Commercial Water Damage: Challenges, Impact, & Solutions

Commercial water damage includes any harm caused to commercial property by water or moisture issues. This damage can be caused by water from various sources, including malfunctioning HVAC systems, burst pipes, broken appliances, leaky roofs and walls, flooding, or groundwater. It may lead to operational interruptions, financial losses, inventory damage, and structural damage to your property.

It is essential to understand the best preventive measures and water damage remediation solutions to protect your business from water damage. In this blog, we will look into the challenges and impacts of commercial water damage and the most effective restoration solutions.

Challenges of Commercial Water Damage

Navigating commercial water damage requires specialized expertise and technology. Prompt and strategic action can minimize the impact of water on your commercial operations and finances. To address the challenges of water damage in your commercial facilities, you should consider the following factors:

1. Prompt Response

Delaying water damage can have a bigger impact on your commercial structure and operation, requiring complex and costly repairs. A quick response is essential to reducing harm and preventing huge financial losses.

2. Complexity and Scale

Generally, commercial facilities experience greater water damage than residential facilities. The complex structure of certain commercial facilities and the often sophisticated systems present within make the restoration process time-consuming, costly, and demanding.

3. Business Disruptions

Commercial water damage has a direct impact on business operations. If operations are not resumed promptly, your business may experience severe setbacks, including financial loss and customer dissatisfaction. Addressing the damage sooner helps ensure quick restoration and minimal business downtime.

4. Working with Insurance Providers

Understanding your insurance policy and reporting the exact damage properly can be complex. With water damage remediation experts, you’ll have help reporting and addressing damage so that you can process insurance claims quickly and maintain your costs.

5. Complying with Regulations

Commercial water damage restoration requires adherence to local regulations and building codes. Failure to adhere to regulations may put you at risk of fines and other legal penalties. To eliminate compliance issues, make sure to choose certified service providers when dealing with water damage.

6. Restoration Services

Implementing efficient restoration services that cater to your commercial facility’s repair needs helps mitigate the impact of water damage. Water damage restoration services are designed to offer a comprehensive solution and help you resume regular operations as quickly as possible.

Impact of Commercial Water Damage

Commercial water damage impacts various aspects of businesses, including finances and operations. Understanding these impacts enables businesses to prepare efficient strategies to address the issue and prevent potential damage in the future.

Here are some of the major impacts of commercial water damage:

1. Structural Deterioration and Foundation Weakening

Exposure to excess water or moisture weakens the foundation, gradually deteriorating the whole structure. When the stability of the foundation is compromised, the entire structure becomes vulnerable to significant damage, impacting the safety of the whole building.

2. Effect on Walls, Floors, and Ceilings

Water can severely damage walls, floors, and ceilings. When these components are affected, the structure becomes weak and poses safety risks. If not addressed in time, this leads to costly repairs and inconveniences.

3. Mold Growth and Its Potential Risks

Excess moisture levels in commercial structures create a favorable environment for mold growth. If you do not address mold growth quickly, it will spread throughout your building, causing various health risks, including allergies and respiratory issues.

4. Damage to Electrical Systems and Appliances

Water can cause electrical short-circuits and the corrosion of valuable appliances. Since commercial activities cannot continue without a power supply, electrical failure is not only a hassle but can also be expensive.

Besides the risk of financial loss, water damage to electrical systems and appliances also poses severe safety hazards, including fire and physical injury.

How to Deal with Commercial Water Damage?

Dealing with commercial water damage requires exceptional expertise and skill. Whether it is due to a minor plumbing leakage or heavy flooding, water damage can be detrimental to your commercial facility if not dealt with properly.

Here are some steps to take right away to mitigate water damage and begin restoring your building.

1. Turn Off the Electricity

When the electrical system comes into contact with water, it can create electrical hazards such as short circuits, electric shocks, and fires. To ensure the safety of your building and work environment, you may need to turn off the power supply.

2. Shut off Water at the Source

Shutting off water at the source can minimize the degree of water damage. Identify and locate the source of the water intrusion. If the source is a leaking pipe or a broken sprinkler head, you can stop further water infiltration by turning off the system or the water supply entirely.

In cases of flooding or groundwater intrusion, make sure that any drainage systems or sump pumps are not clogged.

3. Call a Water Damage Restoration Service

Call a professional water damage restoration service provider immediately. Delaying the restoration process only escalates the damage. Look for a licensed and reliable contractor in your area and schedule an appointment promptly.

The Water Damage Restoration Process

At OKC Restorations, our comprehensive commercial water damage restoration process involves a series of steps, which include:

Step 1: Initial Inspection

The process begins with an inspection of your commercial facility. Our experts assess the severity and cause of the damage, which allows them to understand the condition of your building in detail and determine the right solution.

Step 2: Water Mitigation

Water mitigation helps prevent further water damage by removing excess water from commercial property. Once professionals remove standing water using water-extracting equipment the area is ready to be dried.

Step 3: Cleanup and Drying

Once standing water is removed, the area can cleaned and dried using large fans. Deep cleaning of the affected areas helps lower moisture levels and prevent moisture problems such as mold and musty odor.

Step 4: Restoration & Final Inspection

Restoration involves a combination of solutions specially designed to address the damage caused in your commercial facility. It may include removing damaged structural components, such as drywall, carpets, and wood, and reconstructing them as needed.

After the restoration is complete, specialists perform an inspection to ensure your structure is in optimal condition.

Why OKC Restorations?

OKC Restorations specializes in restoring any complexity of commercial water damage with unmatched expertise. Our team is comprised of certified experts who have extensive experience handling a wide array of issues.

From office buildings to factories, we offer tailored restoration solutions for any commercial structure. If you are looking for a reliable restoration contractor in Oklahoma City, we are just a call away. Book a free inspection and restore your building with us.

Commercial water damage can significantly impact your structure and interrupt business operations. Luckily, our experts at OKC Restorations are equipped to handle any type of water damage.

With us, you will benefit from quality service and exceptional customer experience. Our innovative approach to navigating the challenges of water damage ensures long-lasting solutions. Reach out to us for a free consultation.