The key difference between mitigation and restoration is how it allows you to move forward after a disaster. It is not a question of which one is better but rather what is required at the time. The efforts of mitigation pair together quite naturally with restoration. While it is possible to perform the two services separately, professional restoration companies often use both methods when restoring a property after water damage. Water mitigation prepares the property for cleaning and reconstruction while restoration allows your life to get back to normal again.
What is Water Damage Mitigation?
Water damage mitigation services are focused on reducing the risk of further damage and loss of property due to the impact of the disaster. When you schedule a water damage mitigation service, the first step will be to assess the situation to determine a course of action. The water mitigation process involves the use of specialized techniques and industrial strength equipment to immediately remove all standing water and moisture from the home to prevent further damage to your personal property and belongings. Water damage mitigation services may include:
• The immediate removal of all damaged furniture, flooring, and drywall
• Ensuring the building’s structural stability is maintained
• Extracting standing water and drying out the interior with commercial-grade equipment
• Protecting the integrity of the building by applying roof tarps, boarding up windows, and taking any other precautionary steps necessary to prevent further potential damage.
It is important to understand that water damage mitigation does not include repairs or replacements but rather ensures that the consequences of the disaster do not continue to have effects. While it is an effective method of preventing further damage, most often it is essentially a temporary solution that needs to be followed up by restoration services.
What is Water Damage Restoration?
After the water damage mitigation process has been completed you can rely on restoration specialists to focus on rebuilding your home to make it liveable again. Water damage can occur due to various disasters such as floods, pipe bursts, sewer back-ups, water used by fire departments to suppress fires, and severe storms. If water damage is not treated immediately, mold growth and contaminants can severely affect the progress of services and escalate the cost of remediation. A typical water damage restoration process will include the following:
• Replacing damaged walls and flooring
• Extracting all traces of water and moisture and drying out the interior to eliminate the risk of mold growth
• Repairing damage to the roof
• Conducting moisture and humidity tests to ensure all water issues have been resolved
The purpose of water damage mitigation and restoration is to return your home to its pre-loss condition. Since repairs cannot be done before all water damage problems have been assessed and addressed, the water damage restoration process cannot start until the mitigation process has been completed. When a water disaster strikes, prompt containment through effective water mitigation and restoration can mean the difference between a rapid return to normal life and ongoing struggles with persistent structural issues and potential health risks.
Common Misconceptions Regarding Water Damage Mitigation and Water Damage Restoration
There are several misconceptions about water damage mitigation and water damage restoration. Here are 3 of the most common ones and the truth behind them:
1. It is more cost-effective to replace than to restore.
In most cases, a reliable water restoration company can restore and salvage the structure and contents of your home at a much lower cost than replacing them. Experienced water restoration damage companies have the knowledge required to identify which materials should be replaced and which can be salvaged.
2. Walls and carpets can dry out on their own.
While these materials will dry over a period of time on their own, there is a real risk of moisture hiding underneath carpets and behind dry walls that can cause damage and mold growth. Water damage restoration will prevent exposing yourself and your family to the health risks associated with issues like mold growth. Professional water damage restoration companies make use of advanced sensors and meters to measure the level of moisture present in a home in order to effectively reduce the risk of health issues.
3. It is more cost-effective to do the mitigation and restoration work yourself
This may be true if you are knowledgeable and competent at home-repair jobs, however, any botched repair job will cost you much more in the long run when you have to eventually call in a professional to complete the job properly. According to a statement by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), cleaning up after flood damage is a task that may be too difficult and dangerous for a homeowner to do on their own.
Call the Experts if you have experienced a water emergency
If you need help after a water emergency contacts us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you restore your home to its pre-loss condition.
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