The Difference Between Water Damage Mitigation And Restoration

Every homeowner may have to deal with water damage. A pipe can burst while you are away. Rainwater can seep into your basement which can lead to flooding. Whatever the cause of water damage is, repairing your home both requires water damage mitigation and restoration. Water mitigation should come first, followed by water damage restoration.

Understanding Categories of Water Damage

Before you move on to the definition of water damage mitigation and restoration, let us first identify what type and class of water damage you are dealing with. Knowing this helps you understand the severity of the damage and the hazard you might have to encounter.

There are three categories of water damage;

Category 1 or Clean Water – This type of water damage does not contain any contaminants and is not harmful. The common source of category 1 water damage is a burst or broken pipe.

Category 2 or Grey Water – Unlike category 1 water damage, “grey” water damage is slightly serious as the water contains some contaminants that can pose health risks when you come in contact with it. The source of the damage can be the overflowing water from a sink.

Category 3 or Black Water – This is the most dangerous type of water damage. The water involved has different kinds of contaminants like microorganisms, human waste, sewage, and chemical waste which can pose serious health issues like allergies, infections, and difficulty of breathing when exposed to it. The most common sources of this damage are floodwater and sewage backups.

Classes of Water Damage

Class 1 water damage involves a minimal amount of water. Only a part of a room is affected and will just require simple repairs. An example of class 1 water damage is a toilet or sink overflow in a toilet.

Class 2 water damage involves a significant amount of water. The entire room might have been affected, including the carpet or the cushion. In some cases, water has already seeped into building materials and has wicked-up some parts of the walls. The most common cause of class 2 water damage is a burst pipe.

Class 3 water damage has the fastest evaporation rate. Usually, the source of the damage comes from above and may have saturated the ceiling, drywall, insulation, carpet, furniture, and flooring.

Class 4 water damage requires professional water damage removal and restoration procedures. The water may have seeped into the bricks, stones, and hardwood floors.

What Is The Difference Between Water Damage Mitigation And Restoration

Water damage mitigation is an emergency service that is designed to prevent further damage to your property and protect your belongings. Water, when stays longer in your property can cause more destruction to the materials that absorb it. For instance, wood can rot, laminate floors can get damaged, and mold will eventually thrive. Water damage mitigation contractors will try to salvage belongings as much as they can in the fastest way possible. Though the mitigation process prevents more consequences after a water event, know that it is only a temporary repair.


On the other hand, water damage restoration is a service that is designed to repair and restore everything that has been damaged by water and bringing things back to its normal condition. The length of the process and the applications may vary depending on the severity of the damage. For instance, if category 3 water damage is involved, all affected areas need to be fully disinfected. Furthermore, though water restoration is the process of rebuilding your home, it can’t be done until all water damage issues are properly addressed.

Examples Of Water Damage Mitigation Services

During the mitigation process, contractors will need to use specialized equipment like air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and air movers and advanced techniques to reduce the consequences of water damage. Here are some examples of the mitigation process;

• Remove all objects or items from the affected area, including furniture, drywall, and flooring.
• Clean and disinfect all materials that can be salvaged.
• Ensure that the structure of your home is stable.
• Extract standing water and dry out the home using professional-grade equipment
• Install tarp, board up windows and other necessary precautions to protect the property.

Examples Of Water Damage Restoration Services

When everything is completely dried out and disinfected, restorers will then proceed to repairing damaged materials. Here are a few steps of the restoration process;

• Replace damaged walls and roofs.
• Repair damaged roof.
• Eliminate mold colonies.
• Perform humidity and moisture testing to ensure that all issues are completely fixed.

Contact Superior Restoration For Professional Water Damage Mitigation and Restoration Services

When water damage strikes, trust Superior Restoration. We provide both water damage mitigation and restoration services. Our technicians are available 24/7 and equipped with proper knowledge and equipment to help you get your home back to its pre-damaged condition. Contact us today to know more about our water damage services.