After a long winter that saw some extreme weather, spring is the perfect time to do a thorough check of your facilities to ensure that they aren’t deteriorating or damaged. For facilities, roofs, foundations, masonry walls and chimneys are particularly vulnerable to precipitation and temperature swings, and should rank among facilities professionals’ top priorities for inspections and preventive maintenance.
As you begin to map out your spring maintenance schedule, take a look at our spring maintenance tips for spotting problems early before they become critical emergencies.
Roof Inspections
First Spring maintenance tip is roofs inspection, Roofs often take the full brunt of winter weather, having to withstand heavy precipitation, strong winds, and extreme temperatures. Fortunately, a simple visual inspection can identify many potential problems. Dark areas and other discolorations are often caused by algae or dirt, but they can also signal more serious conditions like mold growth or structural damage. These issues can quickly grow critical, endangering employee safety and potentially causing costly damage to other equipment, so it’s best to schedule a thorough inspection by a roofing professional when these signs are present.
Avoiding serious problems is easy if superficial damage to shingles, tiles, etc., is repaired promptly. These seemingly minor issues leave the roof vulnerable to moisture and debris penetration, which can cause some of the more serious problems mentioned above. A strong preventive maintenance program of a strong facility management software, implemented with the aid of a robust maintenance management software, can dramatically reduce the cost and danger associated with poor roof conditions by incorporating regular inspections and weather proofing.
For gutters, there are solutions available to keep them clear of debris that can accumulate and cause damage.
Walls, Foundations, and Masonry Checks
Other Spring maintenance tip is checking walls, foundations & masonry potholes, efflorescence, and mineral deposits are among the most common signs of deterioration in facility walls, foundations, chimneys, etc. It is crucial to catch these problems early and have them addressed by maintenance staff. Problems like these often require specialized equipment and/or materials to properly resolve, and can disrupt normal facility function. It is therefore important to have a clear schedule and an organized maintenance workforce in place to minimize these disruptions and prevent them from consuming more resources than necessary.
Check back for part two, where we’ll provide tips on window and pipe maintenance.
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