I head up the e-commerce department at Liquid Rubber, a leading provider of home improvement and DIY water ingress prevention products.
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Business leaders are always looking for ways to save money, and waterproofing your company’s facilities can be an excellent way to do just that. As a disclosure, my company Liquid Rubber is a provider of water ingress prevention products and services.
Many leaders don’t realize the degree to which they may be able to reduce their insurance premiums by taking the time to waterproof their buildings either professionally or through implementing DIY waterproofing practices. Not only can this help protect your facilities from potential damages caused by moisture and water, such as mold, rot and structural damage, but it can very well save you some money on insurance premiums in the long run, too.
In this article, I will break down some considerations leaders should take into account when determining whether waterproofing their facilities will help save them on insurance premiums, as well as break down some DIY waterproofing practices leaders can utilize when trying to prevent water damage to their structures.
What is structural waterproofing?
Structural waterproofing involves sealing and/or repairing your facilities’ foundations, roofs and walls to prevent water damage and rotting. When the water is unable to penetrate your workplace or facility, it flows away from your property rather than seeping into it and causing damage. This can be an extremely important part of keeping your brick-and-mortar facilities in good condition and saving your company on otherwise costly repairs. By effectively waterproofing your buildings, you may even be able to reduce your company’s insurance premiums as well.
How can waterproofing facilities reduce insurance premiums?
Property owners are usually required to have insurance in order to protect themselves against costly damages. When considering a policy, leaders should carefully investigate the terms of coverage for losses caused by potential water damage sources, including sprinkler and appliance leaks. They might also consider the purchase of special business hazard insurance for flood damage.
If you’re currently paying high premiums, there may be ways to lower them by taking the time to waterproof your facilities. Some insurance companies offer discounts to property owners who have their buildings waterproofed. The potential losses from damage caused by water are, for some leaders, a threat big enough to necessitate water damage legal liability coverage.
Why would insurance companies offer a discount? When your property is protected from water damage, you are less likely to need to file a claim, and your premiums may be lower as a result.
Whether you choose to hire a professional to waterproof your facilities or do it yourself, you may very well be able to save money on your insurance premiums by taking the time to do it, document it and update your insurance policy.
What are some DIY waterproofing solutions leaders can utilize in their facilities?
If you decide to implement some DIY waterproofing practices within your facilities, you should first hire a professional to inspect your buildings and offer advice on what you can do to improve them. If you feel that you are not qualified to do some of these projects on your own, consider hiring a licensed and experienced contractor to help.
Here is a simple checklist to consider when waterproofing your facilities.
• Find and seal cracks that are allowing water to seep into your facilities.
• Cover drains that are letting water back up, preventing it from flowing away from your facilities.
• Repair roof problems that cause water to get into your facilities.
• Remove leaves from gutters.
• Clean roof shingles to prevent them from becoming damaged and letting water into your facilities.
• Raise the sump pump, so it can handle heavy rainfall without getting clogged and causing water to back up into your facilities.
• Install backflow prevention devices to prevent water from getting into your facilities.
• Protect basement/underground walls from moisture by adding a sealant or waterproofing membrane. As a disclosure, my company is one provider of such waterproofing membrane solutions.
• Repair any cracks found in the foundation to prevent water ingress.
Let’s wrap things up.
Waterproofing your properties can be a sound way of avoiding potential water ingress and costly repairs or insurance claims that can raise your premiums. A wide variety of solutions are available today that range from DIY options to hiring licensed contractors.
I hope this article helps leaders avoid water damage by being proactive in their approach, providing some strategies to help provide peace of mind in knowing their facilities—and their bottom line—are well-maintained and protected against the elements.
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