Water damage drying
Fire & smoke cleanup
Mold remediation
Storm response
Sewage cleanup
ReconstructionFree visual inspection and a written scope of work before any mitigation begins - photos, moisture readings, and drying logs go in your claim file
The scope we write is the scope we bill. Anything new gets shown to you, in writing, before we touch it.
Get your free estimateTrusted Water Damage Restoration for Austin Homeowners
Water damage in Austin moves fast. Between our heavy spring storms, the occasional burst pipe from a hard freeze, and the humidity that follows any flood, standing water has a window of about 48 hours before mold starts taking root behind your drywall. Wendell Restoration Austin has been handling that clock since 2006. We show up same-day for water emergencies across Austin, from Jollyville down to Shady Hollow, and we hand you a written price before any equipment comes off the truck. No vague estimates, no surprise line items, no phone tag. Just a live person when you call (325) 237-2088, a technician with a live arrival time you can track, and before-and-after photos sent straight to your phone.
Every job runs on IICRC protocol and equipment from Dri-Eaz and Phoenix. It is the same standard we use on commercial losses, applied to your guest bathroom or back hall. And because we are part of the Relay Home Co. family since 2006, every repair carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing: if it is not done right, we make it right. That promise is not a slogan. It is printed on your invoice.
Water Mitigation
Water Mitigation is the first and most important phase of any water loss: stop the spread, remove the bulk water, and start drying the structure before rot and mold gain a foothold. In Austin’s climate, mitigation is especially time-sensitive because our warm, humid air does half of the mold’s work for it. Wendell Restoration Austin arrives with professional extraction and drying equipment, maps the moisture in your walls and floors, and gives you a written price for mitigation before we begin. Most residential mitigation runs between $1,800 and $4,500 in Austin depending on square footage and how far the water has traveled.
Moisture Mapping Before Any Drying Starts
We use thermal imaging and penetrating moisture meters to find water that is hiding behind baseboards, under tile, and inside wall cavities. This mapping is what separates a real mitigation job from a guy with a fan. It also gives us the documentation your insurance adjuster needs to approve the scope of work.
Antimicrobial Treatment, Applied Early
Once the bulk water is out, we treat affected framing and drywall with an antimicrobial to stop mold spores from taking hold. In an Austin summer, the time between “wet” and “moldy” can be measured in days, not weeks. That is why we apply the treatment as part of mitigation, not as a separate add-on you have to ask about later.
Restoration work we handle
Flooded Basement
Basement Water Removal situations in Austin are less common than up north, but they do happen, especially in older homes near Shoal Creek, in split-levels around Wells Branch, and in homes with below-grade garages or utility rooms. When a basement floods here, it is usually from a failed sump pump, a backed-up drain line, or surface water finding its way through a foundation crack. Wendell Restoration Austin responds with submersible pumps and truck-mounted extraction to pull the water out fast, then sets up drying equipment under the subfloor where moisture hides. A flooded basement cleanup typically runs $2,200 to $6,000, depending on whether finished walls and flooring need to be removed.
Sump Pump Failures and Drain Backups
Most Austin basement floods trace back to one of two things: a sump pump that quit during a storm, or a floor drain that backed up when the city’s storm system got overwhelmed. We see both every spring. Once the water is out, we check the drain line and the sump pit so you are not dealing with the same flood after the next downpour.
Finished Basement Drying, Not Just Mop-Up
If your basement has carpet, drywall, and a drop ceiling, extracting the visible water is only the first half of the job. Moisture trapped behind the drywall and under the pad will wreck both within weeks. We pull the affected material only when necessary, set up Injectidry panels to dry wall cavities from the inside, and document every step with photos for your file.
Water Extraction
Burst Pipe Restoration starts with water extraction, the physical removal of standing water from your home, and it is the single most effective thing you can do in the first hour after a pipe bursts or a supply line fails. Standing water does not just sit there; it wicks up into drywall, under tile, and into the subfloor through capillary action. Wendell Restoration Austin runs truck-mounted extraction units that pull hundreds of gallons out in the first visit. Extraction alone typically runs $500 to $1,800 depending on how much water is present and how many rooms are affected, and it is always bundled with a drying plan rather than billed as a one-and-done stop.
