Author Archives: Mares & Dow Construction

How Do General Contractors Affect The Quality of a Construction Project?

How Do General Contractors Affect the Quality of a Construction Project - Mares & Dow

General contractors play a pivotal role in construction projects, overseeing every aspect from planning to completion. Their expertise, coordination, and management skills directly influence the overall quality of the project. A well-chosen general contractor can lead to a successful and high-quality construction endeavor, while a poorly selected one can result in delays, budget overruns, and subpar workmanship. 

Expertise and Professionalism

General contractors bring a wealth of expertise and professional knowledge to a construction project. They possess a deep understanding of construction techniques, materials, and building codes. With their experience in various types of projects, they can identify potential challenges and devise effective solutions, ensuring the construction process runs smoothly. Their ability to communicate effectively with the team helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that everyone is working toward the same goals. To illustrate, let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular ways a general contractor will provide a seamless and exemplary final walkthrough.

Planning and Management

Large projects are typically completed in stages, with each new phase completion making it possible to move to the next. Home contractors take charge of creating a comprehensive construction plan that outlines the timeline, budget, and specific goals of the project. They break down the project into manageable tasks and set realistic milestones to track progress. Throughout the construction process, general contractors manage the project’s day-to-day activities, including coordinating subcontractors, scheduling deliveries, and conducting regular inspections to maintain quality control.

Quality Control and Inspections

Quality control is a cornerstone of a successful construction project. Construction contractors enforce rigorous quality control measures to guarantee that all work meets industry standards and adheres to the project’s specifications. They conduct regular inspections at critical milestones to identify any potential issues before they escalate. General contractors are responsible for selecting reputable subcontractors and suppliers with a track record of delivering high-quality workmanship and materials.

Budget and Cost Management

General contractors play a crucial role in managing the project’s budget and costs. From the initial estimation to the final accounting, they must exercise strict financial control. They negotiate with subcontractors and suppliers to secure competitive prices without compromising on the quality of materials and workmanship. Their ability to address unforeseen issues efficiently and cost-effectively is essential in keeping the project within the budget and maintaining the overall quality.

Safety and Compliance

Safety is paramount in any construction project. Home contractors are responsible for implementing and enforcing strict safety protocols to protect workers, visitors, and the public. They ensure that all workers are adequately trained and follow safety guidelines at all times. Moreover, general contractors ensure that the construction project complies with local building codes and regulations. Additionally, any safety issues that may arise with subcontractors will be resolved without involving the property owner.

The role of general contractors in construction projects cannot be overstated. Their expertise, project planning, quality control, budget management, and commitment to safety significantly impact the quality of the construction project. A skilled and competent general contractor can elevate the project, delivering a high-quality structure that meets the client’s needs and expectations.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

5 Important Traits to Look for When Hiring Skylight Contractors

5 Important Traits to Look for When Hiring Skylight Contractors - Mares & Dow

You understand the many benefits of installing skylights in your home or at your business. Sunlight not only brightens a room, but it also brightens the mood of everyone exposed to it. Opening a skylight circulates fresh air, which is an especially important benefit for cramped office spaces. Installing skylights at a residential property increases the property’s value, while a business benefits from positive customer responses. Now, the time has arrived to hire a team of skylight contractors to install one or more skylights.

The question no longer is should you install skylights? Instead, the question becomes what are the five most important traits to look for when hiring skylight contractors?

Positive Reputation

Virtually every website that you access for a skylight contractor contains several customer testimonials. Although customer testimonials can provide you with insight into the reputation of a skylight contractor, a better measure of a contractor’s reputation is to speak with a few former customers. In addition, you should read the customer reviews left on sites such as Yelp and Google, as well as review the Better Business Bureau (BBB) page devoted to the contractor.

Proper Professional Credentials

Whenever you plan to hire any home improvement contractor, you should ensure the contractor possesses the proper professional credentials, which means verifying the business has acquired sufficient insurance and earned the right licenses and certifications. Possessing the right credentials is a sign a contractor values professionalism. With insurance, you want to gain peace of mind knowing you are protected in case of an accident. If you plan to install Velux residential skylights, ask the contractor if the installers have completed the Velux Certified Installer Program.

