After the Storm - Recovering, Repairing and Moving Forward

The loss of life and untold property destruction from Hurricane Katrina are all-too-vivid reminders of the power of nature. While the threat of natural disasters is significantly less in non-coastal cities, high winds, heavy snowfalls, flooding and other forces pose risks for damage to buildings across the country. When commercial facilities suffer damage, owners face the challenge of not only how to accomplish the repairs, but how to continue to operate and maintain access while the repairs are taking place.

Contacting a qualified architect or engineer to outline the necessary repairs and examine all of your options is an important first step in moving forward. On a positive note, it may be an ideal time to accomplish renovations or additions to your building that you have been considering. While your insurance coverage probably will not extend to any additional work, you may be able to get it accomplished at a significant savings while workers are already on-site and portions of the structure like the roof or exterior walls are already exposed. Your architect or engineer will also advise you about design measures to prevent damage from reoccurring, such as incorporating a
wind-resistant building façade or addressing a poor grade-level drainage system.

To accomplish your repairs, you will need to choose a quality construction contracting company. Ideally, your facility will be able to continue operating during construction. Of course, safety issues, noise and inconveniences will be a concern, particularly for facilities that receive a lot of employee, customer or public traffic. Choosing a contractor with experience managing these types of projects is a must.

The contractor will work with you to address all of your concerns, and will create an efficient timeline for the repairs, while controlling the amount of disturbance to your employees, customers or tenants.

Ultimately, a quality contractor will ensure your facility continues to operate at its fullest potential during construction, keeping you and your customers happy and allowing your business to continue.

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