Any inventory exposed to the elements faces risk of damage.

Because weather risks can be difficult to predict and can affect your inventory at any point in your supply chain, it’s important to understand the dangers that exist and properly manage summer weather risks for your business.

3 Warm Weather Inventory Risks for Dealers

1. Excessive Heat

Excessive heat can cause troubling structural and aesthetic damage to inventory.

Long periods of extreme heat can cause paint to bubble, chip, flake and fade.

Heat damage can cause wood structures to crack and warp, as the moisture in the air gets sucked up and the wood tries to expand.

Roofing can also be impacted by hot sun and elevated temperatures. Roofs often expand and warp in extreme heat, leading to future leaks. Caulking around flashings can also dry out, weakening the roof’s structure.

Protect your inventory from excessive heat risks by:

  • Sealing windows and doors well to keep hot air from infiltrating.
  • Applying the window film to reflect heat.
  • Coating and sealing roofs to protect against UV rays.
  • Selecting UV-resistant paint.

2. Hail, Hurricanes and Flooding

Warm weather inventory risks extend beyond heat-related damage. Warm weather can also cause thunderstorms, hurricanes, flooding and more.

Storm season is long in many parts of the country and businesses face risks from several different kinds of storms.

For example, almost every state in the country can experience hail which causes millions of dollars in damage to property each year. Flash flooding can also be costly and difficult to predict.

Protect your inventory from warm weather risks by:

  • Considering investment in hail or solar panel canopies.
  • Setting sale dates before hail season or rotating inventory with risks in mind.
  • Purchasing and prepping plywood coverings and sandbags ahead of hurricanes making landfall.
  • Ensuring there is a positive grading to direct water away from structures and inventory.
  • Using natural landscaping and native plantings to improve drainage and prevent soil erosion.
  • Sealing cracks and openings and apply waterproof coatings to prevent water intrusion.

3. Wildfires

A single inventory fire can have an outsized impact on a business. Fires are unique in that if inventory is not completely lost to fire, it may still be ruined by heat, smoke or water contamination, leading to greater or complete losses.

Protect your inventory from wildfire risks by:

  • Creating a defensible space surrounding the perimeter of your inventory lot to prevent fire and embers from spreading to your property and inventory.
  • Keeping brush and landscaping maintained and removing all dead material regularly.
  • Replacing bare or weedy patches near your inventory with ground cover, rock or fire-resistant mulches.

Protecting Your Inventory from Summer Weather Risks

When you work with an insurance representative from Lockton Affinity, you will receive a true partner to help you protect your business. Together, you can work to determine your inventory’s specific risks, plan for the warm weather scenarios your inventory faces and ensure your business is fully protected.

For more information about preparing for warm weather and protecting your inventory, contact Lockton Affinity today.