Subsurface Extraction for Carpet and Pad
A carpet can look damp on top while the pad underneath is fully saturated, and no amount of surface suction will fix that. We lift the carpet, extract the pad directly, and assess whether the pad can be dried or should be replaced. It is the difference between your living room smelling clean next week and smelling like a swamp next month.
Hardwood and Tile Water Trapping
Austin homes with engineered hardwood or laminate flooring hold water differently than carpeted rooms. Water gets trapped in the tongue-and-groove seams and under the underlayment. We use specialized floor drying mats that pull moisture from below the surface, and we monitor it daily with moisture readings until the readings say dry, not the surface feel.
Emergency Water Removal
Emergency Water Extraction is the service you need at 2 a.m. when the supply line on your upstairs toilet lets go and water is coming through the ceiling. It is the immediate stopgap: shut off the source, extract the standing water, and protect the unaffected parts of the house. Wendell Restoration Austin answers the phone with a live person 24/7, not a voicemail and not a callback queue. Emergency extraction and water removal in Austin typically runs $750 to $2,500, based on the volume of water and the time of night, and we give you that number before we start.
Live Arrival Time, Not a Four-Hour Window
When your ceiling is dripping, “sometime between noon and four” is not an answer. Our background-checked, uniformed technicians show up with a live arrival time you can track from your phone, same as a rideshare. You will know who is coming and exactly when they will be at your door.
Containing Water Before It Travels
Water that starts on the second floor wants to end up in the first floor and eventually the foundation. In emergency removal, part of our job is putting down barriers, stopping lateral spread with temporary containment, and keeping the affected footprint from doubling in the first hour. That containment work is part of the emergency response, not a separate surprise charge.
Flood Damage Restoration
Flood Damage Restoration in Austin covers the full journey from waterlogged walls back to a home you can live in: extraction, drying, repair, and rebuilding. The distinction matters because a flash flood in Brushy Creek or a creek overflow near Lost Creek brings contaminants with it, not just clean water. Wendell Restoration Austin handles flood-damaged sheetrock, insulation, cabinetry, and framing under IICRC and RIA standards. Full flood damage restoration typically runs $4,000 to $12,000 in the Austin area, depending on how much of the structure was submerged and for how long.
Category 3 Water Handling
Floodwater from outside is what the industry calls Category 3: it carries bacteria, debris, and whatever was in the street. We treat it accordingly, removing contaminated materials, disposing of them safely, and applying antimicrobial treatments before any rebuild begins. If your flood came from a creek or storm runoff, do not treat it like a clean water pipe leak.
Insurance Documentation From Day One
Flood claims in Austin involve adjusters, photos, line-item scopes, and sometimes weeks of back-and-forth. We photograph everything before, during, and after, and we coordinate directly with your adjuster so the claim reflects what actually happened. The written price we give you before work starts is the same documentation your carrier sees.
Water Damage Cleanup
Water Damage Cleanup is the stage where your house starts looking and smelling like yours again: debris removal, material disposal, surface cleaning, odor control, and final air dry-down. It comes after extraction and drying, and it is what prevents the “wet dog” smell that lingers for months after a leak. Wendell Restoration Austin includes cleanup as part of every water loss we handle, and as a standalone service it runs between $900 and $3,000 in Austin depending on how much material was removed and how many rooms were affected.
Odor Control That Actually Removes the Source
Air fresheners do not fix a water damage smell. The odor comes from bacteria and trapped moisture behind the drywall or under the floor. We address the source with drying, antimicrobial flushing, and HEPA air scrubbing so the smell leaves with the water, not after it.
Debris Disposal and Material Removal
Saturated drywall, wet insulation, and ruined carpet pad all have to go. We cut, bag, and haul the affected material, then leave the space clean enough for the rebuild phase to start. You will see photo updates of every step by text, so you never wonder what was removed or why.
