Proper waterproofing is one of the most important investments you can make in the overall health of your building. A combination of commercial waterproofing services, including caulking and waterproof coatings, is essential in protecting your property from damage.
When a storm hits, then the risk of water damage is obvious. But even a tiny amount of water can lead to substantial repair bills and, in some cases, safety risks for personnel or tenants. It’s not always obvious that the damage is occurring until it’s already serious.
Commercial waterproofing services act as your first line of defense.
Neglected waterproofing can result in major consequences felt throughout a property. Whether it’s a flood that strikes in minutes or a leak that stays hidden behind the walls for weeks, water has tremendous potential to damage a building. Waterproofing your walls, doors, windows, floors, foundation, and roof can defend you against both long-term and short-term problems.
Let’s take a closer look at the issues waterproofing protects your building from:
Waterproofing Services Protect Against Structural Damage
Leaking Roof and Walls
In addition to the roof, water can infiltrate walls, windows, weak points in the foundation, and many other areas. This results in the collection of water within the walls that gradually erodes structural strength. Water migration may cause leaks to appear in many areas at once. This can compromise the roof system at the underlay or structural levels, requiring comprehensive repairs or a full roof replacement.
Substrate Deterioration
Moisture infiltration can reduce the performance of your paint and other coatings and make them more likely to fail. Water is especially destructive in seacoast areas where it can seed salt in a building’s materials. And in cold weather, water can creep into damaged concrete and go through freeze-thaw cycles that rapidly cause cracks. Commercial waterproofing services prevent these outcomes.
Urethane Caulking/Sealant
Urethane caulking is typically used in areas that will be painted or covered with an elastomeric coating, such as concrete panels, horizontal joints, flashing, expansion and control joints and more. It’s important to choose a knowledgeable urethane caulking contractor because if urethane caulking isn’t properly installed and coated over, it deteriorates quickly because of its intolerance to sun exposure.
Foundation Damage
By the time you see a crack in your foundation, the damage has already spread widely from that point. In fact, foundation cracks should be regarded as a symptom, not the sole problem. Just repairing these cracks will not restore full structural strength. In addition to appropriate sloping and drainage, you can defend your foundation from seepage with the right commercial waterproofing services.
Waterproofing Services Protect Against Many Common Issues
Mildew
Mildew is a relatively harmless green, blue, or black growth that often develops on the shady side of a building. Buildings with shingle roofs in rainy climates are at the greatest risk. While mildew has limited health consequences, it is unsightly and sends the wrong sign about your business. Mildew is often tenacious and difficult to get rid of without addressing the underlying moisture sources that feed it.
Mold
Mold is an ever-present threat for commercial buildings because it is widely dispersed throughout the environment. It only takes a little moisture for mold to flourish, particularly in warm and humid conditions. Moisture can cause mold to develop undetected within a building’s walls. Many forms of mold irritate the throat and lungs – and some, like black mold, is so dangerous that a building may be shut down.
Indoor Air Pollution
According to the EPA, the air inside of a building can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. Moisture can add to the bacterial and viral load of a building and facilitate the spread of irritants like dust. Limited air circulation worsens the problem. The most severe cases of indoor air pollution can lead to “Sick Building Syndrome,” in which a structure’s inhabitants experience symptoms of illness.
Pest Infestation
The weak points that enable water to enter a structure are also ideal for a variety of pests. Depending on your area, you might face an infestation of silverfish, ants, termites, cockroaches, and many more. It hardly needs to be said what a time-consuming and expensive project it is to eliminate these infestations once they’re established. Waterproofing creates a tight seal in target areas that pests can’t penetrate.
Property Damage
As long as commercial waterproofing services aren’t performed, everything inside of a structure is at risk. Books and important paperwork can be destroyed in a matter of minutes. If your facility stores or uses sophisticated electrical equipment, a few drops of water can cause damages extending into the thousands of dollars. Business assets and the personal property of individuals are both in danger.
Waterproofing Also Protects Against Legal Liabilities
Safety and Compliance Issues
Depending on the nature of your business, you could face penalties if water damage interferes with your operations. Regulated industries like healthcare, construction, and many others have strict standards for workplace health that can be contravened by any standing water. This creates a risk for your reputation and your ability to attract the best talent to work for you in the future.
Civil Penalties
Wherever the public is served, the possibility of a lawsuit can’t be dismissed. From slip-and-fall incidents to health complications caused by stagnant water, a failure to waterproof your structure opens the door to all kinds of legal hazards. While property managers do the best they can with the resources available to them, there is always the chance that a judge could penalize a business for negligence.
The Importance of Choosing a Professional for Commercial Waterproofing Services
If you’re looking for commercial waterproofing services, it’s essential to hire an expert. To be effective, waterproofing material must touch every inch of the vulnerable surface area. The right waterproofing tools and techniques must be used according to the state of your building, its materials, and the particular threats you face. Done wrong, waterproofing can actually trap water and cause more damage.
With years of experience serving commercial clients of all sizes, Presto is the trusted local name in waterproofing. We use experienced and highly skilled technicians for every aspect of your project. From beginning to end, you’ll get the quality and customer service you deserve. You can read about a recently completed waterproofing project for a commercial office building and many other projects on our portfolio page.
If you are looking for commercial waterproofing services in your city, we would love to learn more about your project.
Contact Presto Restoration for a free consultation today.
Call us at 1-800-785-9927 or Request A Quote.
