Understanding Mitigation vs. Restoration

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

Storm mitigation in Dickson, TX

Two Basic Phases Of The Repair Process In Your Building

When your building is damaged by flooding after a storm in Dickson, TX, there are two basic phases of the repair process. A flood cleanup company must first mitigate the mess the storm left behind. Then the parts of your building that were destroyed must be restored.

Mitigation
Before any part of your building can be rebuilt, technicians first have to get debris and ruined materials out of the way. Once they have assessed the damage, there are several steps they take to mitigate it:

• Pump out excess water
• Repair or discard all affected items
• Tear out ruined materials
• Disinfect remaining surfaces
• Dry the structure
  

These steps must happen quickly in order to avoid problems that fall under the category of secondary damage. Mold growth, for example, can occur in as little as one day after disaster strikes. Quick mitigation by a certified flood cleanup company is the key to keeping damage to a minimum.

Restoration
The second phase of the repair process takes more time. After mitigation, the restoration company is likely left with the bare bones of your building. They start by adding new insulation and rebuilding walls. Then they install new ceiling tiles and flooring. To complicate matters, all these features must be matched to the remaining walls, ceilings, and floors so that it looks "Like it never even happened," when the restoration process is finished. Finally, the furniture, equipment, and inventory that was able to be saved must be moved back into the building. One way to speed this part of the process up a little is to find a mitigation company that also specializes in restoration. That way, you have one team that can work seamlessly from beginning to end.
When your building is damaged in a storm, the flood cleanup company may get through mitigation quickly, but restoration will likely take longer. Understanding how the process works can help set reasonable expectations.