Developing commercial properties combines the speculative vision of a venture capitalist and the courage of an entrepreneur to put their own money down on a plot of land today based on a future that only they can see. It is imperative that developers and property owners manage their expenses from conception through opening day (and beyond) as carefully as possible.
To say that there are many obstacles to overcome before breaking ground on a new construction project is an understatement, but even after the construction is completed, your property can still be under attack – but this time from below.
You might be sharing your new location with a colony of termites located three feet below your basement that are waiting for an opportunity to come up through your floor. There could potentially be thousands of termites working 24-hours per day, taking tiny pieces of your investment back to their nests to be chewed up by other termites.
On account of the record-setting rainfall and moisture of 2018, our region has been encountering mold problems in places that have previously been unaffected. Portions of a local hospital were closed down at one point on account of mold issues, and at Gladhill Services, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of calls from schools and other commercial buildings – places that we heard from very rarely in the past.
Don’t let termites and mold tear down what you have built or jeopardize your business venture with unexpected costs down the road.
The good news is that there are proactive steps you can take both before you break ground and after your construction project is completed to keep termites and mold from damaging your property.
Successful termite and mold prevention requires a complete understanding of both the pest being controlled and building construction. As mold remediation professionals, we often find ourselves pulling up carpets and hauling out drywall – sometimes stripping structures down to the floor joists – to fix problems that should have been treated during the construction phase.
Before, during and after construction, here is how Gladhill Services protects your commercial property from termites, mold and other threats.
1. Commercial Properties: The Pad Site
You have found the perfect place to establish your business, strip mall, hotel or hotel in an up-and-coming area of town. You see the large up-front cost, but you also see the larger return on your investment.
What you don’t see are the termite colonies and mold clusters lurking below the surface that see your dream as a free lunch.
Even in cases where pre-treatments aren’t required by law, we highly recommend them because it’s easier to prevent a termite or mold problem than it is to fix one.
Proactively kill termites and mold by performing a pre-construction “pre-treat” on the pad site before the first shovel-full of dirt is ceremoniously dug.
2. Commercial Properties: The Construction Site
As construction gets underway and your vision begins to take shape, developers have another strategic opportunity to stop termites and mold in their tracks. After the structure is framed up but before construction is complete, it is a good idea to treat those exposed pieces.
It’s easier to apply the treatment before the drywall and insulation are installed than it is to tear them all out and try to remedy a full-blown mold or termite infestation after the fact.
At this stage, prevention comes in two primary forms:
Pre-treating the lower portions of the wall studs with a product that will prevent mold and termites
Creating a waterproof seal at the basement level, which will prevent mold-causing moisture and termites from getting in
As a complete pest control, mold removal, waterproofing and duct cleaning service provider, Gladhill Services is uniquely qualified to identify and prevent potential problems within the entirety of your commercial properties.
3. Commercial Properties: The Completed Structure
Your property has been operational for a few years, and because you treated the pad site and wall studs during construction, it has been termite and mold-free for all of that time. That’s great, but being proactive doesn’t stop here.
Eventually, those initial treatments might wear off leaving your property exposed to termites and mold, so it’s still important to keep up with inspections and treatments as a preventative measure.
Termite season typically runs from March through June, but is dependent on weather conditions. Mold is often more active during those months as well because conditions are getting warmer and wetter.
Because these cycles have some predictability, it is possible for property owners and managers to get ahead of the termites and mold by preemptively treating in and around the property.
It is almost always easier – and less expensive – to proactively prevent termites and mold than it is to try to perform termite correctives and mold remediations.
Conclusion
When it comes to termites and mold, it is easier and more cost-effective to preemptively resolve potential problems with your commercial property. Failure to take proactive steps at these critical junctures in the lifespan of your property can put your entire investment on the line. Gladhill Services makes sure that you are getting the full value of your property.
Gladhill Services
We service Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, so contact us or visit us at HomeAdvisor to discuss how we can help you protect your commercial investment.