Archived Commercial Blog Posts
When Disaster Strikes Your Complay Every Minute Counts
10/14/2022 (Permalink)
There are two SERVPRO techs cleaning shoot off the ceiling from fire damage
Unforeseen disasters can affect your business far beyond the monetary cost of repairing a damaged building or replacing inventory and equipment. In fact, revenue loss due to business interruption can be the most significant impact. The experts at SERVPRO of Winston-Salem North are ready to help 24/7/365.
Water Damage Restoration
As an experienced leader in commercial water damage restoration, we won’t rest until your property is fully restored. From drying to removing damaged materials to fighting microbial growth, we set the standard in setting things right.
We Offer a Wide Range of Water Damage Restoration Services, Including:
Carpet and upholstered furniture restoration
Content and document drying
Drying and dehumidifying
Burst and leaking pipe repair
Severe Weather Restoration, and much more.
Hurricanes can wreak havoc on your property. The damage that could impact your home is expansive and can include any and/or all of the following: flooding from heavy rains, powerful winds that can destroy walls and cause damage to your property’s structure, and storm surges that can quickly engulf your business if it’s near a coastal region.
Fire Damage Restoration
Fires can result in extensive damage. Smoke continues to destroy your structure and its contents even after the fire is out. The residue left behind is hazardous and can cause health problems if it is not taken care of correctly and thoroughly. The ServiceMaster Restore team is more than ready to handle all of your fire damage restoration needs, including:
Inspecting the structural integrity of the building for safety
Identifying the source to determine the type of fire that occurred
Evaluating all areas that suffered water damage as a result of fire suppression efforts to identify those that may need treatment
Salvaging of product stock, raw materials, commodities, and machinery
Removing contents from the building & securing removal, storage, and cleaning of sensitive files and data storage devices
Packing out the remaining contents for cleaning and storage
Evaluating carpets and floor coverings that may need to be removed
Cleaning, eliminating odors, and deodorizing surfaces to preloss condition
Hospitality Cleaning & Restoration
10/6/2022 (Permalink)
A SERVPRO tech cleaning a hotel stairwell
As a leader in hotel restoration, we work quickly to minimize the impact of damage to your business operations.
As managers and owners of places where people go to relax and enjoy themselves – hotels, restaurants, resorts – you know how important it is to keep guests happy. It’s also important to know who you can call on when things go wrong. From minor inconveniences to major events like fires and natural disasters, hospitality cleaning services are sometimes necessary. SERVPRO technicians respond quickly and work with your staff to assess your restoration needs so that you can continue serving your guests. We will help prioritize spaces and isolate the damage, and then we can restore the affected area to its preloss condition.
SERVPRO’s experience in the cleanup and restoration of hospitality facilities includes:
Hotels
Convention Centers
Resorts
Casinos
Entertainment venues
Restaurants.
We are here to help you keep your business running smoothly
Commercial Water Damage Restoration
10/6/2022 (Permalink)
a business storefront that has suffered from severe water damage.
When your business has a water damage situation, you need immediate help to restore your facility while minimizing downtime. Water damage to your industrial or commercial property can be particularly devastating. Not only is there the damage itself that needs repaired quickly, but there’s the disruption of your service to customers and employees, as well as the negative effect on revenue. SERVPRO professionals are prepared to evaluate your water-damaged property. We want to help you understand the severity of the water damage to your commercial property so that you’re able to make the best decisions on moving forward with the restoration process. Whether you’re dealing with minor water damage to your commercial property or a large-loss event, we can develop a restoration plan to help ensure your property is clean, dry and restored to its pre-damaged condition. Our customer-focused professionals will assess the water damage to your property. Then we’ll help you understand the severity of the damage so you’re able to make the best decisions for the restoration of your business. Our top-notch people use only the most advanced equipment to detect hidden moisture and extract standing water. We have more than 50 years of experience in repair and restoration so you can trust us to help you develop a water damage restoration plan to help ensure your business is clean, dry and restored to its pre-damaged condition.
Commercial cleaning helps against viral infections
9/19/2022 (Permalink)
Business breakroom
Maintaining a clean work environment has always been important. But amid COVID-19 regular cleaning and disinfecting have become more important than ever.
