Simpson
Water damage is one of the most devastating and costliest disasters your home can experience. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most common damages that Orlando homeowners face.
From storm-related floods to a faulty water system, there are many situations where you’ll need water damage mitigation and water damage restoration in Orlando.
While most people use the two terms interchangeably, there’s a difference between water mitigation and water damage restoration services.
This article discusses the key differences between these two to help you better understand the whole process.
Understanding Residential Water Damage
Before diving into the specifics of water damage services, let’s first understand what water damage is.
Water damage refers to various possible damages and losses caused by water, including rotting of wood materials, rusting of steel, mold growth, and more.
The damage may be unnoticeable and slow such as water spots that could leave a stain on your walls, or it can be sudden and catastrophic such as flooding from a hurricane or a burst pipe. Regardless of how fast it occurs, water damage is a significant contributor to loss of property and is one of the most common homeowner insurance claims.
An Orlando property damage attorney is an indispensable ally in this process. They are trained to pursue legal settlements to help you get maximum compensation and avoid mistakes.
Now that you better understand water damage in homes, let’s take a closer look at the two services offered to rehabilitate your home.
The Difference Between Water Damage Mitigation And Restoration
When water damage occurs in your home, water mitigation is always performed first, followed by the restoration process as needed. Water mitigation prevents more damage and keeps your belongings and property out of further harm.
Meanwhile, water damage restoration repairs the existing damage caused by water. Since they can’t make repairs until issues are mitigated, the water restoration process can’t start until the mitigation process is complete.
Water mitigation and restoration can be performed separately. Basically, you can employ water damage mitigation services without restoration, but not the other way around. However, most contractors will use both methods to fix water damage in your home completely.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at the processes of each service.
Water Damage Mitigation: What Is It?
From its name, water damage mitigation helps prevent further water damage to your property and belongings. It is the first step in comprehensive water damage services.
Water mitigation services aren’t designed to replace or repair damaged property. It only focuses on ensuring that water damage doesn’t lead to further disasters and consequences. On its own, a water damage mitigation service is only a temporary solution that prevents more damage.
Water mitigation services typically involve the following steps:
-
Inspecting Damage
Water damage experts first inspect your property and assess the type and level of water damage. They may also take care of any necessary emergency repairs right away at this stage.
-
Extracting Water
If there is deep-standing water, your service provider will pump it out of your property using water extraction systems. Then, they follow up with specialized vacuum equipment to remove residual water from surfaces.
-
Drying Structures
Once the water has been extracted, technicians will proceed to dry structures. This involves using various equipment such as wood floor drying systems, desiccant dehumidifiers, and heavy-duty axial fans.
-
Stabilizing Property
Property stabilization refers to applying specific drying and prevention techniques to help minimize the risk of secondary water damage. This may include applying tarps, boarding windows, and other necessary precautions. Addressing secondary water damage can stabilize the area and prepare it for a water damage restoration service.
-
Cleaning The Site
As the drying and prevention phase progresses, technicians will also clean out debris, determine salvageable materials and start the cleanup process. It also includes disinfecting the area, including affected surfaces and materials.
Water Damage Restoration: What Is It?
Water damage restoration refers to restoring and repairing water damage caused to your home. It is the next step after the water mitigation process. With restoration, your service provider will focus on rebuilding and repairing your home with various applications.
This process has focused on helping you recover from all damage and restoring your home to its condition before the disaster occurs.
Depending on the extent of water damage in your home, a restoration process may include:
- Repairing roof damage
- Replacing damaged flooring and wall
- Carpet and furniture cleaning
- Repairing plumbing system
- Eliminating mildew and mold
- Conducting moisture and humidity testing
Take Away
Water mitigation and water restoration are two processes included in the comprehensive water damage services. Regardless of their difference, both services can help you restore your home to its former condition and preserve its integrity.
So, if you’ve recently experienced water damage, either because of a recent storm flooding or a leak in your pipes, make sure to consult a qualified water damage expert in Orlando immediately.
