If you’re looking to save a few bucks, I’d say try the “sniff test” and walk around barefoot—if it smells off or your socks get damp, you might be in for a bigger project than you hoped. When my basement flooded, I tried patching just the worst spots, but the soft spots kept spreading like gossip. Ended up yanking half the floor anyway. Sometimes cutting corners just means spending more later... but hey, at least you get a good story out of it?
That “sniff test” is classic—honestly, your nose knows. But yeah, patch jobs can be a trap. I’ve seen folks try to just dry out the carpet and slap some paint on the walls, only to have mold pop up a month later. If you’re dealing with storm damage, my step-by-step is: 1) Get everything dry (fans, dehumidifiers, whatever it takes), 2) Check for hidden soft spots or stains, and 3) Don’t ignore musty smells—they’re like nature’s warning sign. Sometimes it’s cheaper to rip out soggy stuff right away than to keep patching. Learned that one the hard way...
- Gotta agree—patching is usually just kicking the can down the road, especially if you’re dealing with soaked drywall or insulation.
- Costs? All over the place. My last storm cleanup (midwest, asphalt roof, 1,600 sq ft) ran about $4k for roof repairs and another $2k for interior stuff. Insurance covered some, but not all.
- If you catch it early and rip out wet materials fast, sometimes you save money long-term. Mold remediation is where things get ugly—easily $3k+ if it spreads.
- One thing folks overlook: check your attic after storms. I found a slow leak up there once that didn’t show inside for weeks... by then, insulation was toast.
- Not a fan of “just dry it out and hope”—never worked for me. If you can swing it, upgrade to better roofing materials when you repair (metal or high-quality shingles). Costs more upfront but less hassle next storm.
- Bottom line: expect a few grand minimum if water gets in, more if you wait or try to cut corners. Sometimes feels like you’re just throwing money at the sky...
- Had a similar mess last year—hail punched holes in my old shingles.
- Tried patching first, but water still got in. Ended up paying more later to fix the ceiling and replace insulation.
- Insurance barely covered half.
- If I’d just replaced the bad section right away, probably would’ve saved $1k or so.
- Lesson learned: quick fixes usually cost more down the line, at least for me.
Yeah, patch jobs always seem cheaper—until they aren’t. I had a similar deal but went with metal panels for the repair instead of more shingles. Cost more upfront, but zero leaks since. Insurance barely helped me out either... seems like that’s just how it goes.
