The best way to prevent water damage to your commercial property is simply to be aware. Take time to look around, especially after wet weather, and check for signs of any problem. Damage to basements, warehousing, and foundation areas of a building are extremely important to repair as soon as possible in order to avoid larger structural and property damages in the future. Issues of this kind can end up costing a business owner far more in the long run.
Here are some things to look for in prevention of water damage to your commercial property:
- Changes in the color or texture of surfaces. In a finished basement or a warehouse, surface finish or paint might be peeling away or appear discolored. Check for bowing in the walls, which can be a result of long-term seepage. You will want to look for a white, salty substance known as “efflorescence”, which appears on foundational walls; this will tell you how high water has risen. If flooring is swollen or removed from the subfloor, that is another indicator of water damages.
- Cracking can occur in the foundation and/or the floor, and it is often due to water damage. Look for cracks in window seals and door panes, as well.
- Odors are an indicator that there is an excess water problem. Oftentimes, it’s mold or mildew that causes those smells, which means you have water damage on your hands. This can cost a commercial property owner a lot of money, both in remediation repairs and in possible loss of business or business disruption.
- Keep drainage areas well-maintained in expectation of summer storms; directing water away from your buildings will stop any problems before they even start!
Once you have found that you have experienced water damage, it’s probably time to call a professional general contractor. These people are experienced and trained to repair and renovate spaces that have extensive damage from excess water due to leaky pipes, flooding, and weather-related damages.
The team at Ascension General Contractors is the team to call for cleanups and renovations to your commercial property after water damage or other disasters.
