Water damage restoration in Marietta, GA

It depends on who sends your water bill. Inside Marietta city limits, water comes from Marietta Power & Water, whose water emergency number is 770-794-5230. Many homes with a Marietta mailing address, including most of East Cobb, are outside city limits and get water from the Cobb County Water System, whose emergency dispatch line is 770-419-6201 for broken water lines and sewer backups. Leaks on your side of the meter, and water inside the house, are yours to fix, and that is where a restoration company comes in.

Not a standard policy. The Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office says a standard homeowners policy covers wind and tornado damage but not flooding, which needs a separate National Flood Insurance Program policy. Water that starts inside the house, like a burst supply line or a failed water heater, is a different story and is usually covered after your deductible. Sewer and drain backups need a water backup endorsement.

No. In Georgia, anyone who negotiates a claim on your behalf has to be a licensed public adjuster. A restoration company can document the loss with photos, moisture readings, and an itemized estimate, and send that to your adjuster, which is often what gets a claim paid without a fight. You can check any public adjuster's license through the Georgia Insurance Commissioner's office.

Find out whether the house sits in a mapped floodplain first. Cobb County's floodplain search tool shows FEMA flood zones for any address. Inside city limits, the City of Marietta says any new development in a floodplain needs a permit, and a home whose repair costs reach 50 percent of its market value over 10 years has to be brought up to current floodplain code. Call the city permit office at 770-794-5659 before you sign a rebuild contract.

Nationally, Angi puts the average at about $3,800, but that is not a quote or a Marietta price. Your cost depends on the water category, how many square feet are wet, how long the water sat, and how much drywall or flooring has to come out. That is why we do not quote prices over the phone. A restoration company measures the moisture on site and writes an estimate. When the loss is covered by insurance, most companies bill your carrier directly using Xactimate pricing, and you are responsible for your deductible.

The EPA says water-damaged materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Humid Georgia summers make that window matter more, especially in a crawl space where nobody looks. Getting water extracted and dehumidifiers running quickly helps prevent mold and keeps your claim clean.

Water mitigation is the emergency part: removing the water, taking out what can't be saved, and drying the structure so the damage stops spreading. Water damage repair, sometimes called reconstruction, comes after and replaces the drywall, flooring, and paint. The two are often billed separately, so ask whether an estimate covers one or both.

Your landlord's insurance covers the building, so the property owner or manager needs to authorize the work. Tell them right away, in writing, and send photos. Your own renters policy may cover your belongings and temporary housing. If water is still flowing and you cannot reach anyone, shut off the water at the main valve.

ANSI/IICRC S500 is the industry's standard for professional water damage restoration. It defines water categories (1 clean, 2 gray, 3 black), classes of evaporation load, and how drying should be set up and verified. IICRC certification is a training credential, not a government license. Adjusters use S500 as the benchmark when reviewing a mitigation invoice.