Restoration
Remodeling After Water or Fire Damage in Las Vegas, NV
When a room has to be rebuilt after water or fire damage anyway, remodeling is the option to use that rebuild to upgrade it, new cabinets instead of matching the old ones, tile in a spot that used to be carpet, a different layout for a kitchen or bathroom, rather than simply putting the room back exactly as it was. Nevada Water Damage carries the project from drying and demolition through the finished room with one team, so moving from restoration into a remodel does not mean starting over with a new contractor.
Nevada Water Damage
What we do
A water or fire loss is not something anyone wants, but once drywall, cabinets or flooring already have to come out, you are left with a choice: put the room back the way it was, or use the work that already has to happen to make a change you have been wanting anyway. Both are valid, and neither is required, this is simply an option some homeowners want to know they have.
We handle both. If you want the room restored to match what was there before, we do that. If you want to change the layout, upgrade the cabinets, switch to tile or waterproof flooring, or repaint the whole space while it is already opened up, the same team that dried and demolished the room can carry it through to a finished remodel, so you are not handing the project off to a second contractor partway through.
Signs
Signs you need help
- A kitchen or bathroom already being gutted for water damage repair
- Flooring that has to be replaced anyway after a leak or flood
- Cabinets damaged beyond repair that need to be replaced regardless
- A fire-damaged room already down to the studs
- A layout you have wanted to change but never had a reason to open the walls for
- Carpet in a wet-prone area you would rather not put back
- An older kitchen or bathroom that was already due for an update
- A repair large enough that matching the old materials exactly is no longer possible anyway
Right now
What to do first
- Decide roughly whether you want the room restored to match or want to make changes, even a general idea is enough to start
- Start gathering ideas for cabinets, flooring or layout if you are leaning toward a remodel
- Ask what your policy typically covers for like-kind replacement versus what upgrades would be an out-of-pocket choice
- Do not sign a separate remodel contract with another company before talking to us about carrying the project through
- Think about whether shut-off valves, a leak sensor or different flooring make sense for the room being opened up
- Keep the free estimate conversation focused on both scopes, restoration and any remodel, so you see the full picture at once
Las Vegas
What tends to change in a Las Vegas rebuild
A lot of the water damage we see starts upstairs, in a laundry room or a bathroom above a living space in the valley's many two-story homes, and by the time that water has traveled down through a ceiling, the repair usually touches more than one room. When that much of a home is already open, homeowners often use the moment to make choices about flooring and finishes they would not otherwise have gotten around to.
Because valley water is rated very hard by the Las Vegas Valley Water District, some homeowners choose to swap in fixtures, more accessible shut-off valves, or a water heater location that is easier to service when a bathroom or laundry room is already opened up for repair, even though that is a choice, not something we require.
Tile and other water-resistant flooring are common upgrade choices in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms here, partly because carpet in those rooms is more likely to need replacing again after the next spill or leak. A leak sensor near a water heater or washing machine is another small addition some homeowners add during a remodel, simply because the area is already open.
Process
How does remodeling work?
Done to IICRC standards, with documented moisture readings.
Drying and demolition
The same crew that handles the initial water or fire damage removes what cannot be saved and completes structural drying before any rebuild starts.
Restore or remodel decision
Once the space is dry and opened up, you decide, room rebuilt to match what was there, or changed, and we scope the project either way.
Design choices
For a remodel, you choose cabinets, flooring, tile, paint and layout, and we can point out which choices tend to hold up better in a wet-prone area like a kitchen or bathroom.
Permits
Any permits required for the scope of work are handled as part of the project, so you are not tracking that down separately.
Construction
Framing, drywall, flooring, cabinets and paint are completed by the same team, so there is no gap between the restoration side finishing and the remodel side starting.
Final walkthrough
We walk the finished room with you before calling the project complete, so you can confirm everything before we close it out.
Insurance
Does insurance cover remodeling?
Most homeowners policies are built around like-kind replacement, meaning the insurer typically covers putting a damaged room back with materials and fixtures similar to what was there before, not an upgrade to something different or nicer. If you choose to remodel rather than restore to match, that generally means the policy pays its share as if the room were being restored to match, and you cover the difference for the upgraded choices, cabinets, tile, a layout change, painting beyond the affected area. We walk through that distinction with you before work starts so there are no surprises about which parts of the project fall into which category, and we bill the insurer directly for the covered portion.
Cost
What decides the cost of remodeling in Las Vegas?
- How many rooms are affected and being remodeled versus restored to match
- Whether cabinets, flooring or fixtures are being upgraded rather than matched
- Whether a layout change is involved, which can affect plumbing or electrical work
- Whether permits are required for the scope of work
- How much of the project insurance covers as like-kind replacement versus what is an owner-chosen upgrade
- How much of the home is already open from the water or fire damage repair itself
Every job is different. The inspection is free and we walk you through the scope before work starts.
Prevention
How to keep it from happening again
- Choose tile or another waterproof flooring in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms rather than carpet
- Ask about accessible shut-off valves for the water heater, washing machine and under sinks during the remodel
- Consider a leak sensor near appliances or fixtures that have leaked before
- Pick cabinets and finishes near wet areas that tolerate occasional moisture better than raw wood or particleboard
- Plan where the water heater and washing machine lines run before finishes go back in, not after
- Discuss layout changes that move plumbing away from areas prone to hard water scale buildup, if that is a goal
Questions
Straight answers
Do I have to remodel, or can I just have the room put back the way it was?
That is entirely your choice. We restore rooms to match what was there before just as often as we remodel them, and there is no obligation either way.
Does insurance pay for a remodel?
Insurance typically pays for like-kind replacement, putting the room back with similar materials. If you upgrade instead, you generally cover the difference between that like-kind cost and the upgraded choice.
Can the same crew that dries and repairs my home also do the remodel?
Yes. One team carries the project from drying and demolition through design and construction to a finished room, so you are not handing it off partway through.
Will remodeling take longer than a standard repair?
It can, since choosing cabinets, tile, flooring and layout adds decisions that a like-kind restoration does not need. We explain the likely timeline for your scope before work starts.
Can I choose different flooring than what was damaged?
Yes. Many homeowners switch to tile or another water-resistant flooring in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms, and we can point out which choices tend to hold up well in those spaces.
Are permits needed for a remodel like this?
It depends on the scope of work. Any permits required are handled as part of the project, so you are not tracking that down on your own.
Can I remodel just one room, or does it have to be the whole area that was damaged?
It is flexible. You can remodel just the affected footprint, or extend the project to a nearby area you have wanted to update, with any area beyond the damaged footprint being your own choice.
Related
Related services
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 5-year · U.S. EPA · Las Vegas Valley Water District · IICRC S500 / S520 · National Weather Service Las Vegas
24 hours, 7 days
Water where it should not be?
Call now - we tell you what to do while we are on the way, and send the crew. Or leave your details and we call you in minutes.
