Cost guide · Brookings, SD
What restoration typically costs
Every job is priced on its own scope, but national figures give a sense of scale. This line does not set prices; the provider gives a written estimate after seeing the damage.
National cost ranges
These figures come from national cost guides and are not quotes from this line or any provider. Prices in the Brookings area can be higher or lower depending on the job.
| Type of job | Reported average | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Water damage repair | About $3,869 | Most $1,384 to $6,387; full range $450 to $16,000 |
| Basement water cleanup | Not stated | About $500 to $2,800 |
| Burst pipe repair plus water damage | Not stated | About $1,000 to $4,000 |
| Mold remediation | About $2,225 | About $1,200 to $3,800 |
| Fire damage restoration | About $27,175 | About $3,107 to $51,243; about $4 to $7 per sq ft |
| Smoke remediation | About $3,000 | About $200 to $1,200 per room |
| Ozone odor treatment | About $600 | Varies with home size and severity |
| Biohazard cleanup | Not stated | About $1,500 to $5,000 for typical jobs |
| Unattended death cleanup | Not stated | About $3,000 to $10,000 |
| Hoarding cleanout | Not stated | About $3,000 to more than $20,000 |
Water, mold, fire and smoke figures are from Angi (water, fire, smoke, ozone). Biohazard and hoarding figures are from FeeGuides and Bio-Recovery.
Water: the type of water matters most
Angi puts water cleanup at about $3 to $7.50 per square foot, depending on the type of water:
| Category | Brookings examples | Approx. per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Clean (Category 1) | Burst pipe in a cold snap, failed supply line, water heater | About $3.50 |
| Gray (Category 2) | Washer overflow, ice dam meltwater that sat in insulation | About $5.25 |
| Black (Category 3) | Sewer backup, river or lake floodwater | About $7.50 |
Angi's examples show how much the source matters in a basement: about $500 to $1,500 for an inch of clean water from a burst pipe, compared with $2,800 or more for two feet of sewage. The IICRC classifies sewage and rising floodwater as Category 3 (IICRC), which means porous materials are removed and replaced instead of dried.
What drives the price in a Brookings home
- How long the water sat. A pipe that burst in an empty rental over winter break costs more than one caught in an hour.
- Finished basements. Carpet, pad, drywall and trim all add removal and rebuild cost.
- Attics and ceilings. Ice dam leaks often mean wet insulation removal and ceiling drywall, plus roof repair by a roofer.
- Winter conditions. Drying can take longer in a cold, closed house, and a house without heat may need temporary heat to prevent more frozen pipes.
- Rebuild. Mitigation and repairs are often priced separately. Replacing drywall, flooring and cabinets is usually the larger share.
Mold and fire
The EPA's remediation guidance sorts mold jobs as small (under about 10 square feet), medium (10 to 100) and large (more than 100) (EPA). Small jobs are often handled by homeowners. Medium and large jobs need containment, air filtration and removal, which is where most of the cost comes from.
Angi says a small cooking fire can cost as little as about $800 to clean up, while a severe fire can reach $180,000. Most of the difference is structural repair and contents. Smoke-only jobs, such as a furnace puff-back, tend to fall in the room-by-room range above.
How insurance fits in
For a covered loss, the homeowner usually pays the deductible and the insurer pays the rest of the approved scope. The South Dakota Division of Insurance says temporary repairs to prevent further damage are usually covered if you keep receipts, and that you can ask the insurer for an itemized settlement (SD Division of Insurance). Flood, surface water and sewer backup are excluded from the common HO-3 form (SD Division of Insurance), so those jobs may be paid out of pocket unless a flood policy or backup coverage is in place. See the South Dakota insurance guide.
Getting a fair estimate
- Ask for a written, itemized estimate that separates mitigation from repairs.
- Ask how drying will be measured and how many days of equipment are expected.
- Confirm the contractor holds a South Dakota contractor's excise tax license, which the Department of Revenue requires before work on real property begins (SD Department of Revenue).
- Read any work authorization or assignment form before signing it.
Common questions
Will the provider give a price on the phone?
Usually only a rough idea. Restoration is priced on the affected area, the type of water or damage, and what has to be removed, so a firm estimate normally comes after an inspection.
Why is a sewage job more expensive than a clean-water leak?
Sewage is the most contaminated category of water, so porous materials are removed and disposed of instead of dried, and the area is disinfected. That adds labor, disposal and rebuild costs.
Does insurance pay the restoration provider directly?
Arrangements vary. Many homeowners sign an authorization so the provider can bill the insurer, but the homeowner is still responsible for the deductible and any work the policy does not cover. Read anything you sign.
Related pages
Water damage
Leaks, burst pipes, snowmelt and storm water: extraction, drying and cleanup.
Read moreFire & smoke damage
Soot, smoke odor, board-up and the water left behind by firefighting.
Read moreMold removal
Mold in basements, attics and wall cavities after a leak, ice dam or flood.
Read moreSouth Dakota insurance guide
What South Dakota homeowners policies usually cover, flood and backup gaps, and claim steps.
Read moreSources and further reading · Last reviewed November 2026:
- Angi: How much does water damage repair cost?
- Angi: How much does fire damage restoration cost?
- Angi: Smoke remediation cost
- Angi: Ozone smoke removal cost
- FeeGuides: Biohazard cleanup cost
- Bio-Recovery: Biohazard cleanup cost
- EPA: Mold course chapter 4 (remediation size categories)
- IICRC position statement on weather-related water losses
- South Dakota Division of Insurance: The claims process
- South Dakota Division of Insurance: Homeowners policy forms
- South Dakota Department of Revenue: Contractor's excise tax
Burst pipe, wet basement or smoke in the house? Call now.
Get connected with a restoration provider that serves Brookings, Volga, Aurora, Elkton, Arlington and Flandreau.