Commercial buildings often seem to bear the brunt of hurricane damage. If you own or manage one, it makes sense to do everything you can to prepare your building properly. Unexpected storms cause unexpected expenses, so it’s worth it to take steps to reduce the risk of damage.
Clean Out the Drains and Gutters
Without proper drainage, a commercial building’s flat roofs can collect enough water to fail during a hurricane’s torrential rains. Make sure that your building’s drains and gutters are clean so they allow water to flow away freely.
Get a Commercial Roof Inspection
Finding and fixing weak spots in advance will help keep hurricane winds from tearing them into gaping holes. This, in turn, helps prevent the hurricane’s rains from flooding into your building.
Tie Down or Eliminate Loose Items on the Roof
Sometimes, water damage only happens after the wind causes something to rip a hole in the roof. Loose items can be torn off, leaving holes in the roof, or blown around enough to punch through the roof’s surface.
Consider safely getting up on your commercial roof and look around for forgotten tools or other items and take them inside. Also check the stability of your roof-mounted equipment and remove or tie down any equipment that isn’t stable enough.
Remove Dangerous Tree Branches and Weak, Tall Trees
Trim back any tree branches that are over the roof. A high branch that gets blown down can easily punch a hole through the roof. If there are any nearby trees that are tall enough to fall onto the building and do damage, have them assessed by a tree professional to see if they are safe. Remove any that fail the assessment.
Take Pictures of the Roof Before the Storm
If you need to make an insurance claim, it will help if you have proof of the pre-storm condition of your roof. Go up and take a few pictures before the storm starts to roll in so that you have the evidence you need.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Just like with homeowner’s policies, some commercial policies may not cover water damage from storms. If you find that this is true of your policy, upgrade it right away.
Contact Perry Roofing Today
For a roof inspection before or after a storm, or to get roof repairs, contact us here at Perry Roofing in Florida. We’ll be glad to help you get your roof ready before and during hurricane season! Perry Roofing Contractors provides commercial roofing services in Gainesville, FL and surrounding areas as well as in Jacksonville, FL.