Emergency Water Damage Restoration
Emergency Water Damage Restoration is the full response when a water event is actively damaging your home right now: a burst pipe, a failed water heater, a storm breach. It combines emergency extraction, mitigation, and the start of drying in one continuous response. Wendell Restoration Austin runs emergency restoration 24/7 across Austin, and the typical emergency response runs $1,200 to $4,000 on the day of the event, with the full restoration scope priced in writing before additional work begins.
Why the First 24 Hours Decide Everything
Once water has been sitting for 24 hours, delamination starts on cabinets and countertops, drywall starts to swell, and mold spores begin to activate. We get to your home fast because the first day determines whether we are drying a room or rebuilding it. The same leak on day one and day five are two very different jobs.
One Call, One Crew, One Written Price
You do not want a parade of contractors through your house during an emergency. Wendell Restoration Austin sends one crew that handles extraction, drying, and the initial repair scope, all under one written price and one 365-Day Done Right Promise. The number on your screen is the number you pay, with a free second visit if any repair fails within the year.
Brands We Service
We run Dri-Eaz and Phoenix equipment on every job we handle in Austin, and we have been doing so for nearly two decades. Dri-Eaz dehumidifiers and air movers are the standard for structural drying, and our technicians know their troubleshooting and maintenance inside out. Phoenix’s low-profile drying systems let us get into tight crawlspaces and under cabinets where a standard air mover will not fit, which matters in older Austin homes with pier-and-beam foundations.
We also follow RIA and IFA standards on every loss, from small bath leaks to whole-house floods. Whether your equipment is Dri-Eaz, Phoenix, or any other professional-grade make, our crew knows how to run it correctly and document the drying curve so the job is proven dry, not just claimed dry. That is part of the Relay Standard: the work is verifiable, photographed, and backed in writing.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Water is still spreading, not just sitting. If the wet area on your ceiling or floor is visibly growing hour over hour, the source is still active or the water is migrating. Every hour of spread adds material removal to the final bill, and a pro can stop it before another room goes down.
- Your drywall is swelling or your paint is bubbling. That means water has saturated the gypsum board from the inside, and drywall does not dry back to its original shape. Once it swells, it is replacement, not drying, and replacement is always more expensive than mitigation.
- You smell something musty you cannot place. A musty odor means microbial activity has already started, which happens fast in Austin humidity. That smell is not a “let’s see in a week” situation; it is a sign that mold spores are multiplying behind a surface you can not see.
- Your water bill spiked with no explanation. A hidden slab leak or a slow leak inside a wall can run for weeks before you see any visible water. If your Austin Water bill jumped 30% or more and nothing else changed, call us before the slab or the studs pay for it.
- Water came from outside, not from a clean pipe. Creek overflow, storm runoff, or sewer backup water carries contaminants that make the cleanup a different category of job. Do not treat it like a tap water spill; it needs antimicrobial treatment and proper material removal.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call and get a live person. You call (325) 237-2088 and talk to a person, not a phone tree. We gather the basics over the phone, tell you what to do in the meantime (shut off the water, move what you can), and give you a live arrival time for the technician.
- 2
Assessment and written price. The tech arrives, walks the entire affected area with a moisture meter and thermal camera, and maps the water’s path. You get a written scope and a price before any work begins, so there is no “gotcha” invoice at the end.
- 3
Extraction and source stop. We extract standing water with truck-mounted equipment, cut off any remaining water source, and remove materials that cannot be saved. Photos are taken before, during, and after, and you receive them by text.
- 4
Drying and daily monitoring. We set up air movers, dehumidifiers, and specialized drying panels under IICRC protocol, then return daily to take moisture readings. You get the daily numbers, so you can watch the drying curve yourself.
- 5
Final verification and written guarantee. When the moisture readings show the structure is truly dry, we do a final walkthrough with you, hand you the documentation, and back the work with the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If a repair fails within the year, we come back free.
How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost in Austin?
