Have you been watching that crack in your concrete grow? What about your mortar joints, are they starting to pop out? Or the steel above your windows, is it rusting? It’s not that bad right?… not yet! Not only is the facade of your building your first impression, but it is also your first defense against the weather. Though your structure may be made up of masonry, concrete, or steel, it is far from indestructible. Without good upkeep and proper maintenance, the facade of your building can suffer from everyday wear-and-tear… and if you let defects go too long, the structural integrity can suffer as well. Think of a trip to the dentist’s office for a cleaning and check up.
Preventive or routine maintenance on your structures can save you time and money in the long run. Exterior assessments should be done on a regular basis, just like going to the doctor for a check-up or to the mechanic for an oil change. While it’s preventative in nature, keeping an eye on minor issues can prevent impending larger issues. When you have a minor failure in the weatherproofing envelope of a structure, it can start a domino effect. Nature is relentless.
Walk around your structure
The first thing you can do is walk around and inspect the structure yourself. Though you may not be trained in identifying technical issues, the naked eye can usually spot symptoms. Here are a few things to keep in mind while building a routine maintenance checklist.
- Check your windows: This is often a weak area on structures. During a quick check of the sealants or “caulking” around your windows might notice cracking within the sealant. You should also look at the lintels (the steel pieces above the window), are they rusting? This may be an indication of an underlying issue.
- Check around the corners of your building: These areas are subject to stress and can often be damaged from impact or by structural movement. Do you see any cracked, fractured, or broken bricks?
- Pay attention to leaks: Where are they coming from? Often people assume a leak is coming from their roof or window… actually it’s coming from the building envelope.
- Look for stress cracks and fractures: Most structures are not intended to crack and fracture. If these are evident, this is the structure’s way of telling you there is something more going on.
- Get on the roof: Be sure you are doing regular inspections in the late fall and early spring. Look for open joints where different materials intersect. Try to think of ways water could get in. Are you protected?
- Keep it clean. Do you have ivy growing on your structure? Is there staining near your downspouts? What about fungicidal growth? These items often lead to spores which can grow into your brick or concrete materials. Staining near your gutters may indicate an overflow caused by a plugged drain.
Who can you call if you don’t have a facilities manager or expert on staff?
Working with an outside consultant is a great way to make sure your building is staying in sound condition. When contacting a consultant they will often offer complimentary preliminary surveys and help you outline a plan of action. Trisco Systems’ representatives typically perform annual or semi-annual inspections and offer solutions to any concerns or issues which are found. While you may incur some costs making repairs each year, it is much more cost effective than “kicking the can down the road.” A small maintenance item today might turn into a major restoration project tomorrow.
Phase your projects and identify your priorities.
Your repair consultants can help you determine your priority areas and help develop a phased approach to chipping away at your project. Large restoration projects can be difficult to finance, and often require long term fundraising. Many boards, committees, and associations are reluctant to approve such large expenditures. It can be in your interest to request assistance in developing a small annual maintenance budget.
Is your building’s exterior in the need of a little love and attention? Are you looking for some guidance to get started with a preventative maintenance plan? Let Trisco Systems, Inc. help you by providing solutions to help ‘Protect your Assets and Preserve your Image,” click to contact us or call us at 419-339-3906.
