The Scale of the Disaster(s)

One important factor that will make a huge difference in the cost of your home or business reconstruction costs is the sheer scale of the disaster that impacted your business.

When major disasters strike, it creates a sudden demand for everything that will go into your reconstruction: building materials, construction equipment, labor, and more. When this happens, the price of everything goes up. How much the price increases will depend on the scale of the disaster.

Your rebuilding costs can be impacted not just by the disaster in your area, but by other disasters around the country. That’s because all the rebuilding efforts are drawing from the same pool of resources. If there’s a major wildfire that swept through Coeur d’Alene, for example, rebuilding costs would escalate not just for that disaster, but if there also happens to be damage from a devastating hurricane in Florida or Texas. Over time, some of these costs may level out, but initially the demand will outstrip the supply and lead to an initial spike in costs. During a disaster, reconstruction costs can easily be 40% greater (or more) than for a reconstruction project without a widespread disaster.

Speed of Reconstruction

If you want your home or business rebuilt immediately after the disaster, you will have to accept the fully elevated costs of reconstruction. However, if you have the flexibility to wait, you might see costs drop down to normal, or even potentially below normal if your reconstruction happens during the time when there’s a surplus of materials from ramping up to meet the peak demand.

For commercial reconstruction, this may be less of an option, but homeowners may be able to accept a slower reconstruction timeframe.

Building Materials

The building materials you choose will significantly impact the cost of your reconstruction. Wood frame construction is typically much less expensive than concrete, for example. However, not all building material prices will rise equally in the wake of a disaster. Wood frame construction, as the most common construction method, may see a higher spike in price than concrete construction, so methods and materials that are normally more expensive might be relatively affordable after a disaster.

If you aren’t committed to a particular type of building, you might be able to find some bargains and keep your costs down.

Roofing

The type of roofing that you use for your reconstruction will have a big impact on your rebuilding cost. Roofing materials vary considerably in cost, from about $1.50 per square foot to $30.00 per square foot or more (not including installation).

As with other building materials, roofing materials will likely spike during a disaster, with the most common materials going up more in price. If you’re not committed to a particular material, you can sometimes find a bargain.

Foundation

The foundation is an essential component of your commercial or residential building, so you will need one. If you are lucky enough to be able to re-use your original foundation, you will save $10,000 or more.

Features

Rebuilding your home or business offers a unique opportunity to upgrade the structure by adding features. Some small features, like an integrated data network, are relatively inexpensive, but others, like adding more rooms and floors can significantly increase the cost of reconstruction.

Preparedness

How prepared you were for a disaster can make a big difference in the cost of reconstruction. First, disaster mitigation is a great investment. Every $1 spent on mitigation could save $11 or more after the disaster.

However, it also pays to have an existing relationship with a reconstruction or restoration firm. If you have a standing commitment between you and the restoration firm, you can trigger reconstruction immediately. Sometimes the restoration firm might have reconstruction materials on hand, allowing you to purchase them for pre-disaster costs.

At a minimum, you should have money and adequate insurance to help with rebuilding. Note that an insurance policy covering actual current value might not pay enough to rebuild your house as it was.

Restoration

Finally, the cost of reconstruction can be mitigated by using restoration whenever possible. A restoration firm can often return your home or business to its pre-disaster condition for a fraction of the cost of reconstruction.

Even if the structure can’t be saved, sometimes content restoration can provide significant cost savings.

Let Burke's Restoration Help You Keep Reconstruction Costs Down

If you’re looking to rebuild your home or commercial property after a disaster, Burke's Restoration is here to help you get the best results while controlling your reconstruction costs.

Burke's Restoration has been serving the area of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene since 1985. This not only means that we have decades of experience with reconstruction, it has also allowed us to develop strong relationships with suppliers, contractors, and other professionals so we can get materials and labor at good rates. We can also handle your entire reconstruction from beginning to end, which can save you the cost of having to hire numerous contractors and dealing with all their separate fees and convenience charges.

As restoration experts, we can also let you know when you might be able to save money by restoring furnishings and fixtures as well as parts of the original construction. In the wake of a disaster, this isn’t always possible, but sometimes it can make a difference.

Finally, Burke's Restoration can help you with your insurance claim. We work with insurance companies every day, so we know how they operate. We know how to properly document the damage to your home, office, restaurant, or factory to help ensure you get a payout in the full amount you’re covered for as quickly as possible.

For businesses, we encourage them to start disaster planning now and work with us to help ensure good results in the wake of a disaster.

To learn how Burke's Restoration can help you rebuild in the wake of a disaster, please contact us today, and we can send a team out to your location. If you need it, we offer 24/7 emergency response services.