Outstanding Customer Service

How a contractor interacts with you goes a long way in determining the success of a skylight installation project. A contractor that provides outstanding customer service promptly returns emails, phone calls, and text messages in a helpful and friendly way. You should be able to get every one of your questions answered without having to endure complex industry jargon. Outstanding customer service also entails the willingness of a contractor to change project deadlines.

The best skylight contractors do more than just install skylights.

Affordability

“You get what you paid for” is an especially relevant saying for a skylight installation project. Although you do not want to cut financial corners with this type of property improvement project, you also want to stay within your family or business budget. The lowest price is often not the best option because you might receive inferior quality work. However, you should find an affordable team of skylight contractors that do not bust your budget.

Cooperativity & Teamwork

The last thing you need is to deal with a team of contractors that constantly bicker among themselves. Teamwork plays a significant role in determining the outcome of any home improvement project, including one that involves installing skylights. You can obtain a good idea about the collaboration among skylight contractors by observing them for a few minutes while they review your project guidelines and take a look at where you want the skylights installed.

One more tip: Consider a team of skylight contractors that have experience with roofing projects. You might have roof maintenance issues that a team of skylight contractors can point out to save you money in the long run.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

4 Exciting Ways That Retaining Wall Contractors Improve Your Landscaping

4 Exciting Ways That Retaining Wall Contractors Improve Your Landscaping - Mares & Dow

It is a never-ending quest that consumes many homeowners: Discover ways to increase the value of their properties. One of the most effective strategies for boosting the value of your home involves enhancing your property’s landscaping. Although you can level sloped land, most landscaping experts such as retaining wall contractors recommend building a retaining wall instead. In addition to representing an affordable home improvement option, a retaining wall also provides several aesthetic and functional benefits.

Let’s review four exciting ways retaining wall contractors improve your landscaping.

Enhance Aesthetic Appeal

Depending on the height and type of materials, building a retaining wall on your property can significantly boost the aesthetic appeal of your home. This is an especially important strategy for enhancing the curb appeal of your property. One of the first things a prospective home buyer notices is the visual appeal of the front yard. Adding an attractive retaining wall in the front yard is an effective, yet affordable strategy to enhance curb appeal, which translates into a higher home value.

Building a retaining wall with an attractive material such as marble can seamlessly blend in with the other features that stand out on your property.

Add Functional Space

Undulating terrain such as mounds and rolling hills can present a beautiful appearance. However, undulating terrain also takes up valuable space. From creating a garden to adding more room on a patio, a retaining wall maximizes the space you have on your property. Opening more space by building a retaining wall is a popular way for homeowners to create an outdoor living space where a pergola or gazebo provides shelter for entertaining guests.

A retaining wall can even open up more space for guests to sit during a party.

Flood Control

One of the most disconcerting sights for homeowners to see is watching a torrent of water move through their properties. An excessive amount of rain over a short period can cause considerable flooding, which leads to the nightmare called soil erosion. A team of experienced and knowledgeable retaining wall contractors can build one or more retaining walls to prevent the flooding that causes soil erosion. Retaining walls represent the best strategy to support soil, as well as decrease the speed of moving water.

A team of retaining wall contractors also can help waterproof your property.

Provide Structural Support

A deluge of rain is not the only way to displace the soil on your property. Just the passage of time is enough for soil to become displaced and thus, diminish the structural support provided for your home. As we already emphasized, a retaining wall maintains soil in its place during heavy rainstorms. The same principle applies to dry soil, which increases the structural support of your home to maintain a safe living environment for family members.

Factors to Consider for a Retaining Wall

When you hire a team of retaining contractors, you should consider several factors to ensure the flawless completion of your home improvement project. First, you must decide on the material used to build the retaining wall. Second, you have to choose the right design that blends in perfectly with the appearance of your home. And third, you should determine where you want to build a retaining wall to maximize its functionality.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

Should I Call Home Remodeling Contractors If Window Frame Leaks?

