Flooding and Water Damage in Canberra
Basement flooded, pipe burst, water through the ceiling? Call us now, 24 hours a day. We pump the water out, seal the leak, dry the area in 24 to 48 hours, then quote and carry out the long-term fix, across Canberra, Queanbeyan and towns within about an hour.
Call us: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244
Pump out, seal, dry, then fix it properly
I’m Victor from Holy Mess Repairs. Take a flooded basement. We pump the water out, find and seal the leaks, then set up large dehumidifiers to dry the area in 24 to 48 hours. Once it’s dry and we can see everything, we quote for the long-term fix and carry it out. One team, start to finish, so you’re not chasing a plumber, a roofer and a drying company separately.
Fully licensed in Canberra: every job is done by fully licensed tradespeople, either our own Holy Mess team or a licensed contractor we work with, and you get a compliance certificate every time.
Water emergencies we handle
- Flooded basements, cellars and subfloors
- Burst pipes and failed flexi hoses flooding kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. See emergency plumbing.
- Water through the ceiling from roof leaks, overflowing gutters or box gutters. See emergency roof repairs.
- Storm water coming in under doors, through walls or up through floors
- Overflowing toilets, drains and sewage backing up. See blocked drains.
- Leaking hot water tanks. See hot water repairs.
- Wet ceilings, walls and floors that need drying before they can be repaired
Before we get there
- If anyone is in danger, call 000. For fallen power lines, stay well clear and call your electricity distributor’s faults line.
- Turn off the water at the main stop tap (usually near the meter at the front boundary) if a pipe or fixture is leaking.
- Turn off the power at the switchboard if water is near power points, lights or appliances, and only if you can do it safely without standing in water.
- Smell gas? Don’t use switches or flames, open doors and windows, get out and call the gas emergency line.
- Move valuables away from the water and catch drips with buckets and towels.
- Take photos and videos for your insurer, and send them to us on WhatsApp at 0426 204 244.
After-hours emergency pricing, up front
After hours there’s a $330 call-out fee, and the minimum charge for an emergency repair is $550. We tell you both on the phone before we head out, so there are no surprises at the door. If the job is bigger than an emergency fix, we make it safe first, then give you a written quote for the long-term repair before any more work starts.
Why drying properly matters
Water left in floors, walls and subfloors keeps doing damage after the leak is stopped: swelling timber, lifting floors, stains and mould. That’s why we don’t just stop the leak and leave. We dry the area with commercial dehumidifiers, check it, and only then quote the permanent repair, so you’re not paying to fix the same thing twice.
Finding where the water comes from
If the source isn’t obvious, we track it down, with dye testing where needed. See leak detection. A recurring wet patch is often a roof, gutter or shower problem rather than plumbing, and we fix all of those.
Flood damage and insurance
Sudden water damage, like a burst pipe or storm, is often covered by home insurance. Gradual leaks usually aren’t, and policies treat flood differently. We photograph the water, the cause and the drying, and write up what we did, so your insurer has what it needs. Whether a claim is accepted is up to your insurer.
How it works
- Call or WhatsApp, any hour. Send photos and videos of the water to 0426 204 244. A real roofer or plumber answers.
- We pump the water out. Pumps and wet vacs remove standing water from basements, subfloors and rooms.
- We find and seal the leak. Burst pipe, failed hose, roof, box gutter, stormwater or rising groundwater: we stop the water getting in.
- We dry it out. Large dehumidifiers and fans dry the area, usually in 24 to 48 hours.
- We quote and carry out the long-term fix. Photos for your insurer, then a written quote for the permanent repair before we start.
What a flooded basement job looks like
Pump out the standing water. Find and seal where it’s getting in. Set up large dehumidifiers and dry the area over 24 to 48 hours. Then, with everything dry and visible, quote the long-term fix and carry it out.
Real quotes and reports from our jobs
These are real quotes and reports we sent to customers, published with their permission. Names, street addresses, contact details and claim numbers are blacked out. Click a page to open the full PDF.
InsuranceSame-day forensic inspection and make-safe report from Nicholls, Canberra. Water was getting into a ground-floor bathroom, and we confirmed the source as badly deteriorated lead flashing where the first-floor roof meets the wall. We installed a temporary make-safe on the day and documented everything with before, during and after photos and video.
