Why a tier instead of an exact number
Water damage pricing is driven by things nobody can see from a web form: how far water wicked into wall cavities, whether a subfloor is holding moisture under dry-looking tile, and whether the source changed category while it sat. A calculator that prints an exact-looking dollar figure would be pretending. Matching your answers to a published tier is more honest, and it tells you the scale of job to expect before a provider walks in.
What each question changes
Location. A single room on a slab or main floor is the simplest case. Basements have their own band because pump-out, mud and block or stone walls change the work. A leak coming through a ceiling usually means hidden wet framing above.
Source. The IICRC S500 standard sorts water into three categories. Category 1 comes from a sanitary source like a supply line. Category 2 carries contamination, such as washer drain water. Category 3 is grossly contaminated: sewage or water that rose from a creek or street. Category 3 almost always means porous materials come out rather than get dried, which is why it jumps straight to the top tier.
Area and hours. More wet square footage means more equipment days. Time matters because EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and clean water picks up contamination the longer it sits.
Finishes. Hardwood, plaster and cabinets hold water deep inside and dry slowly. Wet drywall above the baseboard often means a flood cut.
Reading your result
The result names a tier and says whether your answers point to the low, middle or high part of it. If several push-up factors stack, the tool tells you the job could cross into the next tier once rebuild is added. Rebuild of drywall, trim, flooring and paint is always priced separately after the structure is confirmed dry.
After you have a range
If water is still moving, shut the main valve and switch off power to wet rooms from a dry panel. Then call (484) 293-9520 any hour or send the short form. A local restoration provider may contact you to set up an on-site look, and the written estimate after that visit is the only number that counts.