How To Prepare Your Commercial Building’s Exterior for Severe Weather

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

Protect the exterior of your building before severe weather hits.

While regular exterior maintenance is a smart way to minimize costs at your commercial property year-round, a thorough building inspection is crucial for preventing damage during a severe weather event. Next time a storm threatens your building in Salt Lake City, UT, remember these four tips.

4 Tips To Prepare Your Commercial Building From Storm Damage

1. Put Your Walls to the Test

Water and walls can be a dangerous combination if those walls are harboring unseen cracks, leaks or other defects. In addition to performing a simple visual assessment of your building’s exterior walls, you might also consider enlisting the help of a trained professional. He or she can test for a variety of issues that are otherwise difficult to detect, such as water and air leaks or malfunctioning gaskets.

2. Check In With Your Cladding

Cladding may exist to lower your energy costs and protect your building from extreme weather, but that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. Before the next storm hits, make sure the last storm — or even a weather event that seemed harmless at the time — didn’t dislodge any cladding or cause the need for any other exterior maintenance.

3. Pay Attention to Susceptible Spots

Your building’s exterior contains a variety of components. Some of them are more weather-resistant than others. A commercial property’s windows, for example, are particularly vulnerable to storm damage. As you perform your building inspection, be sure to check not only your windows' general appearance but also that their weather stripping and insulation are intact and free from holes. Leaky seals don’t just inflate your monthly energy bills; they can also give storm damage a convenient entry point.

4. Don’t Forget the Roof

It may be a hassle, but taking a field trip to your roof is a vital part of keeping your building maintained. In addition to removing debris and checking for leaks and dislodged shingles, make sure your gutters are clean and free from obstructions. Any trees that approach your roof should be trimmed regularly to avoid scratches and falling debris, too.

The first step in water damage mitigation is storm preparedness. Make it part of your regular exterior maintenance, and you can minimize time and expense when extreme weather hits.