There are several vital steps to take, from wearing protective gear to following the guidelines the CDC and local health authorities laid out.
If a sick person or someone who tested positive for COVID-19 has been in your facility within the last 24 hours, you should clean and disinfect the spaces they occupied.
Steps to consider
Before cleaning and disinfecting:
- Wait as long as possible (at least several hours) before you clean and disinfect if someone in your office tests positive for Covid.
- Close off areas used by the sick person and do not use those areas until after cleaning and disinfecting.
While cleaning and disinfecting:
- Wear proper protective clothing and a mask while cleaning and disinfecting.
- Turn off the heating and air conditioner system.
- Focus on the immediate areas occupied by the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19.
- SERVPRO uses only approved cleaners and disinfectants.
- Vacuum the area if needed. SERVPRO uses only vacuums that are equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and bags.
Solution To A Business Flood
9/19/2022 (Permalink)
An office under a foot of water due to a busted pip
Running a business is hard work and long hours. When you experience damage from a flood the stress can build faster than you’re prepared for. If you find yourself facing flooding issue in your business, you may feel as though you’re at your wit’s ends. The damage is often extensive, and different parts of a building must be treated in different ways to fully restore it to full operations. This blog is to tell if how a company flood affects your business and a guide for most important steps of flooded business restoration.
How Flooding Affects Your Business: A business flood is an unexpected problems to run into as a company owner. Water damage is catastrophic to property and can occurs under many different circumstances including appliance failure, storm damage, leaking roof, plumbing malfunction, and basement flooding. The seriousness of a flood can differ. You may have a broken pipe letting loose gallons of clean, sanitary water. Maybe a sewer pipe breaks down the street and sends a deluge of toxic waste your way. Perhaps water levels rise in the rivers after rain and begin to overflow nearby. Despite the different types of business flooding, they all cause the same issue: holding up business! Not only does major flooding in your business slow operations to a crawl, but it also poses a threat to the health of you, your employees, and your customers. Some water may contaminate key areas of your business, and damaged materials can require costly repairs and lose you major progress on projects.
What to do After Your Business Floods: A How-to Guide: Dealing with business flood damage on your commercial property can be quite a pain. Regardless of where the flooding originated, there is a laundry list of fixes that must be made in the wake of significant water damage. Let’s run through them:
1. Secure and Stabilize your Building
Water may have weakened walls or other supports, and doing the dirty work to remove it all may jeopardies the structure. Great care must be taken to clear the area of debris and stabilize the structure. Any demolition that may need to be done will require a safe work area!
2. Prepare the Building for Proper Restoration.
You may still be using the location for operations during the water damage cleanup, so temporary power and lighting could be necessary. Along with this, boarding up windows and tarping structures will prevent the area from being dirtied any further.
3. Restore and Rebuild
The contents of your building are valuable, so careful measures should be taken to pack, clean, and store these materials. This means drying documents and rebuilding areas for their safekeeping. To ensure the issue is resolved, a high-tech inspection is recommended to uncover any hidden water intrusion.
keep reading to understand why SERVPRO is the company to call when something like this happens.
How SERVPRO can help!
When your livelihood is on the line, it’s not worth messing around with anyone but the pros. Our team understands the trauma associated with catastrophic loss and is committed to listening and responding to your needs. SERVPRO has over 50 years of experience in residential and commercial cleaning and restoration. We are a 24hr service how make fire water and mold damage Like it never even happened.
Steps for cleaning your business after a fire
9/19/2022 (Permalink)
Cleaning Up After a Fire at Your Business
Knowing as much as you can once the fire is contained or extinguished can help you plan cleanup efforts with more efficiency.
Have a conversation with the firefighters after the fire is extinguished. Once the fire is extinguished, you can approach the firefighters and ask a few important questions. While they might not be able to answer all your questions, you can make several inquiries, such as:
- What started the fire
- Which parts of the building were affected
- Who to contact to get a copy of the fire department’s report?
Knowing as much as you can once the fire is contained or extinguished can help you plan cleanup efforts with more efficiency.
Inspect the Building
Work with your insurance company to take stock of soot damage, water damage from fire hoses, and how many rooms were affected by flames. Inspecting the building can help you gauge how much it may cost to fix and whether any rooms have safety issues as a result of the fire. Remember to include interior walls, windows and doors in the inspection.
