48 hours before water damage becomes mold damage

WATER & TERMITE DAMAGE REPAIR. WE MAKE THE WALL WHOLE AGAIN.

Drywall replacement after water damage. Baseboard and trim swaps after termite treatment. Subfloor patching, wood-rot repair, mold-adjacent drywall removal. The cosmetic and structural restore.

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Damage repair is the bridge service in our handyman lineup. After a plumber fixes a burst pipe or a termite company finishes treatment, somebody has to come in and make the walls, floors and trim whole again. That's us. Red Stag's damage-repair crew handles the cosmetic and structural restore — drywall replacement, baseboard and trim, subfloor patching, wood-rot repair, mold-adjacent drywall removal up to 10 sq. ft. We're not a remediation company and we're not a structural contractor; we're the crew that makes the home look and function like the damage never happened.

Water damage in LA homes follows a predictable timeline: leak starts, leak gets noticed days or weeks later, plumber arrives and fixes the source, drying happens (or doesn't), and then the homeowner is left with stained or soft drywall, swollen baseboard, and a faint smell. The 48-hour rule is critical: drywall that has been wet for more than 48 hours is structurally compromised and starts growing mold. The right move is removal and replacement, not 'let it dry and paint over it.' Red Stag's process is: cut out wet sections back to dry framing, treat the studs with mold inhibitor if needed, install new drywall, tape and texture-match, prime with stain-blocker, and paint to match. The patch is invisible when we leave.

Termite damage repair is the cosmetic finish work that comes after the pest company has done their treatment. By the time you can see termite damage on baseboard or trim, the wood is essentially a hollow shell — termite tunnels have eaten the cellulose and only the lacquer or paint film is holding the shape. The fix is replacement, not patching. We pull the affected baseboard, casing, or trim, inspect the wall and floor behind it for additional damage, install new primed-and-painted material, fill nail holes, and caulk the joints. Termite repair packages typically run $485–$1,485 depending on linear footage and trim profile.

Subfloor damage is a category most handymen won't touch but Red Stag handles routinely. A slow under-sink leak, an overflowed tub, or a dishwasher failure can soften the OSB or plywood subfloor enough that it flexes underfoot or even sinks visibly. The repair is to pull back the finished flooring (we coordinate with the flooring sub if it's tile or hardwood), cut out the damaged subfloor section in a clean rectangle, scarf-joint a new piece of plywood at the same thickness, screw it to the joists, and re-lay the finished flooring. Subfloor patching runs $385–$785 per 4×4 section, which is a fraction of full-room subfloor replacement.

Mold is where we draw a clear line. Red Stag handles mold-adjacent drywall removal — meaning, drywall that has visible mold up to about 10 square feet (an area roughly 3' × 3'). Anything larger requires a licensed mold remediation contractor with containment, negative-pressure HEPA filtration, and proper disposal. We will assess on the first visit, and if your job is over the threshold we will tell you immediately and refer you to a vetted remediation company. We come in after the remediation is complete and rebuild the walls.

For insurance claims, we provide photo documentation, line-item scopes, and detailed invoices that homeowner's insurance and adjusters expect. Many of our damage-repair calls come through insurance claims after a covered water event; we work directly with your adjuster on the scope when needed and provide the documentation that gets the claim approved cleanly.

Common Problems

WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY.

Drywall that got soaked when the dishwasher hose burst
Ceiling stained from a slow upstairs leak that's now repaired
Baseboard riddled with termite tunnels after pest treatment
Subfloor that flexes underfoot from old water damage
Door jamb or window casing eaten by termites
Wood trim and crown moulding showing early dry rot
Cabinet kick plate destroyed by a slow under-sink leak
Drywall around a tub overflow that's gone soft and dark
What's Included

EVERY DAMAGE REPAIR SERVICE WE OFFER.

Wet-drywall cut-out and replacement after a fixed leak
Ceiling water-stain seal, primer, drywall replacement, texture and paint
Mold-adjacent drywall removal up to 10 sq. ft. (larger jobs go to remediation)
Baseboard, trim, and casing replacement after termite or water damage
Wood-rot patch repair on jambs, casings, and exterior trim
Subfloor patching with plywood scarf joints (under finished flooring)
Cabinet kick plate, toe-kick, and side-panel rebuild after under-sink leaks
Crown moulding and chair rail replacement on damaged sections
Termite-tunnel filler and structural patch on non-load-bearing wood
Insurance-claim documentation: photos, scopes, line-item invoices
Pricing

DAMAGE REPAIR COST IN LOS ANGELES.

