As a business owner in New Jersey, properly maintaining your commercial building’s waterproofing is essential to prevent expensive property damage and disruption. But how can you identify potential waterproofing vulnerabilities before they become major headaches?
By conducting thorough NJ commercial waterproofing assessments regularly, you can catch issues early and make informed decisions about necessary repairs and upgrades.
When Should Your Business Schedule Waterproofing Assessments?
Ideally, you’ll want to assess your building’s waterproofing at three key times:
During the Construction of New Buildings
If you’re building a new commercial property in New Jersey, work with your contractor to conduct waterproofing assessments during the construction process. This allows you to confirm that all below-grade foundations, vertical walls, and rooftop membranes meet code requirements and are installed correctly.
When Renovating Existing Structures
Before renovating part of your existing building, take the opportunity to perform inspections and testing to detect any previously unknown waterproofing vulnerabilities. You can then address these issues while renovating.
Periodically for Preventative Maintenance
Schedule full NJ commercial waterproofing assessments every 3-5 years as preventative maintenance. This enables you to catch minor problems before they become major headaches that disrupt your business.
What Waterproofing Vulnerabilities Should Assessments Check For?
A thorough commercial waterproofing assessment will check all areas of your New Jersey building for common vulnerabilities such as:
Water Infiltration Through Foundation Cracks
Over time, small cracks in below-grade concrete foundation walls can allow water seepage into basements or crawl spaces. Assessors check carefully for signs of leaks or damage.
Leaks Through Joints Between Materials
Joints between stucco walls, window frames, and similar structures often have concealed waterproof sealants. If these joints fail, water can infiltrate unseen and cause interior damage. Assessments inspect all integral joints.
Standing Water Issues on Flat Roofs
Flat commercial rooftops rely on effective drains and slope to avoid standing water that erodes membranes over time. Assessments examine drainage efficacy on flat rooftops throughout New Jersey.
Deterioration of Waterproof Membranes
Specialized waterproof membranes have limited lifespans. Assessments test membranes on foundations, plazas, roofs, and other areas to determine if replacement is required.
Why Hire Professional Waterproofing Consultants?
Assessing an entire commercial building for potential water damage risks on your own takes a lot of work. Professional waterproofing consultants have extensive expertise that enables them to evaluate your property and identify concerns thoroughly.
When hiring a commercial waterproofing assessment firm, verify qualifications such as relevant certifications, depth of inspection experience, and advanced moisture testing capabilities. Also, ask questions such as:
- How long have you been performing waterproofing assessments?
- What’s your process for a typical commercial inspection?
- Will you provide a report detailing all vulnerabilities found?
What’s Checked During a Commercial Waterproofing Assessment?
A comprehensive NJ commercial waterproofing assessment examines all areas of your commercial property’s interior and exterior. Here’s some of what assessors will check:
Thorough Visual Inspection
Inspectors look for obvious signs of leaks, damage, deterioration, standing water issues, improper slope, and other problems in all areas of your building.
Moisture Testing
Using advanced metering equipment, inspectors check moisture levels beneath membranes, within walls, under flooring, and elsewhere for anomalies signaling water infiltration.
Identification of Risks and Failures
Based on thorough inspection and moisture testing, consultants gauge risk levels for all potential waterproofing vulnerabilities and highlight any existing failures needing immediate repair.
Recommendations for Fixes and Upgrades
Your assessment report will contain professional recommendations for addressing identified waterproofing risks, ranked by priority level based on severity and potential for damage over time.
Making Decisions Based on Assessment Findings
The best commercial waterproofing assessment provides an impartial professional opinion of your property’s vulnerabilities. But as the business owner, the decisions about how to address identified issues fall to you.
Carefully weigh the risks and costs associated with the problems highlighted in your NJ commercial waterproofing assessment report. Evaluate whether to tackle everything at once or space out fixes over time. Get quotes from contractors to fix recommended items so you can compare costs for budgeting purposes.
Make sure to factor long-term waterproofing performance into your decisions, not just quick fixes. Spending more upfront to install durable, high-quality membranes and sealants that last decades makes better financial sense than cheaper stopgap solutions in the long run.
Ongoing Assessments for Continued Waterproofing Confidence
A single waterproofing assessment gives you a helpful snapshot of your commercial building’s vulnerabilities. But your property’s needs will evolve over time. So, sound preventative maintenance involves re-assessing your waterproofing every few years.
Periodic NJ commercial waterproofing assessments enable you to catch emerging issues early before they escalate into major headaches. If staff observe leaks, damage, or signs of potential water infiltration between assessments, address these immediately to avoid the problem.
Work with Waterproof Caulking & Restoration for a Comprehensive Assessment
Safeguard your New Jersey commercial property by having Waterproof Caulking & Restoration conduct a comprehensive waterproofing assessment. Our specialist team thoroughly inspects all areas and uses advanced moisture testing to identify hidden vulnerabilities before costly damage occurs.
You’ll receive a detailed report outlining prioritized risks, existing failures, and necessary upgrades so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed. Don’t leave your commercial investment exposed to undetected issues.
Contact us today at 484.265.9646 or schedule a consultation online to work with our experts, who can give you the information you need to address any waterproofing vulnerabilities confidently.