line is 901-528-4465, as stated on the MLGW burst pipe page. See who to call first in Memphis if you are not sure which office handles your kind of water.

National Water Damage and Freezing Losses

According to the Insurance Information Institute, using ISO data for 2019-2023, the national average insurance loss for water damage and freezing was $15,400, with 1.50 claims per 100 insured homes per year. This is an average insurance loss, not an average payment to homeowners or a restoration price.

• The category is "water damage and freezing" and, per the Institute, includes mold when the policy covers it.
• The figure is national. It is not a Memphis, Shelby County or Tennessee average.
• An average insurance loss and the invoice for one drying job are different numbers, so use it for scale only.

The source is the Institute's homeowners and renters insurance facts page. Ask your insurer whether an adjuster's estimate is available for comparison; the Tennessee claim rules and deadlines explain how the claim process runs.

Getting a Written Estimate You Can Compare

Ask each provider for a written, itemized estimate. An itemized estimate separates labor, materials, equipment and tax, so you can compare two quotes line by line and your insurer's adjuster has concrete items to check. A single lump sum tells you very little.

• Ask for proof of insurance and any trade license the job requires.
• Ask what the estimate covers: water removal, drying, tear-out, and rebuilding are different work.
• Ask what price list or source the numbers rest on.

Verisk, the company behind the Xactimate estimating software, says it publishes localized price lists for more than 460 regions of the U.S. and Canada, so an insurer's estimate may rest on a regional price list.

For a prime contractor, Tennessee requires a contractor license on projects costing $25,000 or more. Shelby County is one of the counties where a home improvement license is required for residential remodeling projects costing $3,000–$24,999. Ask the provider which license covers your job, and check the state's contractor license requirements before signing.

If That Did Not Work

If an estimate looks too high, unclear or missing line items, you have three exits: ask the same provider to itemize it again, get a second written estimate, or take the question to your insurer or a state office. This page cannot say how long any of them will take.

• Try again. Ask the provider to break the estimate into labor, materials, equipment and tax, and to name the work each line covers.
• Another route. Get a second written estimate, and ask your insurer whether an adjuster's estimate is available for comparison.
• Who to contact. For an insurance question, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance takes calls at 615-741-2218 or 800-342-4029. For a burst pipe or water heater inside the home, the MLGW emergency line is 901-528-4465.