Should I Call Home Remodeling Contractors If Window Frame Leaks - Mares & Dow

The water appeared out of nowhere. Small puddles began to form on the windowsill, and then you noticed moisture accumulating on the floor under one of the windows. It seems the water has leaked from a faulty window frame, which begs the question, “Should I call home remodeling contractors if a window frame leaks?” The short answer is yes, you should call a team of home remodeling contractors to repair a faulty window frame.

Is the Window Under Warranty?

Windows typically include a warranty that covers repairs for a faulty product that lasts between three and 15 years. If your faulty window remains covered under a warranty, call the home remodeling contractors that installed the window to repair it. Sometimes, the manufacturer of a window issues a warranty, and if that is the case for your faulty window, call the manufacturer to assign a window installation specialist who holds the right certification for repairing your brand of window.

If the faulty window no longer is covered by a warranty, contact a home remodeling contractor that has established a proven record of experience and received a large number of positive customer reviews.

What Are the Signs of a Leaky Window Frame?

Like the other features of a house, windows sustain wear and tear over time. From the addition of a room to extreme weather such as powerful thunderstorms, a window sustains enough damage to compromise the structural integrity of the frame.

The key to fixing a leaky window frame is to detect the signs of damage before it becomes difficult, if not impossible to repair.

Water Accumulation

The most obvious sign of a leaky window frame is the accumulation of water, whether water appears on a windowsill or the floor. However, you have to be careful not to overreact because maybe someone left a window open by accident during a storm. If you come across a closed window where water has started to accumulate, you probably face the home improvement dilemma called a leaky frame.

Foul-Smelling Odor

Not every faulty window frame leads to the accumulation of water. When moisture penetrates a home and stays there for a prolonged period, the materials impacted eventually develop a distinct odor that means the growth of mold and mildew. If you smell a foul odor coming from the area surrounding a window, it usually means the frame has started to leak.

Discoloration

Although you might not see accumulated water around a window, you can still see the damaging effects of a faulty window frame. You might detect discoloration, such as a faded brown or yellow at first. As moisture continues to find its way inside your home, the fading colors can transform into much darker colors. Painting over the discolored areas near a window represents a temporary solution to a problem that requires a team of home remodeling contractors to address.

Visible Wall Damage

The damage caused by a leaky window frame often extends to an adjacent wall, especially if you do not detect the problem. Bubbling paint and/or wallpaper indicates damaged adhesive materials. When the damaged adhesive materials begin to dry, paint and/or wallpaper bubbles. Saturated drywall eventually sags to the point that it collapses. If you notice visible wall damage, you should act with a sense of urgency by calling a team of residential general contractors.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

4 Related Services Available From Leading Siding Contractors

4 Related Services Available From Leading Siding Contractors - Mares & Dow

Does your home need new siding? Hiring a team of licensed and certified siding contractors ensures you receive the highest quality of work, as well as superior customer service. Installing siding can give your home a dramatic facelift that makes it appear like it is brand new. Siding enhances the curb appeal of your home, which is one of the many factors that determine your property value. However, siding also delivers functional benefits, such as improving energy efficiency and preventing damage caused by the accumulation of moisture.

The result of a siding project is mostly dependent on the skillset and professionalism exhibited by the home remodeling contractors that you hire. Improperly installed siding can cause irreversible water damage behind the panels and shingles that collect mold and mildew. Hiring the wrong siding contractor also can cause permanent structural damage and even make the manufacturer’s warranty null and void.

What Types of Related Siding Services Do the Best Siding Contractors Provide?

Another factor to consider when hiring a team of siding contractors is to determine what types of related services the contractor provides. The highest-rated siding contractors offer four key related services.

