Here on the West Coast, seasons can change quickly with little to no notice. And with winter fast approaching, now is the time to get prepared! As the owner of a business or commercial property, you’re going to want to think about preventative actions. Doing some work while local weather is still tolerable can eliminate worry about cold-weather issues or liabilities down the road. Second, it’s a good time to address the comfort of your employees, tenants, and the public. And third, you’ll want to consider potential cost savings you can capitalize on by addressing the cold-weather needs of your unique commercial property before winter maintenance services are offered at a premium.
With these three perspectives in mind, it’s time to look a little closer at the areas of particular interest when winterizing your commercial property.
1) Prevent slip, falls, and accidents: One of the biggest concerns during the winter is imminent colder weather and the resulting negative impact on roads and walkways. Ice, snow, heavy rainfall, and freezing temperatures can be hard to combat without a plan in place, and often lead to slips, falls, and accidents. In Vancouver, property owners and occupants are responsible by law to clear the snow and ice away from their property within the full width of the sidewalks that surround their business no later than 10am on the morning following a snowfall with no exceptions. As a business owner, do you really want to deal with that?
Without the proper preventative planning, you as a business owner may be faced with repair costs, extended business interruptions and loss of revenue, and even lawsuits if a customer is injured on your premises. Preparing your business for winter not only helps you avoid potential problems, but can also help you avoid costly shutdowns and devastating lawsuits.
We know that commercial clients require their properties to be 100% accessible, safe, clear, and liability-free during the winter months. That’s why we have expanded our offering of landscaping expertise to include professional snow clearing and road salting services. Currently servicing Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, we are familiar with the local roads and landscape and can design a package to meet the needs of your unique property. We are proud to provide an excellent service and competitive pricing — Contact us today so that we can give you a free estimate!
2) Protect what’s inside: Consider the impact that de-icing agents, salt, and excess water may have on your internal walkways, carpeting, floors, and even the plants around your buildings. Consider installing quality, absorbent floor mats to help keep ice and snow melt residue from being tracked into the building.
3) Don’t forget about your landscaping: No matter the size of your commercial property, you will likely encounter one or more potential issues with your landscaping during the winter. For example, in the colder months, any inadequately insulated pipes outside can burst, which can lead to flooding, water damage, and costly repairs. These include pipes associated with property irrigation, special water features, or outdoor pools.
And even if you don’t have outdoor water features or irrigation systems, it is still important to work with a professional to ensure that your currents landscaping design is up to par and protected for the winter. This means checking for things like low-hanging branches which can cause damage to your building’s exterior if they become covered with heavy ice and snow, or even ensuring that you have speciality coverings for any foliage or amenities you may wish to protect during the harsh winter months (i.e. palm trees, pools, etc.). If you have any questions about how to best protect your landscape for winter, give us a call at 604-256-9100 — we’d love to chat and find a way to assist you!
GRN is built on a foundation of excellent craftsmanship partnered with a strong work ethic. If you have a commercial property in mind that you want protected this winter, and you want it done right, give us a call today!
