If you want to take a preventive step to protect your business from any natural disasters or events, commercial board-up services are your key solutions.
We often receive numerous questions such as: “Are commercial board-up is really worthwhile? How can we benefit from these services?”
In response to high volume of inquiries, we’ve dedicated this article to address the subject and provide the best answer for your own questions.
What Are Commercial Emergency Board-up Services?
A commercial emergency board-up service involves any process of safeguarding your commercial property by securely covering any susceptible and vulnerable entrances with plywood. This protective measure effectively prevents further damage from disasters and protects your property from trespassers and unwanted visitors. Commercial board-up services go beyond covering vulnerable entrances with plywood; they also include the protection of roofs and siding using tarps.
Emergency Board-Up Vs. Preventive Board-Up
Typically, preventive board-up and emergency board-up are two popular types of board up services.
A commercial preventive board-up service involves protecting your property from any natural disasters, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, or hurricanes. The damages caused by these disasters can be severe, and the compensation may require spending thousands to millions of dollars.
In 2020 alone, natural disasters cost about $95 billion in damages. By spending a few hundred dollars on preventive board-up service, you can minimize the damage and prevent million-dollars losses.
You can easily remove the plywood after passing the disaster and return your business as usual.
However, disasters do not always come with prior warning, and leave us no time to spare. In such cases, commercial emergency board-up can help protect us from further damages, such as trespassers, fire structure, and etc.
Why is Emergency Board-Up Service So Important?
Emergencies can arise unexpectedly, leaving you with no time to make necessary preparations. Disaster strikes swiftly and mercilessly, targeting the most vulnerable part of your property – your doors and windows. This is where the importance of board-up commercial windows becomes evident, as damaged window provides an easy entrance for intruders, vandalism, and further damage. Boarding-up windows buys you the time needed to replace them at the right time.
Commercial emergency board-up is a temporary, fast, and effective solution for covering any vulnerable entrance of your business with plywood to protect it from criminal activity and other damages caused by aftershock. Undoubtedly, it can help you save considerable amount of money and facilitate a quicker return to normalcy.
Besides, emergency board-up service plays a crucial role in the insurance payout process. As you know, after the disaster, an insurance adjuster comes to inspect the extent of the damage to your business and verifies your claim. In such situations, it’s crucial to take every possible measure to effectively safeguard your property and consider all available interim solutions.
By taking steps to prevent further damage, you enhance the chances of having your claim approved and receiving the corresponding payout.
Who requires emergency board-up services?
Basically, all types of businesses need commercial emergency board-up, particularly, properties with windows, doors, and roofs, whether for preventive or emergencies measures. These services are essential tools both before and right after a natural disaster.
Even, abandoned or vacant properties still require board up services. Vacant properties often have broken door and windows, making them perfect place for vandalism and potential hideouts for criminal activities. Boarding up these properties is a simple and cost-effective solution to prevent such activities and mitigate the resulting consequences that can leave you feeling responsible.
How Boarding Up Properties Works?
Commercial board-up services cover windows and doors as the main entrance using plywood. To begin, you’ll need to take precise measurement of the entryways, like windows, doors, etc. Then, cut a piece of plywood based on your previous measurement, leaving an allowance of 4*8 inches on each side. Next, secure the plywood to the wall stud using carrion-resistant screws.
Please note that you can’t directly attach the plywood to stone, concrete, or brick walls. In such cases, you’ll first need to drill a hole into the wall and then secure a wall plug to hold the screw in place.
Additionally, pay attention to the quality the plywood, as it plays a crucial role in preventing damages. Based on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the recommended plywood for boarding up services is exterior-grade CDX plywood, at least 5/8 inches thick. This type of plywood provides greater thickness and durability. Furthermore, it is readily available in relevant stores at an approximately affordable price.
The Cost of Commercial Emergency Board-Up Services
The service can vary in price, as several factor impact the total cost, including the location of your commercial property and the extent amount of damage your property has endured.
Moreover, the total cost depends on how many doors and windows need boarding up. You also need to add the labor cost to the final price.
On average, you can expect the cost for emergency board-up services to a range from $200 to $1500. Always remember, emergency board up is more expensive than preventive type.
Some insurances may cover the cost of board up services, so checking with your provider to confirm this.
You may like to a DIY board up to save on cost. But please note that if you’re an inexperienced one, you may choose the wrong materials, spend excessive time, and even risk damaging your property, which could result in considerable expanses.
How do you board a window from the inside?
The other alternative way is to boarding up windows from inside, however, it’s not a great one and we don’t recommend it often. Due to the intensity of the storm, there is a risk that the window may break, causing the plywood covering to become loose and potentially fall inside along with glass.
To board up windows from the inside, secure window films over the glass from the inside. However, this approach is not as effective as boarding up windows from the outside, it at least may help keep the glass in place if the window breaks. Additionally, to ensure your windows stay shut, you can use glass window clips.
Why Asking a Professional’s Help Necessary?
Contrary to what you may imagine, commercial board-up services are difficult to perform. A DIY approach is not recommended for individuals lacking experience, as it can be time-consuming, potentially damaging to the property, and prone to choosing the wrong material.
If you need expertise of experienced professionals who are available 24/7 throughout Toronto and can guarantee an error-free and efficient project, contact Esna. We are always here to address all your questions and concerns.
