Your own guess; a professional determines the actual category.
Changes the notes only, not the estimate.
What does this planning calculator calculate?
The browser-only tool begins with a known affected floor area from 10 to 5,000 square feet. It applies provisional clean [3,4], gray [4,6.5], high [7,7.5] or unknown [3,7.5] dollars per square foot. Its lower base is max(area × lower rate, $500); its upper base is max(area × upper rate, $1,500). Those floors, the unknown band and final rounding are this site's assumptions, not a quoted formula from either publisher.
Which published figures supply the examples?
HomeAdvisor lists $3–$4 clean, $4–$6.50 gray and $7–$7.50 high-contamination restoration per square foot, as well as ceiling $450–$1,600 and drywall $300–$850. The commercial Save The Day Restoration regional guide lists $1,500–$5,000 for a minor single-room clean-water job across Los Angeles and Orange counties, plus a $500–$1,500 initial minimum. These are neither Arcadia address prices nor identical scopes.
How are material additions handled?
A ceiling or drywall choice adds its published range. From Save The Day components, this tool derives carpet removal plus installation at $6–$16 per square foot and hardwood removal plus installation at $12–$28 or more. Carpet and hardwood selected areas must not overlap or total more than the affected area. The model adds the chosen amounts to the unrounded bases before rounding the lower total down and upper total up to $100. The hardwood upper result retains “or more”.
What remains outside the tool?
It cannot establish water category, hidden damage, source repair, contractor availability or insurer payment. Nothing entered is sent as an inquiry. Bring the result to a qualified provider for a written scope; read the estimate guide.
Calls go to voicemail, not a live provider. Messages are recorded and transcribed after the greeting. You can email us instead.
Free for homeowners. We may be paid for qualifying referral calls.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor, How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost? (accessed October 11, 2026).
- Save The Day Restoration, Water Damage Restoration Costs in LA and Orange County (accessed October 11, 2026).
- California Department of Insurance, Residential Insurance Guide (accessed October 11, 2026).
- California Contractors State License Board, Check a License (accessed October 11, 2026).