Installation

The bread and butter of siding contractors consists of completing siding installation projects. Siding contractors work with different siding materials, such as vinyl and aluminum. Other siding contractors work with specific manufacturers and their products like Hardie Board fiber cement. During the planning of a siding installation project, the contractor that you hire should ask questions to determine what type of siding material is the best match for your home.

Choosing the right type of siding for your home is important for several reasons. Some types of siding perform exceptionally well in humid climates, as well as hold up much better than other types of siding materials during severe winter and tropical storms. Although vinyl siding is an affordable option for most property owners, the material tends to display wear and tear after just 10 years. On the other hand, other types of siding materials can last more than 50 years.

Removal/Replacement

The best siding contractors do much more than offer installation service. They also complete siding removal and replacement projects on homes that already have siding installed. After several years, you might start to see dents on your home’s exterior where siding protects against weather and other damaging elements. Not only is dinged-up siding an eyesore, but it also is an indication that your home is compromised structurally.

Siding contractors that remove and replace damaged siding are especially helpful after a storm or another type of natural calamity that requires an emergency response.

Repair

Some unethical siding contractors try to squeeze every last dollar out of customers by performing services they do not need to perform. For example, instead of simply repairing siding damage, an unethical siding contractor tells a customer that the damaged home requires the removal of siding and the installation of new siding. Siding repair service should be one of the four related services offered by any siding contractor that makes your shortlist of candidates.

Power Washing & Painting

After a siding contractor removes siding for replacement or installs siding on a home for the first time, the contractor must power wash and paint the surfaces located under the siding. Power washing and painting surfaces ensure your home continues to present visual appeal, as well as protect your home from the damage caused by prolonged exposure to moisture.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

Top Skylight Contractors Do A Lot More Than Just Installing Skylights

Top Skylight Contractors Do A Lot More Than Just Skylights - Mares Dow

The benefits delivered by installing skylights have convinced you to add to the list of home improvement projects. Skylights enhance the ambiance of a room, which in turn brightens the mood of everyone in it. For employers, installing skylights is directly linked with improving worker productivity. Skylights also lower energy bills by allowing more sunlight to reach the interior of a building. When you are ready to install skylights, you have many factors to consider before starting the project. The most important factor involves selecting the best team of skylight contractors.

The top skylight contractors do much more than install skylights.

Share Knowledge

Experienced skylight contractors have spent their entire careers learning about every feature offered by different skylight models. Whether you have installed skylights before or if this is the first time adding the amenity to your home or office, a licensed skylight contractor gives you insight into the ideal skylights to install.

Skylight knowledge also includes sharing tips on how to maximize the energy-sharing benefits, as well as where to install the skylights to increase the amount of natural illumination in a room. They also suggest specific types of skylights, such as venting skylights that improve air circulation. Contractors share knowledge of building codes and residential neighborhood zoning laws.

Responsive Communication

Most home improvement projects require the preparation of a detailed schedule, including a project that involves installing skylights. However, events such as material shortages, prolonged bad weather, and supply chain disruptions, derail the most carefully thought-out work schedules. As the client, you should expect work schedule changes, but you should never tolerate a team of home remodeling contractors that do not inform you of any scheduling changes

This means in addition to installing your new skylights, the contractor responsible for the skylight project must promptly inform you of schedule changes. You also should receive prompt responses to questions left on voicemail, as well as via email and text messages.

Point Out Roofing Issues

Skylight contractors get an up-close at the condition of the roof during an installation project. If they detect any roofing issues that compromise the structure and/or appearance of the roof, they should explain the issues to you. Even better, experienced skylight contractors typically have developed a network of other types of special contractors to contact for working on a home improvement project. This means that top skylight contractors doing a lot more than skylights should have the name and contact information of a roofing contractor to address any structural and/or appearance issues.

Closely Follows the Budget

You should have created a budget for the skylight installation project, which the contractor overseeing the project should approve after making a few adjustments. For example, maybe you decided to follow the contractor’s recommendation to add one or more skylights to the project list. Once both parties agree to a budget, the team of skylight contractors should closely follow the budget and if a cost overrun seems likely, immediately notify the client to allow the client to adjust the project budget.

