What the price depends on
There’s no single rate per square metre here. Each job is quoted individually after moisture readings. The cost depends on the area and thickness of the wet layers, what the floor is insulated with (polystyrene, mineral wool, loose fill), whether there’s underfloor heating, how many rooms and sets of equipment are needed, and how long it all has to run. The table gives a guide.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Under-floor (screed) drying | Individual quote |
Indicative prices. Ranges for a typical scope. Fixings included, materials separate. Minimum order 300 zł.
The electricity the blowers and dehumidifiers use goes through your meter. Lifting and relaying the floor covering, rubbish removal and materials for plugging the holes are paid separately. The handyman sets all of this out in the offer.
Price ranges and offers from tradespeople: apartment fit-out in Warsaw.
How under-floor drying works
First, a moisture meter shows where it’s wet and how wet, and a moisture map is drawn up. Then small holes are drilled in the screed, usually in corners, along walls and in joints, so they’re easier to hide later. A blower is hooked up to them with hoses. In a vacuum system it draws damp air out from under the screed; in a pressure system it pushes dry air in. Often both are combined, with air going in through some holes and out through others.
Meanwhile a dehumidifier runs in the room, a refrigerant or desiccant type, pulling moisture out of the air. It’s matched to the temperature, as refrigerant units struggle in a cold room. Readings are repeated during drying, and the kit comes out once the numbers are back to normal, not on a set date.
If the water was dirty, from a sewer for example, drying alone isn’t enough. Insulation soaked with that kind of water is often replaced and the base disinfected. That’s a different scope of work and is quoted separately.
Safety first
Water and electricity together are dangerous. If sockets or extension leads on the floor got wet, switch that circuit off at the fuse box and don’t touch wet appliances. Before powerful equipment is plugged in, the sockets and wiring should be checked, which is a job for an electrician. Underfloor heating pipes must be located before drilling, with a thermal camera for instance, or it’s easy to hit a pipe. The blowers run day and night and they’re loud, so warn the neighbours and keep them away from the bed.
How the job goes
- The water source is shut off and fixed. Without that, drying is pointless.
- Moisture readings on the screed and walls, photos and a written record. Your insurer will want it.
- The floor covering comes up where there is no way around it, and heating pipes are located.
- Holes are drilled and the blowers and dehumidifier connected.
- Check readings during drying and at the end, then the holes are plugged.
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the floor to dry on its own, and getting mould and a smell a few weeks later.
- One dehumidifier in the room while the water under the screed stays put.
- New laminate laid on screed that is still damp.
- Drilling over underfloor heating without locating the pipes.
- Starting to dry before the leak is found, so water keeps coming in.
- Throwing out wet flooring and furniture before anyone has photographed it for the insurer.
What to prepare
- The water shut off and, if the leak came from a neighbour, the building administration informed.
- Photos and video of the flood before the clean-up, and your policy number if you are insured.
- Empty rooms: furniture taken out or raised, rugs rolled up.
- Whether there is underfloor heating and where the pipes run, if you still have the plans.
- Sockets on more than one circuit, and a way in for the follow-up readings.
Frequently asked questions
Does the screed have to be broken up?
Usually not, and that’s the whole point: the screed is dried in place through the holes. Replacing the screed or insulation only comes up if the water was dirty or the layers are damaged.
Will my insurer pay?
It depends on the policy. Keep the photos, the moisture record and the invoices, as you will need them for the claim. Check the terms with your insurer before work starts.
How long does drying take?
It depends on how much water got under the floor, what the insulation is and how warm the room is. The equipment comes out based on readings, and the handyman gives an estimated timeframe in the offer.
Can I stay in the flat while it dries?
Usually yes, but the blowers hum around the clock and the room being dried gets warm and very dry. It’s better to sleep somewhere else in the flat for that time.
How to order
Describe in the app what happened and when, how big the wet area is, whether there’s underfloor heating, and add photos. Tradespeople near you with drying equipment will send offers with their own price and timing. Compare them by reviews and pick one; only that person sees your address.
You pay the handyman directly and they issue the invoice. They stand behind their own work: if readings after their drying still show raised moisture, they’ll carry on. A new leak, hidden defects in the screed and damage from before they started are not on them.
Own dehumidifiers, blowers and a moisture meter? Create a tradesperson profile and post-flood drying jobs from your town will reach you in the app. You work for yourself and decide your own business form.
Order in the app
Describe the job, add photos and the address. Tradespeople send their own prices and dates, and you pick one of the offers.
Open the app