Is your commercial property ready for rain? The rainy season can be an expensive time for property owners if they are not properly prepared. Heavy rain can cause roof damage, pavement damage, flooding and more. As a commercial property landscape provider, we realize that these properties are a major investment and need constant attention and care. We have seen it all and make sure that proper measures are in place to ensure rain-damage is kept to a minimum.
We have compiled a short list of things to watch out for, to keep your property safe during the winter here in Visalia.
Be prepared by knowing your problem spots
If you know that your property has a history of leaking in certain spots or certain repetitive issues you can prepare when you know a storm is coming. If you have tenants on the property, call them ahead of time and let them know that you’ll be ready to address any issues that arise. The tenants can be your eyes on the ground and let you know if they’ve encountered any issues.
If you often have rain-related issues, make sure you keep a list of vendors to help you quickly resolve the issues. Restoration companies, concrete and asphalt vendors, roofers, water extractors and remediation vendors can be good ones to keep a good relationship with.
Clear out those gutters
If you have clogged gutters, you may end up with unhappy tenants. Water leaks through the roof into tenant homes can cause flooding. Gutters need to be regularly maintained but should always be cleared before a big storm.
If you see an impending storm, it’s time to get the maintenance team in place and have them thoroughly inspect all the gutters on the property. If the gutters aren’t cleared prior to a rainstorm chances are it will clog the gutters with leaves and other debris and limit the water that can drain off the roof, leading to a messy job and unhappy tenants.
Patch up paved areas and parking lots
A property that isn’t well maintained can be easily susceptible to damage from heavy rains and storms. A small problem can quickly become a larger and more expensive problem requiring more expensive repairs. A small patch can become larger leading to the possibility of needing to resurface the entire the lot. Take the time to inspect the lot regularly for issues.
Potholes can arise quickly. It’s important to be responsive and act quickly on any damage that you or your tenants may find. Small damage can escalate quickly to more expensive damage if not addressed. When it is time to patch your pavement take the more expensive route and use hot-mix concrete. Even though it’s more expensive up front it will outlast a cold-mix and require less re-patching, saving you money long term.
Inspect and repair your roof
Extreme temperature changes can be tough on a roof, and heavy precipitation can result in erosion and cracking. Heavy rains can expand and existing crack and let water into homes below leading to leads, flooding mold and unhappy tenants.
The best prevention is to catch issues early and make repairs quickly. If you’re able to catch issues early you can save money having smaller issues, extend the life of your roof, and avoid costly water damage.
Inspect joints and windows
Check anywhere where two planes or surfaces come together for potential leaks. Flashing, joints, sealant, and windows need to be inspected regularly to prevent leaks and mold. Leaks usually start out small, so catching them early will save you money. Most leaks are caused by the material wearing down over time, daily use, and shifting of the property.
Take the time to prepare and prevent and you will save money in the long run. If you have any questions or require commercial landscaping maintenance, we would be happy to help.