- Insurance
Gutter/downpipe flow restoration & roof assessment · Flynn ACT
Insurance make-safe quote from Flynn, Canberra. Blocked gutters and downpipes were overflowing, so the quote covers clearing and flushing the gutters, removing the downpipe bends that standard flushing misses, a flow test, and a roof assessment. Every step lists what could go wrong and how we prevent it, with a total of $2,563 including GST.
- Pre-arrival estimate
Roof water-ingress repair · Curtin ACT
Insurance repair quote for a roof leak in Curtin, Canberra, prepared before attending from the homeowner’s photos and video and the insurer’s assessment report. We reviewed the evidence, identified likely flashing defects, and priced the repairs with dye testing to confirm the cause. It shows how we can give a quick, evidence-based quote without a first site visit.
Areas we cover
We cover all of Canberra and the ACT, plus the towns within about an hour’s drive of the city, including the NSW towns around Canberra. Our Canberra base is at 4/9 Dines Place, Bruce ACT 2617.
Towns we cover include:
- Queanbeyan and the south: Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Googong, Michelago and Bredbo
- North and Yass Valley: Hall, Sutton, Gundaroo, Murrumbateman, Yass and Binalong
- East: Bungendore, Captains Flat, Tarago and Braidwood
- Federal Highway: Collector, Gunning and Goulburn
Not sure if your town is in range? Call 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244 and ask.
Why Holy Mess Repairs
- Fully licensed in Canberra. Every job is done by fully licensed tradespeople, with a compliance certificate for the work every time. Insured through BizCover.
- 4.5 stars from 124 Google reviews.
- Honest about the cause, and about what it will cost.
- Options with prices, so you can choose.
- Photos before and after, every job.
HOLYMESS PTY LTD · ABN 31 666 327 813
How we quote
Call or email us and I’ll give you a free estimate over the phone. There’s no fee for the estimate. Once you’re happy with it, we send you a written document that explains what to expect, the likely scenarios and what each one costs, plus the quality of work and the warranty. That way you know exactly what you’re getting before we arrive.
Send us photos and videos on WhatsApp: 0426 204 244. Send as many as you can. The more we see, the more accurate the estimate.
Canberra water damage FAQs
How fast can you get the water out?
Call or WhatsApp 0426 204 244 any time. We confirm the cost on the phone and head out with pumps, then start removing standing water as soon as we arrive.
How long does drying take?
Usually 24 to 48 hours with large dehumidifiers, depending on how much water there was and what it soaked into. We check the area before we call it dry.
How much does an after-hours flood call-out cost?
After hours there’s a $330 call-out fee and a $550 minimum charge for an emergency repair. We confirm it on the phone before we come.
Do you fix the cause as well as the water damage?
Yes. We find and seal the leak, whether it’s a pipe, the roof, a gutter or stormwater, then quote and carry out the long-term fix.
Should I send photos?
Yes. Photos and videos on WhatsApp help us bring the right pumps and parts, and they’re useful for your insurer.
Is water damage covered by insurance?
Often, if it was sudden, like a burst pipe or storm. Gradual leaks usually aren’t. We give you photos and notes for the claim, but the decision is your insurer’s.
Are you licensed in the ACT and NSW?
Yes. Every job in Canberra and the surrounding NSW towns is done by fully licensed tradespeople, and you get a compliance certificate for the work every time. We’re insured through BizCover.
Do you cover my town?
Yes, if you’re in Canberra, the ACT or a town within about an hour’s drive, including the NSW towns around Canberra. That includes Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Googong, Hall, Sutton, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo, Yass, Bungendore, Braidwood, Michelago, Collector, Gunning and Goulburn. Not sure? Call 0426 204 244 and ask.
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Call or email us and we’ll give you a free estimate over the phone, with no fee for the estimate. Send photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244 and we’ll follow up with a written document setting out the likely scenarios, the cost of each and the warranty.
Water coming in? Call now
Send us photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244, or call for a free phone estimate.
Call Victor and the team: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244
Holy Mess Repairs · Canberra base: 4/9 Dines Place, Bruce ACT 2617 · Main office: 19 Chivers Rd, Templestowe VIC 3106 · Serving Canberra, Queanbeyan and towns within about an hour