Calculator Methodology
Independent referral and planning resources, operated by Bob Carlton.
Three Kinds of Calculation
Physical tools use documented unit conversions or an explicit equation. National cost tools multiply selected quantities by published ranges. Budget worksheets sum amounts that you enter; they do not invent supplier prices.
Version 1.1.0
Cost inputs are from the HomeGuide national water-damage guide, updated February 6, 2026 and checked September 2026. All local cost factors are 1.00. Affiliate compensation, postal ZIP, weather and assumed neighborhood income do not affect the model.
| Scope | Planning range | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Water extraction + drying | $4–$12 / affected sq ft | Combined allowance. Do not add another drying charge. |
| Carpet replacement | $2–$8 / sq ft | Labor + material benchmark; verify removal, disposal and extras. |
| Hardwood replacement | $7–$25 / sq ft | Replacement, not refinishing; subfloor priced separately. |
| Drywall installation | $1.50–$3.50 / surface sq ft | Labor + material allowance; confirm demolition, finish and paint. |
| Plaster work | $2–$10 / surface sq ft | Repair scope varies; identify the existing wall construction. |
Source: HomeGuide water-damage cost guide. These are national reference ranges, not Georgia contractor quotes. Taxes, permits, source repair, specialist work and hidden damage are not assumed included. No local price multiplier is applied.
Scope and Overlap
Extraction and drying form one combined allowance. Rebuilding is added only for selected quantities. One finish flooring type is selected per scenario. Subfloor, removal and specialist amounts must be entered as distinct non-overlapping work. The tool is not a full estimating system.
Formulas and Examples
Water Damage Repair Cost Calculator
Cleanup = affected area × $4–$12 for unknown source. Category scenarios use $4–$6, $6–$9 or $9–$12 per sq ft. Selected carpet, hardwood and drywall quantities are added once, separately.
Hypothetical check: 200 sq ft of unknown-source cleanup, with no rebuilding selected, produces $800–$2,400.
Water Extraction and Drying Cost Calculator
Volume = area × depth in inches × 0.6233766. Budget = affected area × the selected combined removal-and-drying unit range. Depth changes volume, not the national square-foot rate.
Hypothetical check: 200 sq ft × 1 inch of water is approximately 124.68 gallons. The combined extraction/drying allowance is $800–$2,400 with source unknown.
Flooded Basement Cleanup Cost Calculator
Use affected area for cleanup. Add only the actual surface quantities requiring replacement. Finished/unfinished is scope context, not an automatic multiplier.
Hypothetical check: An unfinished 200 sq ft basement, unknown source and no replacement materials selected, has an $800–$2,400 cleanup/drying range.
Sewage Backup Cleanup Cost Calculator
Affected area × $9–$12 per sq ft for the contamination scenario. Porous-material disposal, replacement, source repair and specialist assessment must be scoped separately.
Hypothetical check: 200 sq ft using the category 3 planning range gives $1,800–$2,400 before entered replacement or extra work.
Crawl Space Water Damage Cost Calculator
Cleanup is area × the source range. Access is a scope flag, not a numeric premium. Enter independently obtained, non-overlapping totals for insulation, ground cover or other work.
Hypothetical check: 200 sq ft at the unknown-source range is $800–$2,400. Adding a user-entered $500 insulation/ground-cover scope makes $1,300–$2,900.
Ceiling and Drywall Repair Cost Calculator
Damaged surface area × the material range, plus your separately entered removal, insulation and finish total. Do not substitute room floor area for wall surface.
Hypothetical check: 100 sq ft of drywall at $1.50–$3.50 gives $150–$350 before entered removal or finishing.
Flooring Repair and Subfloor Cost Calculator
Finish flooring uses carpet $2–$8 or hardwood $7–$25 per sq ft. Optional subfloor installation uses HomeGuide $2.20–$4.75 per sq ft, or your scoped total instead. Do not charge both methods for the same subfloor.
Hypothetical check: 100 sq ft of carpet plus 100 sq ft of subfloor installation produces $420–$1,275 before separately entered removal.
Water Volume Calculator
US gallons = length_ft × width_ft × depth_inches × 0.6233766. Liters = length_m × width_m × depth_cm × 10. Re-enter dimensions when switching units.
Hypothetical check: 10 ft × 10 ft × 1 inch is approximately 62.34 gallons.
Dehumidifier Size Calculator
Total nameplate capacity = units × rated pints/day. Load/capacity is arithmetic only. Real removal varies with test conditions, site conditions, ongoing moisture and equipment setup.
Hypothetical check: A 100-pint entered load and one unit rated at 50 pints/day produce a load/capacity ratio of 2 rated-capacity days, not a two-day drying promise.
Drying Equipment Electricity Cost Calculator
kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × units × hours/day × days. Cost = kWh × your tariff. The default tariff is an example, not a Georgia utility rate.
Hypothetical check: Two 600 W units, 24 hours/day for 3 days, at an illustrative $0.15/kWh use 86.4 kWh and cost $12.96.
Drying Equipment Rental Budget Calculator
Daily billing rounds days up; weekly billing rounds seven-day blocks up; mixed billing uses full weeks and the daily remainder. Add delivery and the tax percentage you enter. Verify minimum terms.
Hypothetical check: The editable Delaware supplier example of $69/day or $196/week gives $265 base rental for 8 days in mixed mode. Georgia supplier terms, damage waiver, environmental fees and delivery can differ.
Water Damage Drying Log
Add dated readings with location, material, meter mode, device and unit. The chart sorts comparable readings by date; it does not set a drying target or predict completion. Export the CSV before closing the page. The optional scenario duration only organizes a planned monitoring period.
Hypothetical check: Two readings at the same wall point, material, device and meter mode can be compared on the trend chart. Readings from a different mode form a separate series.
Dew Point Calculator
Invert the August–Roche–Magnus relationship: γ = ln(RH/100) + 17.625T/(243.04+T); Td = 243.04γ/(17.625−γ). T is in °C. The tool accepts 0–50 °C and RH greater than 0 through 100%.
Hypothetical check: At 20 °C and 50% RH, this approximation gives a dew point of about 9.26 °C (48.66 °F). At 100% RH, dew point equals air temperature.
Water Damage Contents Inventory
Each line = quantity × your entered unit replacement value. The total is the sum of lines. No depreciation, insurance coverage or valuation approval is assumed. CSV export protects spreadsheet formula-like descriptions.
Hypothetical check: Two chairs with an entered replacement value of $120 each add $240 to the worksheet.
Water Damage Insurance Deductible Calculator
Scenario = max(0, min(user-assumed covered loss, entered limit) − deductible). Real policies may apply limits and deductibles differently, use depreciation or exclude a cause. This is not an expected payment.
Hypothetical check: An assumed covered loss of $8,000, a $10,000 limit and a $1,000 deductible yields a $7,000 scenario.
Mold Remediation Cost Calculator
Base remediation = affected area × $15–$30 per sq ft, or your entered removal/cleaning amount instead. Add containment, assessment and rebuilding only if excluded from the base scope. Educational only; mold referral eligibility is unverified.
Hypothetical check: 100 sq ft at HomeGuide’s $15–$30 benchmark produces $1,500–$3,000 before separately scoped extras. Small-job minimums, HVAC work and access can differ.
Privacy and Limitations
Calculation runs locally. No loss details are submitted to an external AI service or provider. Results cannot reveal hidden damage, classify water, size a certified drying system, prove dryness or determine insurance coverage.
Content reviewed September 2026.