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The Average Cost of Repairing Water Damage for Multi-Family Buildings

Writer's picture: Perceptive Things TeamPerceptive Things Team

Updated: Nov 26, 2024



Whether caused by burst pipes, weather, a leaky roof, or cracks in the foundation, the possibilities of water damage in your multi-family building are endless.


That is why it never hurts to have an understanding of the average water damage repair costs you could face if it did occur in your building.


This article will discuss everything you need to know about the average cost of repairing water damage for multi-family buildings.


What is the average cost of repairing water damage for multi-family buildings?


The average cost of repairing water damage in multi-family buildings is $3,300. This comes is highly dependent on the materials that are damaged as well as the kind of water involved.

Though this is the average cost of repairing water damage, you will find that your building's costs could tally up to a much higher amount. It is not uncommon for the real cost of water damage to be over $10,000. This is particularly true when expensive equipment is involved or if your claims are rejected by insurance.


Here are some factors that impact the average cost of repairing water damage in multi-family buildings:

  • Geographic location of the building

  • Category of water type

  • Class of water damage

  • Part of the building damaged

  • Cost of labor

In the next section, we will break down the cost of repairing water damage based on the above factors!


Geographic Location of the Building


The average water damage repair costs can vary widely across the country.


Of course, as with any product or service, some of the pricing is related to supply and demand. You'll also find that the cost of your water damage restoration is largely determined based on labor costs in your area as well as the cost of goods and tools.


Here is a breakdown of the average water damage reparation and restoration costs in a few of the major cities that Perceptive Things® provides water leak sensors in:


average of water damage restoration by city and state

If you'd like to dig deeper into these numbers, you can find the cost estimates we used on these sites:

Category of Water Type


Only licensed water damage restoration and repair companies are qualified to categorize water damage.


Here are the three categories of water damage and their respective average repair costs;

  • Category 1 (Clean water): This is water damage that arises from burst pipes, water heaters, sprinklers, rainwater, leaky faucets, and toilet tanks. It can progress to category 2 if not addressed quickly. You can expect an average clean-up cost of around $3.75 per square foot to repair clean water damage.

  • Category 2 (Gray water): This water contains harmful contaminants and comes from appliances, such as washing machines and overflowing dishwashers, or toilet water containing cleaning products and waste. The average cost is about $4.50 per square foot to repair graywater water damage.

  • Category 3 (Black water): This is water that comes from contaminated sources, such as sewer pipes. Due to their extreme contamination, its average cost is relatively expensive, and you can expect it to be around $7 per square foot.

Part of the Building Damaged


To determine how much repair is involved in any given water damage restoration job, restoration companies measure water damage by class.


While there are four water damage classes, each has its average price range, as shown below:


A special thanks to Forbes for providing the average price by water damage class utilized in this visual! You can click the image to read their article on this topic.

Part of Building Damaged


The cost of repairing and restoring water damage can also depend on what is damaged. Here is the estimated average cost of repairing water damage based on what needs repairing;



Additional costs for repairing water damage in multi-family buildings


Here are some additional services that may affect the average cost of repairing your water-damaged multi-family building:


Mold remediation cost


Mold removal and restoration should only be done by a qualified water damage restoration professional, as it can be dangerous. The average cost for mold remediation is around $2,300 but can be as low as $1,500 and as high as $9,000.


Burst pipe and leak repairs

The average cost of repairing burst pipes and leaks and fixing the resulting water damage ranges between $1,000 to $3,500.


Sump pump installation

If you live in an area with a high water table or frequent flooding, installing a sump pump will be part of repairing water damage to prevent future damage. Therefore, the average cost of a sump pump ranges between $500 to $4,000, and the average professional installation is $1,000.


Emergency fees

Water damage restoration companies often charge an emergency fee. The fee covers the transportation, required staff, and equipment (tools) needed to respond to the issue instantly.


The average fee ranges between $100 to $200.


How to minimize the cost of water damage repair for multi-family buildings


There is not much you can do about reducing the cost of water damage if it occurs in your multi-family building. However, you can take quick steps to prevent water damage, which will resultantly lead to minimal repairs.


For instance, early water leak detection using leak sensors can help reduce the water damage to your multi-family building. Therefore, installing leak sensors in the right places inside your multi-family building is vital.


There are many best water leak sensors you can use. However, the most common ones are Droplet Duo™ and Droplet Pro™.


Final Thoughts on the Average Cost of Repairing Water Damage in Multi-Family Buildings


Water damage is one thing that can strike fear in the life of any multi-family building owner. Therefore, you should be prepared to deal with it by understanding the average cost of the repair.


While the average cost is $3,300, you might need to pay less or more, depending on a number of factors, as discussed in this article.


Has your multi-family building ever experienced water damage? Do you have a leak detection system in place? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section!

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