Flat-rate pricing across all 29 of our LA County service cities. Final price is locked in before any work begins.

Damage Repair — Los Angeles 2026 pricing
Service TypeFlat-Rate Price (USD)
Single drywall section replacement (post-leak)$285–$685
Ceiling water stain seal + repaint (full ceiling)$385–$885
Baseboard replacement (per linear foot)$8–$16
Door jamb or casing replacement (per opening)$285–$585
Subfloor patch (per 4×4 section)$385–$785
Crown moulding repair (per linear foot)$12–$22
Cabinet kick plate / toe-kick rebuild$185–$385
Termite damage: trim + patch package$485–$1,485
Prices reflect typical Los Angeles handyman rates as of 2026 and include labor, basic materials, cleanup, and a final walk-through. Specialty parts you supply are installed at the quoted labor rate with no markup.

When to Call a Handyman

  • After a plumber has fixed a leak and you have wet drywall or a stained ceiling
  • After a termite company has finished treatment and you need trim and baseboard replaced
  • When you've discovered subfloor flex from an old water event
  • When you have a slow under-sink leak that's destroyed the cabinet base
  • When you're filing an insurance claim and need professional documentation and repair

Best For

  • Homeowners filing a water-damage insurance claim
  • Property managers handling tenant-caused damage between leases
  • Homeowners post-termite-treatment needing cosmetic and structural restore
  • Anyone who wants the visible reminder of the damage gone permanently
Related Services

ALSO HANDLED IN ONE VISIT.

General Handyman
That entire to-do list you've been staring at? Hand it to us. We'll knock it out in one visit.
Learn More →
Drywall Repair
Holes, cracks, water stains. We patch it, texture-match it, paint it. Gone by afternoon.
Learn More →
Caulking & Weatherproofing
Shower caulk cracking? Windows drafty? A $200 seal job today saves a $5K water bill tomorrow.
Learn More →
Commercial Handyman
Property managers: one handyman on retainer replaces five separate specialty calls. We handle turnovers.
Learn More →
Damage Repair across LA County

DAMAGE REPAIR IN 29 LA CITIES.

Click your city for local pricing, response time, and the housing-stock context that makes damage repair different in your neighborhood.

Damage Repair FAQ

QUESTIONS WE GET ABOUT DAMAGE REPAIR.

How fast do I need to deal with water-damaged drywall in LA?+

Within 48 hours of the original water event, ideally. Drywall that's been wet for more than 48 hours starts growing mold colonies in the gypsum core. The longer wet drywall stays in place, the more area becomes affected, and the more the job moves from 'damage repair' to 'mold remediation.' If you have a fresh leak, get the source fixed and call us immediately for drywall removal.

Do you handle mold remediation?+

No. Red Stag is not a licensed mold remediation contractor. We handle mold-adjacent drywall removal up to 10 square feet (roughly 3' × 3') and we rebuild walls after a remediation contractor has done their work. For larger mold areas, we'll refer you to a vetted remediation company on the first visit and come in after they're done to do the cosmetic and structural restore.

Can you work with my homeowner's insurance on a water damage claim?+

Yes. We provide photo documentation, written scopes, and line-item invoices in the format your adjuster expects. For larger claims we coordinate directly with your adjuster on scope approval before work starts. Most water-damage claims in LA are covered under standard HO-3 policies; the documentation we provide is what gets the claim cleanly approved.

How much does termite damage repair cost?+

Termite damage repair in LA varies by scope. Per linear foot, baseboard runs $8–$16 and crown moulding runs $12–$22. A typical termite repair package (one room of baseboard plus a door jamb or casing) runs $485–$1,485. We always quote the full scope after a walk-through, and we coordinate timing with your termite company so we come in after treatment is complete.

Do you repair the subfloor under a damaged finished floor?+

Yes. We pull back the finished flooring, cut out the damaged subfloor section, scarf in new plywood at the same thickness, screw it to the joists, and re-lay the finished floor. Subfloor patching runs $385–$785 per 4×4 section. For tile or hardwood floors we coordinate with a flooring sub on the re-lay if you don't have a flooring tech already booked.

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DAMAGE REPAIR HANDLED?

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