Risks Of Flood Damage To Commercial Properties

Navigating unprecedented challenges to maintain business continuity is a daunting task, with many businesses ultimately failing to stay afloat. Climate readiness is essential for any business with physical premises, as understanding the risks of flood damage to commercial properties is key to implementing effective prevention and mitigation strategies.

Flood damage to commercial properties is relatively common and the associated risks can halt business operations, disrupting finances and causing a ripple effect that impacts every aspect of your business. As the old saying goes – prevention is better than cure – and equipping yourself with knowledge of flood damage and prevention methods is the best way to stay ahead of commercial flood damage.

Whilst reducing the risk of flood damage to your commercial property might seem like a lesser concern compared to generating revenue, it’s a worthwhile investment that can protect your business in the long run. Our experts at Rainbow Restoration have provided simple, actionable steps to help you plan effectively, so you can rest easy knowing you’re well-prepared, including:

• What are the possible risks of flood damage to commercial properties?
  – Structural failure
  – Mould
  – Leaks
• How to prevent flood damage to your commercial property
  – Be aware of your flood risk
  – Assess your property
  – Write a flood plan
  – Pay special attention to basements
  – Add flood-proofing
  – Cleaning gutters
  – Improve landscaping
  – Getting your HVAC system checked
• How Rainbow Restoration can help

Find all of the expert tips below for reducing the risk of flood damage to your commercial property.

What are the Possible Risks of Flood Damage to Commercial Properties?

Any building affected by a flood can suffer severe damage from the sudden influx of water. However, for commercial properties, the financial risk is often higher due to the potential for significant business interruption.

Here are the key risks associated with flood damage to commercial properties:

Structural failure

Crucially, the structural integrity of a building can be compromised by commercial flood damage. This can create high risk conditions that may make business premises hazardous to human health.

If a flood damages a commercial property to the point of being deemed unsafe, landlords and insurance companies may face difficult and costly decisions, potentially including excavation and foundation restoration work.

Mould

If any resulting water damage is not addressed during the drying process, the residual moist climate becomes the perfect environment for mould growth.

With any water damage, mould is an immediate risk that follows the drying process. Water trapped in any material can lead to mould, which if left unchecked, will often spread and potentially contaminate an entire building.

This then opens up the business to further issues, such as respiratory or nose and throat concerns. Mould has been associated with a multitude health concerns such as congestion, coughing, rashes and eye irritation, so avoiding mould contamination is vital.

Rainbow Restoration has perfected the service required to completely eliminate mould from a property, ensuring no risk of contamination or further spread of mould spores. If you suspect you have mould in your commercial property, get in touch as soon as possible to protect your property and the health of your employees.

Leaks

Commercial flood damage often leads to leaks throughout the property. More often than not, a leak will go undetected due to the structure of the property, leaving lasting and sometimes irreparable damage.

Without experts to detect the leak, water can damage furniture, electrical appliances, systems, files, and stock, rendering them unusable and requiring costly replacements. The water can also worsen structural damage, causing tiles to loosen, wallpaper to peel and wooden floors to warp and cup.

Commercial Property Flood Prevention Tips

Flood damage can easily halt a business in its tracks and leave profits and prospects to plummet. To ensure this doesn’t become your reality, follow Rainbow Restoration’s expert top tips in preventing flood damage on your commercial property.

1. Be aware of your property’s flood risk

It’s challenging to prepare for an uncertain situation, so determining the flood risk to your commercial property is a smart first step.

You can assess your flood risk level by checking with your local authority, which will help you begin developing a flood plan. Signing up for flood warnings will keep you informed about potential storms or heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding.

If you are near a body of water such as a river or a lake, you can also find out from your local council if you are at long-term risk of flooding.

Regardless of what property type you own, if you know you’re in an area that is prone to flooding, you should consider the following:

• Relocate essential documents, equipment and stock to higher levels
• Invest in protective measures such as flood barriers and sump pumps
• Upgrade your property with flood resilient features, such as reinforced doors and windows or basement tanking
• Elevate white goods onto plinths to prevent damage
• Maintain backups of key files that you may need

2. Assess your property

Know where you stand with your property. We highly recommend carrying out a full assessment of your commercial property to identify any key areas of weakness that could lead to flood water finding its way into the building.