The Bottom Line

You have several factors to consider for a skylight installation project. Although choosing the best contractor that has extensive experience installing skylights is important, you also want to hire one of the top contractors that does a lot more than just installing skylights.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

Top Reasons that Installing Commercial Skylights is a Company Investment

Top Reasons that Installing Commercial Skylights is a Company Investment - Mares & Dow

The management teams at most businesses have historically viewed commercial skylights as a luxury. In other words, they viewed commercial skylights as an amenity that if any money remained in the budget at the end of a fiscal year, some of the remaining money might go to installing skylights. Management teams now view commercial skylights much differently, as they represent the present, not the future of modern commercial buildings for companies that want to remain highly competitive. Installing commercial skylights is now considered a company investment.

Let’s review the reasons why.

Investment in Employee Well-Being

Several studies have demonstrated that prolonged exposure to artificial light sources can be detrimental to a worker’s physical health. A study conducted by Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands revealed too much exposure to artificial light decreases muscle mass, weakens the immune system, and accelerates the aging process. Too much exposure to artificial light also disrupts sleep patterns, as well as increases the risks associated with health issues such as obesity and diabetes.

Another study that involved more than 1,600 employees concluded an abundant source of natural light can enhance the health of both customers and employees.

Investment in the Environment

You do not need to review a study that shows artificial lights consume a considerable amount of energy. Just look at the energy bills your company receives each month. The Energy Information Administration released a report stating residential and commercial structures consume more than six percent of all the electricity generated in the United States. Installing commercial skylights should dramatically reduce the consumption of energy by artificial light sources.

Increasing sunlight while reducing artificial lighting lowers your company’s carbon footprint, which is a substantial investment in the environment.

Investment in Worker Productivity

Sufficient lighting of any kind in an office space typically leads to higher productivity levels. Illumination triggers the pleasure sensory neurotransmitters that run throughout the brain. However, installing commercial sunlights does a much better job of motivating employees due to the sensory stimulation of getting to see, hear, and smell nature that is just outside the building. Fully enclosed office spaces produce a much more subdued, even depressing ambiance that stifles worker productivity.

Venting skylights do a great job of bringing your team members closer to nature.

Investment in Saving Money

The timeless business axion of “You have to spend money to make money” applies to installing commercial skylights. Although the initial investment is higher for installing commercial sunlights than it is for adding artificial light sources, the long-term result of installing commercial skylights is that your company saves considerably more money. This is because you do not have to maintain the infrastructure created for artificial light sources and the reduced consumption of energy means your business pays less in utility bills.

Installing Velux commercial skylights is an effective investment in saving money.

Investment in Aesthetics

Here is another timeless business axiom: “You never get a second chance to make a positive first impression.” What is the first impression that clients or customers have when they step into your building? If the first impression is the attractive presentation of skylights in the lobby, then the first impression received is that your company is committed to offering high-quality products and services.

Investing in commercial skylights also is an investment in creating aesthetic appeal.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

8 Indications That You Need the Services of Retaining Wall Contractors

8 Indications That You Need the Services of Retaining Wall Contractors - retaining wall contractors - Mares & Dow

Homeowners assume the responsibility for maintaining their properties, from keeping the lawn healthy to ensuring the strength and stability of a fence line. One of the lesser-known types of property maintenance for homeowners concerns retaining walls. A well-constructed retaining wall can prevent flooding and soil erosion. Retaining walls also enhance the visual appeal of a property, which in turn can increase the value of your home.

Let’s review the indications that you need the services of retaining wall contractors.

Maximize Land Use

If you have a sloped area on your property, you probably do not use the sloped area for anything. By installing a retaining wall surrounding a sloped area, you can create a garden or use the extra land to build a patio or another type of outdoor living space such as an outdoor dining area.