What is The Best Way to Reduce Damage to Commercial Property?
9/16/2022 (Permalink)
The SERVPRO ERP logo
The best way to reduce business interruption following a disaster is to plan for it now. As many as 50% of businesses close down following a disaster, according to the latest research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. and knowing you are ready for whatever happens speaks trust to your clients and employees that in the event you business is affected by a disaster, they don't necessarily have to be there. By developing a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your commercial property. It is a completely free app to use to help your business.
Commercial Fires In Winston Salem
10/20/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster in your commercial business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one.
On average, US fire departments respond to a blaze in a building under construction or major renovation every hour and a half. This is according to the National Fire Protection Association.
They point out that these sites are notoriously rife with fuel, including piles of trash and excess building materials. Combine that with no shortage of ignition sources, ranging from heating and cooking equipment to welding and other hot-work activities, as well as the fact that fire protection systems like sprinklers may not yet be active. It can all add up to an environment primed for a devastating fire.
Every hour spent restoring your business back to pre-fire condition is an hour of lost revenue and productivity.
Fire damage can be very devastating for a business or commercial property. In addition to fire, smoke, and soot damage, water damage caused by firefighting efforts and fire suppression systems may occur. If you have a fire emergency, call SERVPRO of Winston Salem North.
The SERVPRO of Winston Salem North is composed of our best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are pre-qualified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any size disaster. Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation.
Whether your fire emergency occurs in a restaurant, motel, or office building, we will respond quickly to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion.
SERVPRO of Winston Salem North has the training, experience, and equipment to handle large commercial fire damage emergencies.
Commercial Biohazard Cleanup
10/12/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster in your home, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one.
While owning or managing a commercial building you may have the occasional blood spill, urine, or feces clean-up. SERVPRO of Winston Salem North is trained in biohazard cleanup. These scenarios can happen easily in your place of business. By understanding the reasoning behind professional clean-up or restoration you will potentially save yourself, employees, tenants, or customers much-unneeded stress and potential health risks.
Blood Spills:
Blood spills are typically defined as any amount of blood that has left a body. This can mean a slip and fall with a skin break or possibly a crime scene. Blood spills can pose major safety hazards that can result in disease if not handled by a professional restoration company like SERVPRO. We have the knowledge to restore the area so that they are free of diseases or risks such as hepatitis, HIV, and other blood-borne pathogens. Our work is not complete until we have removed and properly disposed of all the contaminated materials in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Urine and Feces Clean-Up:
Human and animal excrement are considered bio-hazardous materials. Our SERVPRO technicians follow all of the professional safety norms all while utilizing specialized equipment and training protocols. If left untreated or treated poorly yourself, employees, tenants, or customers may be subjected to disease or viruses such as hepatitis A, E.coli, rotavirus, and norovirus. All of which can be easily avoided by calling in a biohazard professional such as SERVPRO.
If your building has had a blood spill or other bodily fluid issue please call us today at (336)744-5014
Commercial Division
10/7/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster in your home, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one.
Commercial cleaning and restoration present unique challenges. Our goal is to provide excellent results while minimizing disruption to your clients. SERVPRO of Winston Salem North is fully equipped to take on your commercial property no matter the size of the job.
Commercial Services:
- Air Ducts / HVAC
- General & Specialty Cleaning
- Post Construction Cleaning
- Punch List Services
- Dry Ice Blasting
- Power Washing
- Biohazard & Sewage
- Odor Removal / Deodorization
We offer our services to any time of the commercial property:
- Small/Large Office Buildings
- High-Rise Office Buildings
- Apartment Buildings
- Restaurants
- Hotel/Motels
- Small Retail Stores
- Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
- High-Rise Residential
- Manufacturing & Industrial
- Government/Military
For any additional information, please feel free to contact our office for all of your commercial property needs.
Dirty Ducts In Your Winston Salem Business?
10/7/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster in your home, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one.
The fact of the matter is your office air is filled with dust, dust mites, animal dander, mold, and other unhealthy elements. Unless you address the situation now, the air quality will continue to deteriorate.
