Building maintenance tasks property owners should not ignore

Postponing building maintenance costs more than doing the work on schedule, a pattern the federal government's own repair backlog demonstrates at scale. Roofs, hidden leaks, sealant and drainage failures, and life safety equipment are the areas where deferral turns cheap routine work into expensive emergency work.

Avoiding building maintenance results in higher repair bills. Federal civilian agencies carried around $51 billion in deferred repairs and maintenance in 2017, and four years later the figure was $76 billion, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office in its report on federal deferred maintenance and repair. Private owners face the same escalation on a smaller scale.

We've created a shortlist of building maintenance tasks to complete before they become much more expensive.

Roofs and Leaks

Roofs are often out of sight, out of mind, but they're crucial to the structural integrity of any building. Check the roof at least twice a year for damage and wear, and again after every significant storm. Water still standing days after a storm means the drains are restricted, and every inch of it adds more than five pounds per square foot of load.

Pipes don't just get blocked. Sometimes they leak, often in an inaccessible area on the roof, and many gallons pass through before anyone notices.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its Fix a Leak Week guidance, household leaks waste around 1 trillion gallons of water a year in the US, and nine percent of homes lose 50 gallons or more per day. Read the water meter across two hours when nothing's running. Any movement means water is going somewhere, usually into a wall cavity where it creates hidden rot for years before a stain reaches the paint.

Sealant Failure and Site Drainage

Once the sealant bead pulls away from the window perimeter, the wall behind it is opened to the elements.

Cracked mortar creates a similar problem. Water enters at the defect and travels down the back of the cladding before emerging somewhere no one would think to look. Freeze-thaw cycling widens these openings, which is why exterior repair and other forms of building maintenance should not wait.

Life Safety Testing on a Fixed Schedule

Deferring safety inspections creates legal problems as well as maintenance ones. Equipment like the following needs to be in good working order at all times:

• Alarm panels
• Sprinklers
• Extinguishers
• Emergency lighting
• Exit signage

All of it needs testing at a set interval. Inspectors who find deferred maintenance on key safety items may issue fines, so safety repairs belong ahead of cosmetic work.

You should set intervals for inspection and maintenance based on what equipment manufacturers and local codes require.

Local Codes and State Conditions

Requirements differ by state, so check with providers of construction and maintenance services in OK, since local rules vary. Risk profiles differ too, and those operating out of OK should take local conditions into account.

Owners of several sites often keep maintenance services on an annual retainer so inspections happen automatically.

Responsible Building Maintenance

A clear building maintenance schedule is a crucial part of a well-functioning and safe building. Deferring these simple and inexpensive maintenance tasks and inspections runs the risk of much more expensive emergency repairs or serious safety incidents.

If you're interested in similar topics, see our article archives for more. 

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