High Erosion Risk

If your property includes a large area that runs downhill, you need to find a solution to control soil erosion. One of the most popular reasons why homeowners need the services of retaining wall contractors concerns preventing soil from becoming displaced. A retaining wall prevents soil from becoming overly saturated, which helps keep it intact throughout the worst weather.

Controlling Rainwater

Homeowners should devise a plan to control rainwater to prevent it from entering areas of the home such as the basement and family room. Using the services of retaining wall contractors can divert rainwater from your home to other areas of your property. A retaining wall that diverts rainwater directly to a drainage system represents the ideal solution for controlling rainwater.

This is an especially important benefit if you live in a flood-prone area.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Like other types of home amenities, retaining walls have a limited lifespan. Prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions eventually causes irrevocable damage to a retaining wall. A team of retaining wall contractors inspects your retaining wall to check for issues such as water leaks, disconnected bricks, and a large slippage of a wall.

Increase the Value of Your Property

Adding a retaining wall delivers as much visual appeal as it delivers functional appeal. Hiring a team of retaining wall contractors allows you to choose among different designs such as concrete, timber, and natural stone walls. Enhancing the visual appeal of your property should increase the value of your home. The functional benefits of a retaining wall also contribute to an increase in home value.

Protect Your Home’s Foundation

Soil erosion might be the least of your worries. If the foundation of your home is constantly exposed to water runoff, it might develop cracks that eventually compromise the entire structure. Gaps in the soil caused by erosion are another cause of weakening a home’s foundation. Hiring a team of foundation construction professionals ensures you maintain a highly stable foundation.

Divide Uneven Land

If your property includes several different tiers, installing multiple retaining walls allows you to create more usable spaces. Dividing uneven land into separate sections can help you build a tennis or basketball court on one terrace, while using a second terrace to create a garden to grow fruits and vegetables.

Neighbors Complain

Soil erosion and rainwater runoff do not have to impact your property directly. Both types of property issues can negatively impact the properties of your neighbors. If you hear your neighbors starting to complain about soil erosion and rainwater runoff, the time might have arrived for the services of retaining wall contractors.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

4 Popular Tips From Home Remodeling Contractors About Room Additions

4 Popular Tips From Home Remodeling Contractors About Room Additions - home remodeling contractors - Mares & Dow

Whether your family is about to grow or you simply need more space to entertain and store things, adding one or more rooms represents a great way to meet your goals, without you and your family having to move. You also benefit from an increase in the value of your property. However, adding one or more rooms represents one of the most complex home improvement projects.

With that in mind, let’s review four popular tips from home remodeling contractors about room additions.

Start Deep Into the Ground

Every home addition requires the stability of a strong foundation to support the new addition, which means you must match the floor and roof lines to establish foundational stability. The foundation should go deep enough to penetrate the frost depth established in your area. What should you do with the displaced soil?

The answer is to spread it over your property and build one or more retaining walls to hold the additional soil in place. A team of properly credentialed retaining wall contractors can help you build one or more retaining walls.

Match the Exterior and Interior Finishes

The new room addition should match the exterior and interior designs of your home. If your room requires an extension of the roof, make sure the room matches the roofline in terms of pitch, eave depth, and rafter size. Then, ensure the new room exterior matches the design of the siding and other types of exterior finishes. Finally, the design of doors, walls, and windows should match the interior of every other room in your house.

Establish the Budget

The cost of most improvement projects can be high, especially when it comes to adding a room. You can expect the cost of a room addition to be at least 10 percent of your home’s value. After you create a preliminary budget that you share with the general contractor, you must determine how you plan to fund the home remodeling project. Do you want to take out a second home mortgage? Do you have enough money saved to at least finance a part of the project? Do you need to apply for a loan to fund a substantial portion of the new room addition?

You can save money by completing a few do-it-yourself projects, but make sure not to risk compromising the structural integrity of your house.