Your local franchisee wants to ensure that you, your employees, and customers are breathing healthy air. Unnecessary dirt and debris can pose a serious threat to the health of your employees if they are not properly maintained.
Some things to consider by scheduling a duct cleaning for your business:
Improved Health Poor indoor air quality ranks among the top five environmental risks to your health.
Energy consumption Clean ducts help lower your utility bill and help your HVAC unit last longer.
Smelly air Odors will continue to plague your business long after you remove the offensive item if the odor is in your ducts.
Microbial growth can grow in your duct system especially if your business suffered recent water damage from the hurricane.
For the sake of your customers and employees, you need to know the air you breathe at your business is free from contaminants.
What's That Smell? Common Sources Of Odor Problems in Your Winston Salem Business
9/20/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
As experts in deodorization, SERVPRO of Winston Salem North has seen a wide variety of problems with odors and their sources. Commercial deodorization can be tricky, but here are some of the most common odor problems in business.
Restrooms
In restrooms, the most common source of odor is urine. In the men's room, urine tends to seep behind urinals and splash on walls. Regular mopping with a disinfecting solution is a must to control odors, wiping down the walls. In the ladies' room, watch for odor from the feminine hygiene waste receptacles—daily emptying and disinfecting as needed.
Drain Odors
Drains come in all sizes and use in a business; kitchen drains, floor drains, and even sinks can be the source of foul odors. It is recommended to flush out drains regularly to clean out food, debris, and bacteria that can cause unpleasant odors in your business.
Mold and Mildew
If your business has a musty smell, you may have an issue with mold or mildew. Mold and mildew usually form in areas with higher moisture content, such as basements, crawlspaces, laundry facilities, or restrooms. At SERVPRO of Winston Salem North, we offer free mold checks. Our team of IICRC trained technicians can assess if it's mold or mildew and determine if it's an issue you can handle or if you need professional assistance.
If your business has an issue with mold or an unpleasant odor, give us a call at (336) 744-5104 for your no-cost assessment. Because at SERVPRO, we're here to help.
Was Your Business Impacted by Hurricane Ida? Here Is What To Do Next..
9/20/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
Most business owners in our areas are aware of basic steps that should be taken before a hurricane, such as maintaining a preparedness plan, backing up computer files, and keeping a store of emergency materials. Some even develop plans for contacting employees. To keep the business flow as continuous as possible, managers need to know what to do just after the storm. By following the steps below, you can return to normal operations in no time.
1. Contact Your Insurance Provider
Begin the claim filing process for any major damages as soon as possible. More details on the damages later, but the sooner you start, the better.
2. Wear Safety Gear
It is important to take the proper safety precautions if you are going to visit your property post-hurricane.
3. Document the Damage
As you assess the scope of the damage, remember to take pictures of any damage you see and to make detailed notes for your insurance claim and company records. *The photos you took before the storm will come in handy now!*
4. Salvage What You Can
Attempt to remove any debris that you can. Remember, buildings can be structurally unsafe so it is wise to only do as much as you know won't cause further damage to yourself or the property.
5. Find the Right Professional Help
Here at SERVPRO of Winston Salem North, we know how to tackle jobs of all sizes and get your business back in shape quickly. We can guide you through the entire restoration process and have proven experience helping businesses recover after hurricane flood damage. We make it "Like it never even happened."
Is Your Business Properly Prepared?
9/20/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
When a disaster strikes the time to prepare has passed. Don’t be one of the 60% of businesses that do not have a formal emergency response plan. Roughly 80% of businesses are likely to go out of business if they do not recover after a disaster within a months’ time, and 50% of businesses never reopen. The best way to protect your company is to have a solid game plan. Is your business prepared for a natural disaster to hit?
Well, you are in luck; SERVPRO of Winston Salem North is here to help! We have been working with local businesses to ensure that they will not fall victim to these statistics.
SERVPRO has an amazing program called the EMERGENCY READY PROFILE. This program aids property managers and owners, both residential and commercial to be prepared for a disaster to hit.
We will walk you step by step to help you put together an EMERGENCY READY PROFILE. We will help you identify and label utility shut-off locations, identify local utility contact information, identify local emergency contact information such as fire, police, and hospital contacts, and establish main internal contacts for purposes of employee safety and emergency work authorization.
