While water is essential to life, it is also a destructive force that diminishes or reduces the value of your business. Interestingly, water damage doesn’t always result from dramatic events, such as floods and hurricanes. Office buildings can be destroyed by small leaks from pipes, blocked gutters, or poorly graded soil. In most cases, water damage results from easily fixable flaws.
If left unchecked, slow leaks can rot drywalls, promote the growth of black mold, and eventually weaken important structural elements. As such, commercial property owners should intervene by implementing measures to protect their buildings from water damage. These measures include;
Identify and repair leaks and cracks
Property owners should routinely inspect their buildings to identify any developing cracks and leaks. Below are common sources of water intrusion from cracks and leaks in an office building;
- Doors and windows – inspect your doors and windows for leaks and cracks.
- Roof – roof sloping and poor drainage can reduce the roof’s lifespan. This makes them the number one source of water intrusion. The roof leaks mainly occur around exhaust or plumbing vents, rooftop HVAC, and other equipment.
- Foundation and exterior wall – you should seal cracks in the foundation, exterior walls, and joints.
- Plumbing – regularly check for leaking pipes, clogged drains, and defective water drainage systems.
- Heating and ventilation systems – heating and cooling systems are important for maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. However, poorly functioning systems can lead to seepage of condensed water into the walls and roofs.
Ensure proper drainage
Improving drainage is another effective way of keeping your business safe from water damage that can lead to costly water damage restoration. Fortunately, this can be done by following several building guides and codes. For instance, the soil within the buildings’ vicinity should slope by 6 inches within 10 feet from the foundation.
Doing this diverts water away from the basement, eliminating the risk of possible damage to the foundation. Similarly, you should regularly check the drains and remove clogged materials. Also, assess the condition of discharge pipes and ensure that they drain water to appropriate locations.
Maintain the interior plumbing systems
You should also inspect interior installations, specifically the faucets and hoses connected to appliances. Reseal leaking tubs and faucets, if there are any. Inspect the entire building for breaks, cracks, and leaks. Any interior plumbing system that shows signs of leaking should be repaired immediately.Maintain your sump pump
A sump pump provides the last line of defense against water damage to buildings. It uses different mechanisms to pump accumulating water from the lowest floors. Therefore, you should maintain your sump pump regularly for optimum functionality. Ensure your building with the right insurance policy
Ensuring that your building is safe from water damage also involves taking the right insurance cover. Your risk management plan should include the right commercial water damage policy. Like any other insurance, the devil is in the details when taking a water damage insurance cover.
Most commercial buildings insurance policies include basic water damage claims, like the cost of replacing broken pipes, and exclude costly repairs, such as damage resulting from groundwater overflow, external flooding, and blocked sewers. Most policies also exclude mold-associated damage.
In such cases, you should buy endorsements/riders to provide additional cover to your property. Your best bet is to consult an insurance agent to explain the available riders better.
The Bottom Line
Water damage can affect your business’s interior and exterior architecture. Water accumulation is also a safety concern as it exposes occupants of the building to health hazards, primarily through mold growth. Fortunately, simple measures, like these mentioned above, can keep your building safe. However, serious water damage resulting from hurricanes, storms, and floods requires expert intervention to restore property.
