Mitigation estimates are usually built from line items: equipment days, square footage of material removed, labor hours, cleaning, protective gear and disposal. Many contractors and insurers use estimating software such as Xactimate, which prices those items by region. Understanding the drivers helps you check that the estimate matches what actually happened in your house.
The table below lists the factors that most often change the size of the job. It deliberately does not include prices, which vary by contractor, by region and over time.
Factors and how they affect scope
| Factor | Tends to increase scope when | Tends to reduce scope when |
|---|---|---|
| Time before extraction | Water sat for many hours or days | Extraction began quickly |
| Water category | Water is treated as contaminated | Clean supply water caught early |
| Floors affected | Water traveled through ceilings to lower levels | Contained to one level |
| Materials | Plaster, hardwood, laminate, carpet pad, insulation | Tile on slab, open framing |
| Access | Cabinets, built-ins or finished ceilings must be opened | Wet areas are open and reachable |
| Hazardous material testing | Suspect materials must be sampled and handled | Newer construction without suspect materials |
| Contents | Many belongings must be moved, packed or cleaned | Room is mostly empty |
| Containment | Mold or dust control requires sealed work areas | Open drying is appropriate |
| Building type | Multi-unit buildings with shared walls and several owners | Single detached house |
Using this worksheet with an estimate
- IfA line item covers material you did not see removedThenAsk for photos of that area before and after removal.
- IfEquipment counts look high for the spaceThenAsk how they calculated the number of air movers and dehumidifiers.
- IfDays of drying are longer than the logs showThenCompare the readings log to the equipment days billed.
- IfTesting or containment appearsThenAsk what triggered it and request the test results or reasons in writing.
- IfContents handling is a large part of the billThenAsk for an itemized list of what was moved, packed or cleaned.
Common questions
- Why are there no prices here?
- Prices change with location, contractor, timing and the details of each loss. The factors above explain why a bill is larger or smaller, which is more useful when reviewing a specific estimate.
- Is the cheapest estimate the best choice?
- Not necessarily. A lower number can reflect less equipment, fewer readings or skipped steps that leave moisture behind. Compare what each estimate includes and how drying will be verified.
General information for Denver, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.