If your commercial property or facility is located in a part of the country expecting a potentially harsh winter this year, now is the time to begin planning for snow, ice, and freezing rain.
City Wide Facility Solutions is prepared to be your partner in proactively scheduling the services you need to help prevent costly damage to your facility from winter weather. It is imperative to plan, in conjunction with your City Wide facility solutions manager (FSM), how you are going to prevent damage to your commercial roof and property before it happens.
Costs of snow damage to commercial roofs
Whether your commercial building has a flat roof or a low slope roof, a large snow load sitting on your commercial roof can quickly become a major problem. The heavier the snow pack, the more potential problems it may cause.
The worst roof damage often comes when snow begins to melt and then refreezes. This is called the freeze/thaw cycle, and is the same issue which causes potholes to form in your parking lot. The melting snow will settle into a crack or crevice in your roof and then expand as it refreezes, tearing open your roofing material. Refreezing snow on your commercial roof can also freeze down the side of your building or in the scuppers, causing damage to your walls or preventing water from draining properly off your roof.
Commercial roofs must be inspected for damage
After a major weather event, your roof will likely need to be inspected for potential damage. This is why it is valuable to work with a City Wide FSM, because they are local, know the weather in your area, and will schedule services when you need them before, during and after a major winter weather event.
The warning signs your inspector should look for after a major winter weather event at your commercial facility include:
- Curled or missing shingles
- Damage to gutters or eaves
- Signs of missing caulk around flashing
- Sagging sprinkler heads
- Falling or sagging ceiling tiles from a drop ceiling
- Cracks in walls
- Roof leaks
- Trusses or braces which are bending or bowing
How to prevent winter damage to roofs, parking lots, landscaping, and additional areas of your commercial property
The best way to prevent winter damage to areas of your commercial property is to be proactive in your preparation. If you wait until a winter storm is forecast to prepare, it will be too late and your facility will be in line with every other business who waited until the last minute. Instead, let City Wide schedule your snow removal and ice removal ahead of any winter storm. Our partners will make your building a priority so your employees can get to and from work safely. They will also make sure your roof is prepared with the proper deicer and your facility has access to the proper equipment it needs to get up and running again after a winter storm.
City Wide will work with you to understand the needs of your facility and your expectations, and will address those items in a scope of work created for your building.
City Wide has offices all over the country and we understand the climate in which we manage services. Down south, one of the biggest threats is ice storms. In the northeast, snow storms can happen fast and cause a large amount of snow to accumulate on your parking lot and roadways. In each corner of the United States, winter has different characteristics.
City Wide will be able to tailor preventative services to handle all types of winter weather. We can also assist with your commercial cleaning and interior painting, as well as more than 20 additional facility services we manage. Contact us.
