Water damage can strike your home unnoticed. For instance, a leaking pipe may burst and flood your basement while you’re on vacation or your dishwasher may suddenly leak and spill water on your hardwood kitchen floor due to faulty maintenance. There are many situations where water mitigation and water restoration services may be needed.
But most of us are not aware of the difference between the two. Let’s fully understand about the differences between water mitigation and water restoration below.
What is Water Damage Mitigation?
Water damage mitigation limits further water damage from harming your belongings or property. It involves using specific equipment and procedures to reduce the amount of loss, such as:
- Cleaning and disinfecting salvageable materials.
- Removing damaged furniture and materials, including drywall and flooring.
- Extracting water and drying out the home with commercial-grade equipment.
- Ensuring the home’s structural stability.
- Protecting the uprightness of the home by boarding up windows, applying tarps, and taking other necessary precautions.
It is important to understand that the water damage mitigation services aren’t designed to repair or replace damaged property but to ensure that the disaster doesn’t lead to further consequences.
While the water mitigation process may prevent further damage, the service is often only a temporary solution.
What is Water Damage Restoration?
Water damage restoration is mainly focused on restoring and repairing the water damage caused to a home or property.
After the water mitigation process, many expert water damage restoration professionals focus on reconstructing and rebuilding homes through a variety of applications.
The water damage restoration process is intended to help homeowners recover from all damage. Although the steps a water damage restoration company may take to restore each home will mainly depend on the extent of the water damage, typical water damage restoration services often include the following:
- Repairing roof damage.
- Replacing damaged walls and flooring.
- Eliminating mold.
- Conducting humidity and moisture testing to ensure all issues have been resolved.
- The principal purpose of water damage restoration is to restore the home to pre-loss conditions.
Since repairs can’t be made until all water damage problems have been effectively addressed, the water restoration process can’t begin until the water mitigation process has ended.
Difference between Water Mitigation and Water Restoration
Water mitigation services prevent further damage from happening and are focused on getting your property and belongings out of harm’s way. In comparison, water restoration services are done to repair the existing damage water caused to your property.
Water mitigation services will always be performed first, followed by water restoration services as needed.
Check out the below differences to choose the one that you need:
- Mitigating and Restoration Have Different Purposes
The overall goal of mitigation and restoration is entirely different. While mitigation efforts concentrate on reducing the amount of damage that could occur after a disaster, restoration focuses on fixing the damage that has occurred.
For instance, a flood cleanup company can help with mitigation efforts, it may be better to contact a water damage restoration company that can assist with various aspects of storm cleanup and restoration.
- Mitigation Efforts Begin Immediately
As soon as the disaster ends and it is safe for professionals to enter your building, mitigation efforts will begin. To reduce the amount of damage that occurs, professionals may eliminate damaged building materials and items that have been influenced by water or mold.
Additionally, your building may require board-up services to protect it from wind and rain and to prevent further damage.
- Water Restoration is a Long-Term Process
Although restoration can begin shortly after a storm occurs, mitigation generally occurs first. The process of restoration is normally longer than the process of mitigation.
Unlike mitigation, restoration efforts can take months and often must be done in parts. Water restoration professionals often try to restore damaged items before considering replacement, which can be time-consuming, and though replacing items is sometimes necessary, anything that is replaced must fit in seamlessly with the rest of the building.
How Long Does Water Mitigation Take?
Mitigation is considered an emergency service. Water has an adverse tendency to cause damage to materials that absorb it.
Consequently, water mitigators understand the value of an immediate response. In general, the time it takes to mitigate a property depends on how severe the water damage is.
How Long Does Water Damage Restoration Take?
Water damage restorers only arrive at the affected site after mitigation is successful. As a result, restorers do not arrive immediately. This is particularly the case if the homeowner has contracted two separate companies to perform both water mitigation and restoration.
The length of time the property has been exposed to water is a reliable indication of its expected restoration time. Eliminating mold can take up to seven days.
Stone floors require less time to replace than water damaged hardwood floors. Water damaged walls often peel and may require both repair and repainting; the latter service requires several hours.
Understanding the differences between mitigation and restoration can help you choose the right professional company for your home or affected area.
It can be useful to know when mitigation and restoration will occur as well and the purposes of mitigation and restoration.
If you need help with water mitigation and restoration after an emergency, call Dry Effect‘s professionals who are accessible 24/7 and as quickly as possible.
Contact us today to learn more about our water damage, restorations, and remediation services and how we can assist you in restoring after the damage.
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