Storms are a calamity in the making, not limited to a certain time or season. They are a way for mother nature to remind us who’s in charge. While you can’t control a storm or decide when and where it will hit, there are certain measures that you can take to contain its devastating effects.
Being the owner of a commercial building, you would know that looking after your building is already difficult as it is, but having to prepare your building for a storm is a whole other level of difficulty. There are so many things to look out for and so many spaces that you need to cover. So, where do you begin? Here are a few basic tips that will help you ready your building for a storm.
Inspect Your Roof
The roof of your commercial building is the first line of defense against the storm; a failing roof will compromise the safety of the entire building. Start with getting your roof inspected by professionals and get any repairs that are needed to be done immediately. Make sure the repaired roof is able to withstand the same amount of load as the original roof could.
Also, check all vents, pipes, or other pieces of equipment on the roof for bracing; you don’t want your vents or pipes torn off by strong winds or damaged by hail. Try to take in any movable items such as flower pots again so that they don’t get damaged or blown away by hail or wind respectively.
Check Your Windows and Doors
Cover your windows with shutters or removable covers. If the forecast is predicting a very severe storm, then it would be better to just board up your windows and other glass exposures. Strong winds may shatter your windows or any other exposed glass.
Secure the doors and check that their frames are firm enough to bear strong winds. If not, block the doors with something heavy such as a vending machine. Pile up some sandbags at the low elevation points in your building, especially the entrance door thresholds. This will soak up incoming water and prevent doors from bursting open if there are extremely high winds.
Removing Exterior Elements
Look out for and remove any loose tree branches that may be close to your building. You don’t want strong winds to smash those loose branches into your building windows or walls. Take down any signs, boards, and banners so that they don’t get blown away.
If there is debris and gravel near your building, you should get it moved to someplace that is sheltered so that they don’t become windborne and cause annoyance during and after the storm.
Backup Power
Commercial buildings tend to have electrically working doors and systems. During severe storms, power outages are pretty common. In case the situation arises, and the power goes out, you should have backup generators to power the electronic doors, elevators, and other electronic equipment in your building.
Call STOP Restoration of Spokane
No matter how many precautions one takes, an unexpected mishap can always occur. It’s very common for some precautions to fail, leading to your commercial building getting damaged. If such an unfortunate case should arise, get in touch with STOP Restoration of Spokane. We excel in damage restoration services and have well-equipped and skilled professionals who will make your building brand new again. So call now on 509-818-7744, or visit our website to know more about what we can do for you.
