What makes a water damage job bigger or smaller

How long the water sat

Two EPA pages bear on timing. On the flood cleanup page the risk point is 24 hours, after which furniture, carpet, drywall and wood that are still wet can grow mold. The mold guide's drying goal for water-damaged areas and items is 24 to 48 hours. A material that stays wet longer is more likely to land on the throw-away list than the drying list.

The flood page adds that drying usually runs several days to weeks, which is why job length differs from house to house.

Clean supply line or a drain

On CDC's floodwater page, anything that cannot be disinfected goes in the trash, including wall coverings, cloth, rugs and drywall, while hard surfaces are cleaned with soap and water. Dirty water can lengthen the throw-away list.

How far the water traveled

Water runs along framing, under flooring and through insulation, which is why a moisture meter matters. EPA's flood page reads a material as ready for refinishing at 15 percent or less. EPA adds that wall cavities that were flooded are not to be sealed.

The American Red Cross points out that a sagging ceiling is holding water. For a damaged structure, it sends readers to a building inspector or contractor for the check.

Pipe, roof and wall are separate jobs

Drying and cleanup is one kind of work. Repairing the pipe is plumbing, and roof repair is its own trade. Smyrna's utility FAQ puts the city's repair work at the meter, so the line past it is a question for the plumber and the contractor.

Each of those jobs can have its own contractor, its own paperwork and its own written scope.

The dollar figures that come from government pages

Smyrna's Public Works FAQ lists up to $600.00 in plumbing-fee reimbursement on a backwater valve, provided it is approved in writing beforehand, subject to budgeted funds and not for apartments or condominiums. Georgia's Secretary of State says work costing less than $2,500 does not require a contractor with a state license, without saying whether the figure applies to a job or a project.

The Attorney General suggests a down payment of no more than one-third. That is a fraction, not a price, and it is advice rather than a rule.

Ask for the scope in writing

The Attorney General's advice is a written contract that carries every promise. On the insurance side, Georgia's commissioner suggests asking the adjuster for an itemized explanation of a settlement offer. Both come down to the same habit: have the list of rooms, materials and steps on paper before the work starts. The insurance claim notes cover the rest.