For more information please contact SERVPRO of Winston Salem North @ (336) 744-5104
We provide 24-hour emergency service and have the training and expertise to handle your restoration and cleaning needs. "Like it never even happened."
A SERVPRO Commercial Emergency Ready Plan
9/17/2021 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
There are almost 1 million small businesses across North Carolina, with almost 2 million employees. That would roughly be 45% of the workforce across the state. That is a staggering number and a huge boon for us! It’s Truly Amazing how great our small state is for Entrepreneurs. Winston Salem is currently in the midst of re-energizing downtown and the triad itself is growing exponentially every year.
With all that growth, there is bound to be some downfall. Most Small Businesses fail within 3 years, and it’s not always the business’s fault. We encounter some that go under because of infrastructure and plain old bad luck and timing. One of the best courses of action to prevent a catastrophic loss for your company is an Emergency Readiness Plan ( ERP )
What is an Emergency Readiness Plan?
ERP is the best way to mitigate damages to your company in case of a loss which may include
- Fire
- Fire or smoke damage from faulty wiring
- Fire damage from a restaurant kitchen fire
- Water
- Water heater failure
- Sewage back up
- Mold
- Previous water damage that was not mitigated properly
- Leaking Roof
- Dirty HVAC
- Crime or Vandalism
- Storm
Most Homeowners are not able to locate their water shut-off valve, so to assume your employees know where that may be located is just plain bad planning. Fortunately for the small business in Winston-Salem, we provide an ERP for Free! All you need to do is call and set up a time and date, and one of our associates will come out and set everything up. We recently updated our program to include an App, but it’s also easily accessible online, or we can always print a quick folder for you to keep in your office.
The Signs of Electrical Issues in Commercial Buildings
9/2/2020 (Permalink)
Set up a Free Emergency Ready Profile, to help prevent, and to be prepared for any commercial emergencies.
Some of the most common signs of electrical issues, might be a blink and you miss it type of moment. It's worth visiting a commercial property multiple times in all types of weather to make sure you are buying a reliable building.
- Dimming or Blinking Lights
Make sure to visit your building at night and during high traffic electrical usage hours. That way you can see if all the lights are working and nothing is dimming or blinking out. - Old Wiring
Depending on the age of your building, you may need to invest in an electrical overhaul of your entire building. Wiring, like the rest of us, will eventually deteriorate and become damaged with age. Be it chewed by mice, damaged by nails hammered haphazardly into walls or simple disintegration, a lack of insulation means exposed wires that can lead to sparks and fire. - Dead Outlets
A Major Hazard, dead outlets mean the electrical line has been interrupted in some way, and needs to be addressed immediately. - Patch Jobs and Modifications
In today's DIY society, more and more people are trying to update and patch their electrical systems to update and run more current. Only a licensed Commercial Electrician should ever work on a commercial building. - Low Amp Wiring
Older buildings have lower amped wiring, when you try and push a high amp thru low amp wiring, it gets hot. It might even catch fire and spread through the walls before you even know what is going on. It is always best to get an inspection done on older buildings.
Our Commercial Standard Services
9/2/2020 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
- 24 HOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES
- Catastrophic Storm and Wide Area Event Response
- Large Loss and Single Event Response
- WATER DAMAGE SERVICES
- Water Removal and Dehumidification
- Mold Mitigation and Remediation
- Building Stabilization and Climate Control
- FIRE DAMAGE SERVICES
- Smoke and Soot Cleanup
- Pretesting (For Best Cleaning Methods)
- BIO-REMEDIATION & CRIME SCENE SERVICES
- Vandalism Cleanup
- Unattended Death Cleanup
- FACILITIES CLEANING & RESTORATION
- Air Ducts and HVAC Cleaning
- Carpet, Upholstery, Drapes and Blinds Ceiling, Walls and Hard Floors
- Odor Identification and Deodorization
- Post Construction Cleanup and Selective Demolition
- Reconstruction and Construction Drying
- Specialized Media Blasting
- CONTENTS CLEANING & RESTORATION
- Move Outs and Contents Restoration
- Electronics and Equipment Cleaning and Restoration
- Art and Document Restoration n Data Recovery
- Contents Claim Inventory Service
- Cargo Recovery (Trucking Industry)
- TOTAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- IICRC Certified
- Mobile Command Centers
- Electronic File Documentation
- Online Data Reporting
- Mitigation Performance Validation
- INVOICING
- Detailed Estimates and Digital Pictures
- Expense Reporting
Commercial Plumbing Issues
9/2/2020 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
We should never forget that between 1-3 % of all water on Earth is Potable water, aka fresh and drinkable water. Therefore Water Conservation should always be a concern. Not only is it wasting finite resources, but it could cost your business $$$.
