When a weather event the magnitude of a hurricane hits your property, there are many things set in motion such as personal safety, debris removal, damage mitigation and insurance claim filing. Safety is the most important. Here are the most common types of damage that can occur to your commercial building, the things you can do in advance to prepare for the worst, and the most common mistakes to avoid when performing repairs.
What are the types of damage that can occur to your commercial building during a hurricane?
Damage to the Roof
Commercial roof damage usually includes damaged roof flashing, which is a thin material (often galvanized steel) that is used to direct water away from critical areas of the roof. Common commercial roofs include shingle roofing, modified bitumen roofs, EPDM roof systems, thermoplastic roofing, tile roofs, and metal roofs.
Damage to Exterior Walls and Siding
While siding and exterior walls are an important aspect of visual presentation to clients, damage to these walls from a hurricane not only affects presentation, but can also lead to cracking, staining, warping, and even mold due to water damage. Usually, the types of walls and siding that can be affected are aluminum siding, stucco, brick veneers, steel or vinyl siding, and fiber cement.
Damage to the Foundation
Foundation damage to your business can seriously impact not only the visual look of your business, but also the safety inside for you and your employees. Key things to look out for are cracks in the walls, sagging or uneven floors, and doors or windows sticking.
Damage to Windows
Commercial window damage includes much more than simply broken glass. If your fenestration system, which refers to all openings in the building’s envelope, becomes compromised in any way, not only are you facing safety issues, but you may be in violation of certain building code tolerances. Common examples include not just storefront windows, but also skylights, glass walls, and aluminum or sunshade systems.
Damage to the Interior of the Business
The interior of your business can be severely damaged due to broken windows and leaking or compromised roofs due to the storm. This can lead to further interior wall and ceiling damage, flooring, computers and other equipment, and plumbing and HVAC systems.
Damage to Signage and Lighting
Commercial storefront signage and lighting fixtures are highly at risk as well. Commercial signage includes plywood or metal signs, awnings and LED signs. Outdoor lighting can consist of security lighting, wall mounts, or canopy light fixtures.
What you can do in advance to prepare your commercial building for a hurricane?
Get a commercial roof inspection in advance
This simple step can help notify you in advance of any potential roof problems that can help prevent the rain from a hurricane from flooding into your building.
Ensure your drains and gutters are clean and working properly
If your roof is not draining properly, this can lead to added weight from water build-up that can damage not only the outside of your roof, but can lead to interior damage as well.
Anchor or remove any loose items on the roof
Make sure any antennas are properly anchored down well, and look for any other loose items that may have been left on the roof that can become airborne during a hurricane.
Trim any large tree branches
Large tree branches that are hanging over your roof can easily be knocked down during a hurricane, causing holes in your roof. Also, consider hiring a tree professional to examine the potential threat of any other trees close by.
Take photos or video of your roof before the hurricane
If you or your business do need to make an insurance claim after a hurricane, photos or video footage of your existing roof before the storm can aid in the process of the claim.
Review your insurance policy
Most importantly, look over and even consult with your insurance agent on your existing policy to see what is covered, as well as what’s not. For instance, many commercial policies do not cover water damage. If this is the case, consider upgrading your policy.
An even more extensive list of things to plan for before, during, and after a hurricane can be found here.
What are the most common mistakes to avoid when doing any storm damage repairs on commercial buildings?
Never accept the first insurance claim
While you want the biggest claim possible, your insurance company isn’t there to just hand out money. That’s why hiring a public adjuster can help. They can walk your site after the storm and help determine what the insurance company should be paying for in terms of the damage sustained. As a result, they are able to present claims in such a way as to ensure the most favorable outcome for the insured.
Never hire an unknown contractor to perform the work
Ensure that the contractor you hire is high quality and that they are licensed to work in your area. Sadly, many out-of-state contractors are referred to as “storm chasers,” and travel from state to state after a storm and perform sub-quality work.
Don’t make any storm damage repairs that you’ll quickly have to replace in the future
When making repairs to your business after a storm, be sure to keep in mind the costs and benefits of any repairs. While some repairs may last, others performed too quickly or on the cheap can present problems down the road, leading to further damage.
Establish a realistic timeline about the entire process
Probably the most common mistake commercial building owners can make is rushing the process of repairing damage to their building. Often times, tensions can be elevated and the expectation to get things fixed quickly can easily lead to subpar work being performed or faulty or cheap materials being utilized to perform the repairs. Bear in mind that any contractor that offers you a quick and easy fix is usually just out to make a quick buck and may not be around afterwards in case help is needed in the future. Just be realistic in terms of the time-frame relating to the repairs being performed efficiently.
D. A. Lamont Public Adjusters are known industry wide for our integrity and success in proving claims to the insurance company. We are licensed professionals in estimating, preparing and negotiating property damage claims. Our team brings a total of 75+ years of experience to the table in commercial roofing and building industries. We have evaluated thousands of commercial buildings and millions of square feet of roof area, most of which had been previously denied by the insurance company.
Call us at 800-342-6690 or email don@dalamont.com to see if there’s anything D.A. Lamont Public Adjusters can do to help your commercial business.