Spring is finally upon us! Warmer weather and calmer conditions permit us to stay outside longer. However, with heat comes melting snow. The excess water can lead to flooding, which can severely damage the building in which you run your business. While you can't completely prevent flooding, the following tips can help you curb the damage:
1. Clear off your roof
This winter has left an abundance of snow wherever it hit. This means your roof is most likely covered in it. Use a snow rake or broom to clear the snow, Niagara Frontier Publications suggested. If you have access to your roof and it's safe, you can try shoveling it off. However, take proper safety precautions. If you haven't cleared it off at all this season, you'll want to check your roof for damage. Roofs can only hold so much snow – approximately 20 pounds per square foot, according to the source. If it becomes too heavy, your roof can cave in or at least weaken it. Clearing it off will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
2. Ensure gutters are empty
Temperature changes cause melting and refreezing of the snow on your roof. This process creates ice dams, which can generate a lot of issues when it comes to warmer weather. Throughout winter, the heat from your building melted snow, causing the water to reach the gutters, where it then froze, This Old House reported. Come spring, the water that used to be snow flows down your roof but has nowhere to go. It then reverts back into your building, causing flooding and water damage. Make sure when you're cleaning off your roof that you clear the snow and get rid of ice dams from in the gutters.
3. Make sure drains are pointing away from building
Clearing paths for the water will be futile if it has nowhere to go once it's off your roof. If the drains from your gutters are blocked or not facing away from the foundation, the water will be directed into your business. Clear away snow that's pressed up against the building and ensure that the water won't be seeping into the ground around your company. If water gets in, there could be flooding and damage to the foundation, according to House Logic.
With warmer weather approaching, you'll need to do what you can to ensure melting snow doesn't damage your business. Any deterioration could force you to take out commercial loans or work repairs into your financial plan. It's better to take the proper precautions to protect your company before the snow starts disappearing.