The Dangers Of High Winds And Snow To Your Business

12/17/2020 (Permalink)

Any type of severe weather can potentially create problems for your business, and with winter just around the corner that is something to keep in mind. High winds and snow can cause damages that slow down or stop your production, ruin materials and goods, or put your workforce in danger - or all three! - so it’s a smart business move to be informed and prepared when it comes to any seasonal weather challenges. Wind, rain, snow, and cold can each affect the condition of your building and can also harm the actual structure. Below we will discuss the dangers of high winds and snow to your business:

Wind

Wind causes two conditions - uplift and racking. Uplift happens when fast-moving wind creates a low-pressure area on the leeward slope of your roof, walls, and inside the building. The inside pressure can then push structural components outwards, causing damage. Racking occurs when high winds don’t hit your building squarely; the framing will most often withstand this force but extremely high winds can tear shingles off of the roof. High winds can also drive rain up under the shingles, vertical siding, frames of windows and doors, and the roof itself. Properly installed construction materials that are well-maintained can help you to avoid damage of this kind, but if you experience destruction of your property, SERVPRO is here to help.

Snow

When a building is first designed, the amount of snowfall it may have to handle is taken into consideration. Snow is light as it falls, but its accumulation can add up to lots of weight. Light, dry snow will weigh between ten and fifteen pounds per cubic foot, while wet snow is much heavier; it can weigh forty or fifty pounds per cubic foot. In areas of the country where lots of snowfall is seen, roofs are designed to handle as much as four hundred pounds per square foot - the equivalent of six feet of water! Buildings are designed to withstand the weight of snow so that you don’t have to worry about sagging, cracking, and collapsing roofs in your business. 

Any time you experience damages from extreme weather, you can always count on SERVPRO of Hermitage/Donelson to help. We have a great team, well-trained and highly-skilled, ready to help you any time to get back to work. We handle water damage, fire damage, and mold prevention/remediation, too.