Mitigation Versus Restoration: What's the Difference?

11/10/2020 (Permalink)

Flooded building in Cincinnati, OH

If you find your business or commercial building filled with water, you know you need to call a flood cleanup company right away – but should you call a flood mitigation crew or a restoration company? Are they the same thing? While some restoration companies also do mitigation work, mitigation and restoration are two distinct processes. Here’s what you need to know.

Flood Damage Mitigation

Mitigation is the critical first step in any cleanup effort. This process is focused on stopping the damage preventing any further loss. It involves things like:

-removing debris like tree limbs or broken glass
-covering openings in a roof, window, or wall to prevent more water from entering
-removing building contents that may be salvageable
-extracting all water from the property
-sealing off unharmed parts of the property to ensure the water doesn’t spread
-removing affected porous materials, such as drywall and flooring
-ensuring that the entire structure is dried out completely
-disinfecting the property to prevent the spread of mold and bacteria

Mitigation is usually a fairly speedy process. The more quickly mitigation is completed, the less overall damage will need to be restored. This is why mitigation is always the first goal of any flood cleanup company.

Flood Damage Restoration
Restoration cannot begin until mitigation is complete. The goal of restoration is to restore your property to its pre-flood condition. This includes things like inspecting the property, assessing the damage and removing any existing mold; repairing or replacing warped wood or flooring; cleaning and restoring the building’s contents, to the extent possible; and replacing or restoring damaged drywall and insulation. While mitigation is a relatively quick process, restoration can take a considerable amount of time, depending on the extent and nature of the damage.
Mitigation and restoration are different processes, but both are necessary after a flood. If possible, find a flood cleanup company in Cincinnati, OH, that takes care of both procedures. This will save you time in phone calls and coordinating schedules and speed up your insurance claim approval to get the work done and get you back in business sooner.