A typical water damage restoration job in Austin runs between $1,800 and $6,500, with the range driven mainly by how many rooms were affected, how long the water sat, and whether it was clean water or contaminated floodwater. Small clean-water leaks, like a supply line under a bathroom sink caught within the first hour, usually land on the lower end around $1,500 to $2,800. Larger losses, like a slab leak that ran under the slab and into two rooms, or a second-floor bathroom that drained into the living room below, routinely reach $5,000 to $9,000 once drying and repair are factored in.
What moves the price: square footage of affected area, whether flooring and drywall need removal, how long the water sat (the first 24 hours is the cheapest), and whether the water is Category 1 (clean), Category 2 (gray), or Category 3 (contaminated). To avoid overpaying, get the scope in writing before work starts, ask for daily moisture readings, and never accept a price that is given to you before the tech has even looked at the affected area. Your free estimate from Wendell Restoration Austin includes the complete written scope, the drying plan, and the exact price. No percentages on top, no “final invoice” that looks different from the estimate you approved.
Our Service Area Near Austin
Wendell Restoration Austin covers the greater Austin metro, including Pflugerville, San Marcos, Jollyville, Wells Branch, Buda, Manor, Shady Hollow, Lost Creek, Hornsby Bend, and Lakeway, plus the Brushy Creek corridor. Our typical response time within Austin city limits is under two hours, and we reach most surrounding communities in under three. You can also check our Water Damage Restoration in Pflugerville and Water Damage Restoration in San Marcos pages for location-specific details.
Serving Austin, TX - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Austin area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Damage Restoration in Austin
Water damage restoration is the complete process of returning a water-damaged home to a safe, dry, pre-loss condition: extraction of standing water, structural drying, antimicrobial treatment, material removal and replacement, and final odor control. It differs from simple water removal in scope. In Austin, restoration usually means getting your home dry enough to live in again, not just wet-vacuuming the floor.
Most residential water damage restoration in Austin takes 3 to 7 days from initial call to final dry-down, with more extensive losses running up to 2 to 3 weeks when rebuild work is included. The drying phase itself typically takes 3 to 5 days under IICRC protocol. Austin’s humidity can stretch drying time compared to drier regions. We monitor daily and give you the moisture numbers, so you know exactly where you are in the process.
Typical water damage restoration in Austin runs between $1,800 and $6,500 for a standard residential loss, with larger or contaminated losses reaching $9,000 to $12,000. The final number depends on affected square footage, water category, and how long the water sat before we arrived. We write the price before work starts, so you are never guessing. Call (325) 237-2088 for an exact quote; estimates are free.
Yes, we run Dri-Eaz and Phoenix drying equipment on every job, and we follow RIA and IFA standards on all losses. Our technicians are trained to operate and troubleshoot the full line of professional restoration equipment. Whether we are using a Dri-Eaz dehumidifier or a Phoenix low-profile drying unit, the work is documented and the drying curve is verifiable.
Within Austin city limits, our typical response time is under two hours, and we answer the phone with a live person 24/7. Most surrounding communities, including Pflugerville and Wells Branch, see us within three hours. You get a live arrival time you can track from your phone, not a four-hour window.
Every job carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing: if the restoration is not done right, we make it right, and that includes a free second visit if any repair fails within the year. The guarantee is stated on your invoice, not delivered verbally. That is the standard for every Wendell Restoration Austin job, no exceptions.
Shut off the water source if you can do so safely, move small belongings and electronics out of the affected area, and take your own photos for your records. Do not enter standing water if it came from outside or may be in contact with electrical outlets. We will handle the rest from the moment we arrive with the written scope and the drying plan.
Schedule Your Water Damage Restoration Service in Austin Today
Water damage in an Austin home does not wait, and neither should you. Call (325) 237-2088 now and you will speak to a live person who can dispatch a technician with a trackable arrival time. Your estimate is free, your price is in writing before work starts, and every job carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If it is not done right, we make it right. That is the whole deal.
Written by Blake Sorensen, Owner at Wendell Restoration Austin, serving Austin since 2006.