Commercial Property & Water Damage

9/15/2023 (Permalink)

Thousands of commercial buildings experience water damage every day.  In some cases, the damage is from storms or flash floods.  In others, it is simply from a leak.  Often the damage is from a fire being extinguished -- in fact, counter-intuitively, most fires result in more water damage than fire damage. Water is the most common type of damage that commercial buildings experience. When it is not dealt with promptly and effectively, the problem can rapidly grow from a minor issue to something costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. SERVPRO of Catonsville can help.

Here are a few suggestions for how to best protect your business from water damage and minimize the fall-out when something does happen:

Prepare an Emergency Plan:  Given how integral water is to all life and most industries, it is almost guaranteed that a commercial building will have to deal with water damage at some point. Thus, one of the best things a business owner can do is prepare for that inevitability ahead of time to keep losses to a minimum. Because water damage in Catonsville can grow exponentially if not addressed immediately, time is of the essence.  Be prepared by having a company like SERVPRO of Catonsville on your speed dial.

Your emergency plan should include:  A blueprint is showing where the shut-off points are for water, electricity and gas plus a set of instructions on how to shut them down fast.
 A conveniently located toolbox.  A list of emergency phone numbers, such as the fire department, plumbers, SERVPRO of Catonsville, emergency personnel, and police.

After you have an emergency plan in place for your commercial building, you should focus on prevention. Inspecting vulnerable areas is a good practice.

Inspect Your Roof Regularly:  Check all rooftop penetrations, both interior and exterior.
Look for water stains.  Check all flashing, drains and seals.

Inspect Your Walls Regularly:  Check wall joints around doors and windows.  Check flashing and sealant integrity.

Inspect Your Windows Regularly:  Check for air seal integrity.  Test all locks and other mechanical parts.  Check flashing and joints.  Look for water stains or mold growth on window sills and interior walls.

Emergency plans and inspections are both measures to lessen any disruption to your commercial building.

SERVPRO of Catonsville is locally owned and operated — so we live and work here and are proud to be part of the Catonsville community.  We're Faster to Any Disaster.

We are just a phone call away to help.  Call us 24/7 at (410) 242-7370