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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Multi-level Water Damage: What This Means for Commercial Building Owners

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

The larger the commercial building along with number of working or inhabited areas the building has, the higher chance of  a water-related accident or damage transpiring. Commercial buildings tend to have more than one floor, hosting a number of pipes. Maintenance on a building can be costly and may occur less often than needed. Lack of maintenance tends to lead toward leaks, burst, or broken pipes and accompanying hardware. Even if a property owner had rigorous routine inspections, emergencies, accidents, and coincidences can still occur.  

A single-level business' concerns mirror that of a multi-level building or business. Restoring damaged roofing, repairing burst pipes, airing out drywall and other nooks are all considerations when experiencing commercial water damage. The contrast between the two businesses is the existence of multiple floors or not.

Even with all things considered including the amount of water and source of the flood, the probability of multiple floors seeing damages is high. Finishing on the floor, subflooring and the material between each level are all permeable enough for water to require serious repair. Most floors only have 12 to 14 inches between the subfloor and the ceiling of the next level. The material in between known as a joist is typically made of lumber, which is in fact processed wood; mold and mildew can indeed grow on treated lumber. 

A reputable restoration company should know to check for damage on all floors, subflooring, and ceilings. Should these layers be neglected for an extended period, damage tends to be irreparable as well as dangerous for multiple reasons. The threat to employees and other building visitor's physical safety increases. Mold growth, wiring damage, and collapsing floors are all hypothetical stemming from standing water and unresolved corrosion of floor material. 

The stress of returning to business quickly after an emergency can be tempting for a commercial building owner or restoration company to forgo crucial steps in water damage restoration. However, when weighing the outcomes of overlooked damage and the potential of having to pause business again, it is best to be diligent and patient.

Commercial property owners need to ensure they are properly vetting restoration companies that will look at all potential damage, current and future. Rushing through a water damage job affects the safety of employees and visitors, continuity of business, and a commercial building’s bottom line. 

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