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What is the difference between restoration and remediation?

When it comes to repair and cleaning services, restoration and remediation are two terms that are closely related but not interchangeable. Even though they share some characteristics, their area of concern and goals are not the same. 

Restoration

Restoration is the process of returning a building, object, or piece of land to its pre-disastrous status after a fire, flood, or other natural disaster. The procedure involves restoring the damaged part or object to its original state while minimizing changes to its original form. 

One of the most frequent types of such operations is water damage, in which professionals try to remove the excess water, dry the affected zones, and restore the water-induced damage to the structure, floor, walls, and other objects. A good example is fire restoration, which entails repairing property to enable the removal of smoke, soot, and fire damage.

Remediation

Think of remediation as the superhero that swoops in to save the day when there’s trouble brewing in the environment. Its mission? To find and kick out those nasty contaminants that pose a threat to both people and nature. By doing so, it transforms the scene into a safe and healthy habitat, keeping risks at bay.

An example of this process is the removal of mold. Mold removal services work to eliminate mold that originates from water damage or moisture, fix the water source, and prevent new mold formation. Some of the other examples include the following: getting rid of asbestos, lead-based paint, and soil or water in case of chemical spillage or contamination. 

Services for restoration and remediation are frequently complementary. In the event of a water leak, for example, moisture would accumulate, and eventually, mold will grow. This situation would require both mold treatment to solve the mold issue and water extraction to remove any extra water and dry the affected areas.

Similarly, after a fire accident, there is a need to reconstruct the building as well as clean the residual ash. The aspect of air quality or any other environmental effects that may arise from the fire would be addressed by remediation services.

In both scenarios, these services work together to ensure that the affected environment is thoroughly restored and made safe again.

To solve the related issues properly and safely, expertise, recommendations, and tools for restoration and remediation are required.