Risks of water damage to commercial buildings and how to prevent it

Commercial buildings are just as susceptible to water damage as residential properties. Year round, properties are at risk from damaging weather including storms, heavy snow falls and torrential rain. Waterproofing is crucial to preventing the damage caused by flooding. If your commercial property lacks a professional waterproofing system then flooding will not only poses a health and safety risk, but can also lead to structural defects such as cracks, mold, and concrete fisures.

What are the risks of water damage to commercial buildings?

All commercial buildings are different, depending on when they were constructed and what waterproofing methods were available at the time. Waterproofing systems have advanced rapidly the last decade. In the case of flooding, businesses face costly insurance claims. loss of property value and damage to stock and equipment if waterproofing fails. Here are just some of the risks associated with flooding:

Structural failure

Structural damage to a commercial building, like foundation settlement, concrete slab cracks, concrete spalling and others, can become so severe that the property can be deemed unsafe. Not only does this lead to liability and insurance issues for landlords, but it can also involve costly repairs which may require earth-moving and excavation if the foundation is damaged or has shifted.

Mold

Mold grows in damp wet environments. Mold and mildew contamination flooding can lead to a variety of health but also damage wood, drywall, flooring and other building materials

Concrete Cancer

Concrete in commercial structures is typically reinforced with steel bars or mesh. These materials can corrode when exposed to water. When steel corrodes, it then expands, resulting in concret ‘spalling’; a term to describe the incident of surrounding concrete cracking. The problem will become severe if nothing is done to remedy it. Concrete cancer is a typical effect of severe waterproofing failure.

Leaks

Leaking water can damage the contents of your property, such as equipment, furniture, electrical systems, and other. Leaking water can also cause ceiling tiles to break apart and fall off, as well as deteriorate the drywall and floors. Besides the property damage, pausing business to address such issues costs businesses income.

Decreased Property Value

Extreme weather events such as flooding can impact property values. Without correct or sufficient waterproofing, a commercial property can lose value due to structural damage, mold growth, foundation cracks and more.

What should commercial building owners proactively do?

The number one preventative step is to have a full inspection from a licensed and certified basement waterproofing company like Interhome Basement Waterproofing. Our inspection can reveal early signs of water damage that if addressed early on can prevent serious issues in the future.

We will also inspect your current waterproofing system, water drainage and sump pumps and propose upgrades and/or waterproofing reinforcement.

There are many solutions to a leaking basement, including exterior waterproofing, which involves excavating the area down to its foundation to fix and reinstall draining systems. Other solutions include crack injections which are usually performed when the seepage is coming from the walls. For a long-term solution, applying waterproofing from the ground-up will ensure your building’s basement is flood-proof.

Preventing water damage is your best way of protecting your commercial building. Don’t wait until a storm has hit and your contents and building are damaged before securing a flood disaster and waterproofing plan.

For a complete waterproofing solution, get in touch with us to schedule an onsite consultation. We supply only the best waterproofing solutions to solve all your waterproofing requirements.