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Mitigation Vs Restoration - What's The Difference?
1/11/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Morristown is your local water damage mitigation and restoration company in New Jersey.
When you experience flooding or water leaks in New Jersey, you'll likely contact a water damage company like SERVPRO of Morristown to handle the damages. But, you may not know much about what they actually do. Here, we will go over the differences in water mitigation and water restoration to help you understand the water damage process.
What Is Water Mitigation?
Water mitigation is the first step in the water damage process, and is simply preventing further damages to your property. Mitigation companies will take steps to minimize your loss and are most effective when called in immediately after damages have occurred.
Water damage mitigation efforts include:
- Removing all wet furniture
- Water extraction
- Removing damaged materials such as drywall, flooring, or ceilings
- Ensuring the building's structural integrity
- Cleaning & sanitizing to prevent spread of mold or bacteria
- Start the drying process with commercial grade air movers, dehumidifiers, or floor mats
- Boarding up of any windows or applying tarps to prevent further water damage as needed
The mitigation process does not take long, and is usually completed during the initial emergency services for your property. When completed immediately after your loss has occurred, mitigation measures can significantly cut down on the amount of restoration needed.
For example, removing standing water within hours after flooding occurs will prevent water seeping into subfloors or ceilings. With this fast action, carpets or even hardwood floors will sustain less damage and be more likely to be restored. Rapid water mitigation efforts also prevent mold, which can begin to grow in as little as 48 hours after water damage.
What Is Water Restoration?
Water restoration follows mitigation, and refers to repairing and restoring your property of water damage. The restoration process takes more time than mitigation. This is because the purpose is to return your home or business to pre-damage conditions.
Water damage restoration services include:
- Replacing damaged walls, ceilings, or flooring
- Mold remediation if needed
- Performing moisture testing to ensure the issue is resolved
Water restoration companies repair and reconstruct your property with an emphasis on the consequences of water damage. This may overlap with a construction company if your home needs a kitchen or bathroom rebuild following major water damage.
Common Questions
Isn't it more cost effective to just replace than to mitigate and restore?
No, it is not. In most cases it costs less to have a water damage company clean & salvage damaged materials than replace them. Well experienced restoration companies know what must be replaced and what can be salvaged. Many times, they may try to salvage materials before deciding to replace, making water mitigation and restoration more cost effective.
Are mitigation and restoration companies the same?
Most of the time mitigation and restoration is performed by the same water damage company. There are companies that specialize in just one or the other. However, it is usually best to use a company that provides complete water damage services to ensure the process is completed properly and in a timely manner.
If I just remove wet materials myself, floors, ceilings, or interior structures will dry themselves.
No, this is not correct. Drying equipment is needed to ensure no moisture is left behind in your property. The detection equipment that restoration professionals use also ensures that all water affected areas are addressed and completely dried. Not taking these steps can result in structural issues and mold growth over time.