When Does Mitigation Stop and Restoration Start?

5/11/2019 (Permalink)

Performing mitigation in a Norman, OK building

Mitigation takes place in the hours and days after a flood with the goal of stopping primary damage from worsening or preventing secondary damage from occurring. A flood cleanup company may extract water, perform cuts and promote drying. Restoration can begin after the affected area is clean and dry. Here are a few ways to differentiate between mitigation and restoration.

After Damage Occurs

Limiting the severity of damage is the top priority after a flood. A mitigation service may provide any of the following measures:

• Assessing and documenting damage
  
• Determining structural risks
  
• Extracting water and debris
  
• Tearing out damaged building materials
  
  

All of these steps fall under the category of mitigation. A business or building owner can hire a specialized cleanup firm or rely on an all-in-one mitigation and restoration company.

After Damage Has Been Limited

Mitigation continues after initial measures have been taken to extract flood water. A flood cleanup company will then take steps to eliminate every trace of damage:

• Cleaning
  
• Disinfecting
  
• Drying
  
  

Disinfection is necessary for leaks or flooding involving contaminated water. It may take several days for the area to dry.

After the Area Is Clean and Dry

Restoration can begin after all traces of flood damage have been cleaned or removed. A new company or the same one-stop shop will repair and rebuild the structure. Relying on one company for mitigation and restoration has several advantages, such as continuity of services and a single estimate and schedule.

The differences between mitigation and restoration are more obvious if a building or business owner relies on different companies to provide these services. The transition between companies may also increase the risk of miscommunication or interrupt the workflow. For a consistent quality of work and timely completion, building and business owners should depend on a flood cleanup company that provides both mitigation and restoration services in Norman, OK.