What water damage restoration costs in St. Petersburg
The cost of water damage restoration usually comes down to two separate parts of the job. First, there's the water removal and drying. That cost depends on how much of the house got wet, whether the water was contaminated and how long the drying equipment needs to run. Then there's the work to repair everything that was damaged, which is priced like a regular home repair project. We provide free estimates. Below is what these jobs cost through St. Pete Restoration.
Transparent Pricing Framework
Water Damage Restoration Price Guide
Direct itemized rates across typical residential recovery scenarios in Pinellas County.
Service
Price
Inspection with moisture readings and a written estimate
Includes full infrared thermal scan, invasive wall probe assessment, and documented insurance report.
Water extraction and drying, one room
Clean water category mitigation, deep carpet/flooring extraction, and structural setup.
Water extraction and drying, several rooms on one floor
Multi-room containment, perimeter baseboard weep-hole venting, and comprehensive airflow layout.
Sewage backup cleanup
Category 3 black water protocol: antimicrobial bio-wash, contaminated dry-out, and hazardous disposal.
Flood cleanup and tear-out, whole ground floor
Full storm surge/floodwater containment, sheetrock flood-cut to 2-4 feet, floor strip, and subfloor sanitation.
Drying equipment, per day
Industrial LGR dehumidifiers, commercial high-velocity axial air movers, and HEPA air scrubbers.
Rebuild after drying (drywall, flooring, cabinets, paint)
Structural restoration and finish carpentry following verified clearance dry standards.
Costs are classified under Phase 1: Mitigation & Drying versus Phase 2: Reconstruction.
Schedule an on-site property evaluation
What moves the price up or down
Restoration estimates are engineered specifically for your building materials, the biological classification of the water, and environmental factors unique to Florida's coastal climate.
How dirty the water was
Water from a broken supply pipe is generally clean and can often be dried without removing everything it touches. Sewage backups and floodwater are different. Materials that absorbed contaminated water need to come out, and the framing must be cleaned before drying begins. That extra work makes the same size room more expensive to restore.
How long it sat
The EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. If you catch a leak on the first day, the work may only involve drying. If you come home after a week away and discover the leak, you're now dealing with drying and mold cleanup. In Florida, mold remediation involving more than ten square feet requires a state mold remediation license.
How much is wet
A leak contained to a single bathroom is a much smaller job than water that has spread throughout the house. In homes built on concrete slabs, water can travel beneath baseboards and reach three rooms before anyone notices. The carpet may feel dry in those rooms even though moisture is still underneath.
What's wet
Replacing drywall or carpet padding generally doesn't cost much. Damaged kitchen cabinets, hardwood flooring and tile installed over a wet subfloor are more expensive to deal with. Trying to save those materials can also mean additional drying equipment and more time on the job.
How the house is built
In a concrete-block house built on a slab, drying takes place from above. A raised wood-frame home needs inspection and drying underneath the flooring as well. Working below the house in a confined space takes longer.
The age of the house
Federal regulations require lead-safe work practices when cutting or removing painted walls and trim in homes built before 1978. Those precautions mean additional labor.
Scope Clarification
What isn't in a drying price
Understanding the precise boundary between active moisture extraction and subsequent reconstruction phases.
The rebuild
Replacing drywall, flooring, cabinets and paint is estimated separately. Once the structure has dried, we can assess what remains and price the repairs.
Permits
St. Petersburg allows wet materials to be removed without a permit. Repairing or replacing those materials requires one.
The flood rules
If your property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the city's 49% rule may affect your repair costs. When repairs reach 49% of the building's value before the damage, the entire building must meet current flood regulations. The cost of that work isn't included in a standard restoration estimate.
Will insurance pay for it?
Insurance coverage depends on how the water entered the house.
Indoor plumbing leaks
Damage from an indoor plumbing leak is handled through homeowners insurance.
HURRICANE DEDUCTIBLE
If the damage happened during a hurricane, your homeowners policy may also have a separate hurricane deductible. You can find the dollar amount on your policy's declarations page.
Water that rises from outside
Water that rises from outside is considered flooding and requires a separate flood insurance claim. The National Flood Insurance Program offers up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 for contents.
BUILDING
$250,000
maximum · own deductible
CONTENTS
$100,000
maximum · own deductible
They're separate coverages with separate deductibles.
POLICIES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2023
Florida law doesn't allow homeowners to transfer their insurance claim benefits to a contractor if the policy was issued on or after January 1, 2023. That means the insurance payment goes to you, and you're responsible for paying the restoration company for its work.
How to compare two estimates
When getting quotes from restoration companies, make sure they're pricing the same work.
Ask for a written breakdown showing which rooms are included, how the water is categorized, what materials will be removed and what can be dried where they are. The estimate should also explain how many days the equipment will run and which moisture readings you'll receive when the job is finished.
A quote that doesn't include removing damaged materials or checking the final moisture levels might cost less, but it also covers less work.
Request a Water Damage Restoration Estimate
To get a written estimate for your home, call (727) 270-8404 or complete the form on this page. Include your address and a few pictures of the damage.
Direct 24/7 Phone Dispatch
Immediate response for active storm leaks, roof tarping, and emergency ceiling extractions across Pinellas County: