Prepare Your Building's Exterior for Storm Season

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

Creating an exterior maintenance plan will not only keep your building maintained during storm season.

It is important to keep your building’s exterior well maintained all year long. A small spot of rust or a tiny crack may appear to be no big deal, but if it isn’t repaired quickly it can turn into a huge problem. During storm season, the risks of damage become that much greater. Setting up a routine exterior maintenance inspection for your building in Joliet, IL is a wise idea.

Develop an Exterior Building Checklist
Designing a checklist for your building inspection will reduce the risk of overlooking an important area. Checklists can vary, depending on the type of building you own, but typical exterior maintenance will include the following items.

Roof inspection - Check for such things as:
Debris clogging the drainage system or evidence of pooling water
Structural damage, including cracks or punctures
Buckled or missing shingles
Discolored or stained surfaces

Exterior walls - Look for cracks, staining, rust, peeling and any structural damage.
Exterior windows - Inspect for broken panes, cracks and leaks.
Gutters - Make sure they are free of debris and have no visible cracks.
Outside lighting - Check to ensure all lights are working and in good repair.
Paved surfaces - Look for raised areas and cracks. Also, remove any trash or debris from the yard.

Create an Automatic Maintenance Work Order
After you have completed the checklist, have your maintenance staff review it to make sure it’s comprehensive. If you have an automated work order system, create an ongoing work order reminder for designated intervals. Depending on the structure of your building and the climate you live in, the inspections could be conducted monthly, semiannually or annually.

Designate the person responsible for conducting the inspections. You can rotate the responsibility to different employees and include the assignments on the checklist.

Creating an exterior maintenance plan will not only keep your building maintained during storm season, but it will also reduce the risk of costly repairs all year long.