Some of the most common plumbing issues in commercial buildings are
- Leaky Faucets
- Most businesses have between 1-10 leaking faucets in their building
- A single leaky faucet leaks 7-10 gallons a day
- The average cost of a single leaky faucet will be between $60 - $200 a year.
- Running Toilets
- Most businesses in NC must have a restroom for employees
- A single running toilet will lose between 20 and 40 gallons a day
- The average cost of a single running toilet will cost between $400 - $1000 a year
- Silent Leaks
- A Silent Leak is a very small leak, almost undetectable inside your plumbing system
- Over time, most of these leaks will cause massive damage to internal building structures
- Where there is water and warmth, there will be Mold Growth, which can be an extensive clean up and maintenance issue.
What Should I ASK before investing in a commercial property
9/2/2020 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
What is a commercial property?
- Retail buildings
- Office buildings
- Hotel / Motel buildings
- Industrial buildings
- Apartment buildings
- “Mixed use” buildings, where the property may have a mix, such as retail, office and apartments.
Before Investing in a Commercial Property the best thing to do your research
Common questions to ask
- Year built? Older buildings might be a great deal upfront, but they can have issues and require more investment down the road.
- What kind of property are you looking for?
- Are you looking to use the building for your own business, rent it out, build equity, and/or something else entirely?
- What kind of location do you need?
- Do you need to buy or could you lease the property?
- What's your situation regarding cash, financing, and/or ability to make a down payment?
- What's your risk tolerance?
- How much time can you commit to the property?
- How much work are you willing to put into the property?
- What skills/knowledge are you bringing to the table?
- What skills/knowledge will you need to hire experts for or contract out?
- What kind of property manager might you need (or not)?
- Are you willing to do the duties of being a landlord?
- Finally, are you ready/willing to make an investment/purchase of this size?
Most Common Structure Issues in Commercial Properties
9/2/2020 (Permalink)
While we hope you never experience a disaster at your business, we do know we are ready to help you restore it in the event of one
Winston-Salem is in the midst of a Commercial and Residential Building Boom!
I absolutely love every bit of it! The City of Arts and Innovation is growing like never before. It might seem like chaos at first, but it’s a delicate and well thought out expansion, that is driving our city forward and into the future.
With all this new growth, there will be some growing pains, and most of those are going to be from our older and historic buildings. One of the main issues common among these commercial buildings is Structural Foundation Failure. When Investing in a new property it is imperative that you and a hired professional inspect the foundation. They will be able to point out some of the most common structure issues.
Some of the most obvious ones are Exterior Cracks and Fascia Issues. These are out in the open, and there is no hiding them. They most likely come from the building settling into the ground around it. Soil is compacted over time, and when a building is constructed, the soil is dug up and becomes loose. When the foundation is poured, they try their very best to compact and level the soil around and underneath it, but there is no way to make it perfect. Over time it will settle, there is no IF about it. When this starts to happen, you’ll notice doors sticking and windows starting to be harder to open and close. There may be some tiling and flooring that’ll start to warp. You may not notice small interior cracks until they really start to become bigger.
One very large and Scary issue is Plumbing Failure. As a commercial building settles, the plumbing will shift outside and inside the building. Especially with older buildings and older plumbing. It’s not uncommon to still run into Terracotta or Cast Iron pipes. These pipes are aging right along with the building, and as that foundation moves, it becomes unstable and stressed. Commercial buildings are going to have larger pipes than residential homes and you are looking at a larger water damaged area when that pipe finally fails.
BUT, and this is a big caveat. For the Right Location for your growing business, most of the issues stated above are fixable. Location means so much today in the growing business world, that remodeling an older commercial building could be a sound investment to make. Not only are you investing in your future, but you are also investing into Winston-Salem.
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