These are often found in tiled areas, terraces, drain pipes and roofs. Flat roofs are more at risk for long term damage as they do not drain effectively.

Once you’ve assessed your property, make a note of any improvements that need to be made and ensure they’re prioritised accordingly.

3. Write a flood plan

In the event of a flood, having a plan can streamline your actions, putting you in a better position to deal with the consequences. Having a plan in place can help prevent floodwater from entering the property, but you should still be prepared for every eventuality.

Your flood plan should be easily accessible in the event of a flood and should include key contact information for your local council, helplines and your utility providers. You should also include the locations for utility cut-off points and a step-by-step breakdown for evacuation and protecting business equipment and stock.

Your flood plan should also include a business continuity plan, outlining methods and steps to ensure your business continues functioning and maintains stability.

4. Pay special attention to basements

It’s incredibly important that when reducing the risk of flood damage to your commercial property you take care to thoroughly assess your basement. Basements often contain extensive piping that if left to leak, can cause serious damage to surfaces and leave cracks in bricks and tiles.

In underground car parks, this can also damage vehicles and be a risk to safety.

If you’re concerned about your basement, you install specialist drainage systems to mitigate the risk of damage. You should also consider employing an expert to waterproof the building’s basement from the ground up.

5. Add flood-proofing

Water that has previously entered your building is likely to do so again. Flood-proofing is an effective strategy for managing flood damage prevention and minimising the impact of commercial flood damage in your property.

Flood-proofing involves enhancing your building’s protection by applying a waterproof coating to its exterior and sealing any gaps or holes to a professional standard.

6. Cleaning gutters

Gutters are designed to channel water away from your property and direct it through your drainage system.

If your gutters and pipes are clogged with debris like leaves or rubbish, you risk overwhelming the drainage system, which can allow water to enter your property.

Read our tips on gutter cleaning for further information on how to prevent leaks and flood damage.

7. Improve landscaping

Whilst you can’t magically move your property to a lower flood risk area, you can still certainly make changes to the nearby landscaping to redirect water away from the building.

Landscaping that allows water to run away from the foundations will provide crucial support during a flood. Moreover, installing drains from the roof and other levels of the building will help direct water to the proper drainage outlets.

8. Getting your HVAC system checked

Your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in your building is a vital piece of equipment that should be protected as a priority in the event of a flood.

Conduct a comprehensive assessment of your HVAC system’s health, plan to elevate it above ground level and identify any components that may require waterproofing. This proactive approach will help prevent power outages or electrical surges, ultimately reducing repair costs if flood damage occurs in other areas.

How Rainbow Restoration Can Help

The team of passionate experts at Rainbow Restoration know how valuable your commercial property is to you and how vital it is to your business’ success. That’s why they have perfected the handling of flood-prone properties and have a keen eye on how to spot flood damage prevention opportunities.

Their decades of experience in helping commercial property owners manage their flood plans and prevention methods makes Rainbow Restoration the perfect choice for any landlord, business or commercial property owner looking to protect a building that’s at high flood risk.

Avoid the hassle and potential costs of flood restoration by preparing in advance. When floods strike, turn to Rainbow Restoration for a professional, stress-free solution.

Get In Touch With Rainbow Restoration Now!

Now you know how to prevent flood damage on your commercial property, you can be better prepared and see less damage caused to your business. Remember to thoroughly assess your property, elevate essential files and appliances, landscape with floods in mind and prioritise your HVAC system.

If things do go wrong, don’t panic, our team of experts are on hand.

Now that you know how to protect your commercial property from flood damage, you’re better prepared to minimise potential impacts on your business. Remember to assess your property carefully, elevate important files and equipment, design landscaping with flood control in mind, and prioritise your HVAC system.

And if the unexpected happens, don’t worry—our team of experts is here to help.

For reliable water damage repairs and flood damage restoration, trust specialists with a proven record of quality results. Our national helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year, so please do not hesitate to contact us on 01623 422488.