Hire the Right Contractor

The key to hiring the right contractor for your new room addition is to ensure the contractor has built a positive reputation. Ask for professional references from past clients, as well as read the review left by former clients on sites like Yelp and Google. You should finalize the budget with the right general contractor, but leave a little wriggle room to account for unexpected costs such as those associated with project delays. Set up a way to communicate deadlines and schedules, and make sure you put the work schedules in writing to hold the general contractor accountable for completing the home remodeling project on time.

The right general contractor explains the permits and licenses you need to acquire for each phase of the project. You also should understand how to make your project comply with local building codes, as well as any restrictions placed on your property by the homeowner’s association.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

Are Commercial Skylights Covered By Property Insurance After a Big Storm?

Are Commercial Skylights Covered By Property Insurance After a Big Storm - commercial skylights - Mares & Dow

Wild weather has defined the start of 2023, from record snow levels in the California mountains to tornadic storms in the deep south to a nor’easter plaguing New England. Commercial property insurance can protect your assets against the damage caused by the wrath of Mother Nature. However, one question deserves an answer for commercial property owners.

Are commercial skylights covered by property insurance after a big storm? The answer in most cases is it depends on the type of coverage you have purchased for your business.

Business property insurance policies should always include a clause that describes in detail how a business can recover the financial losses generated by roof damage. Commercial skylights represent the showcase component of a roof and in most cases, business property insurance covers the cost of replacing damaged commercial skylights or repairing the leaks that have developed around one or more structurally compromised commercial skylights.

You installed commercial skylights to reap the many benefits associated with the property enhancements. Commercial skylights such as Velux Sun Tunnel Skylights invite much more natural sunlight into a room, which brightens the mood of the employees working in the room. Improved mood often translates into higher productivity rates. Commercial skylights also enhance the visual appeal of a business, which typically increases the value of the property. Finally, installing commercial skylights reduces energy bills by trapping heat in winter and preventing heat from entering a building during the warmer months of the year.

How Does Your Business Property Insurance Address Roof Leaks

Because of the potential for storms to cause roof leaks, your business property insurance policy should include a clause that specifically addresses the damage inflicted on commercial skylights. The key to determining whether your policy pays for roof repairs involves determining the cause of the damage. The most common types of extreme weather that damage roofs include hail, strong winds, and the development of ice jams. Every business insurance policy contains a section declaring the hazards that the policy covers.

Although your business property insurance policy should cover the most common types of extreme weather that impact your area of the country, you also should consider covering the more infrequent weather events. For example, many businesses in Texas did not insure their properties against ice and snow damage, which became a major financial distress issue after the polar vortex unleashed its destruction in February 2021.

What Are the Signs of Weather-Related Commercial Skylight Damage?

Identifying the signs of weather-related commercial skylight damage is an important item on your list of maintenance tasks.

Cracks

The strong impacts inflicted by hail and flying debris can cause cracks to form on commercial skylights, as well as the sealing agents used to secure the skylights on a roof. One of the first signs of a structurally compromised commercial skylight is the development of visible cracks.

Wind Drafts

Perhaps you cannot see the cracks that develop as the result of a big storm. However, you might be able to feel wind drafts, especially if the temperature of the drafts is in stark contrast to the temperature in the space where the commercial skylights provide natural sunlight.

Condensation

Skylight condensation forms when warm, humid air rises to the ceiling to interact with colder air filtering in from outdoors. The result can be signs of discoloration or even the discovery of one or more areas where a commercial skylight leaks.

The Bottom Line: Know What Your Policy Covers

Before the start of the severe weather season that defines your area, review your business property insurance policy to determine whether skylights receive coverage in the event of a severe weather outbreak. For example, if you operate a business in Buffalo, New York, ensure your business property insurance policy covers the roof damage inflicted by blizzards.

Mares & Dow

Contact your local skylight contractors at Mares & Dow Construction and Skylights today to transform your home. We have over 37 years of installation and consulting experience.

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Velux 5 – Star Skylights Specialist

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East Bay
5016 Forni Drive, Suite F
Concord, CA 94520
925-671-9500

San Francisco
1155 Ellis St. Suite #4
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-447-6136

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