Our Colorado winters can really take a toll on your commercial property. Snow, wind and ice can wreak havoc on your roof, exterior and hard surfaces, while dirt and salt trekked inside can leave your interior spaces dirty and dull.
Luckily, spring is just around the corner. With it comes the opportunity to check for any issues caused by our winter weather, as well as prepare for the warmer months ahead.
Take the time to develop a spring-cleaning schedule for your commercial property, and you’ll stay on top of the preventative maintenance and cleaning that will save you time, money and headaches down the road. Documenting this maintenance each year will allow you to be more thorough and efficient each year and will also provide you the detailed and accurate records to back up any insurance claims that need to be filed.
When putting together a spring cleaning schedule for your property, here are a few areas to consider:
Landscape
Spring is the time to spruce up your building exterior and get ready for the planting season ahead. Clean up any broken tree branches, loose pavers, concrete and asphalt repairs and any damage from snow removal equipment. Check irrigation systems after the last freeze, including sprinkler heads, valves, controllers (timers & batteries) to check for leaks or blockages, and to ensure proper function overall. Prune trees and shrubs, keeping them away from buildings, sidewalks, paths and streets. Replace mulch and plan for annual beds and planting.
Windows and Outdoor Surface Areas
Window cleaning and exterior pressure washing can instantly transform your building exterior by scrubbing away dirt, salt and debris that accumulates during the colder months. Pay close attention to your parking lot, concrete sidewalks and steps that might be showing signs of deterioration due to the freeze/thaw cycle in Colorado. Inspect expansion joints for damage from this cycle as well.
Roof and Siding
Our freeze/thaw cycle and high winds can cause damage to your roof and siding. Conduct a thorough roof inspection, being on the lookout for any loose or missing tiles, and punctures or open seams in the roof membrane or flashing. Ensure that all vents and hoods are secured properly and that all HVAC access panels are in place. Inspect your building exterior for any cracks or open seals around windows or other seams.
Gutters and Drainage
Proper drainage is essential to the health of your building and the integrity of your foundation. Clogged gutters and improper drainage can cause water to pool against the building and seep into the foundation causing substantial damage over time. That’s why it is so important to inspect all gutters and French drains, and be on the lookout for areas of standing water or leakage. Use catch basins or gravel-filled drains to redirect water to help prevent water backup, and re-grade as necessary.
Lighting
Proper lighting provides safety for your tenants and security for your asset. Check exterior lighting in the evening to assure that the illumination level and direction are providing the most amount of coverage around the building and parking lots. March is the ideal month to address any photocell or timer programming issues in order to align with the start of daylight-savings time. It’s also a good time to check the interior lighting, replace bulbs, and ensure that all of the hallway and common area lights are in working order. Also, clean the dust and bugs that have accumulated on the lenses — clean, bright lighting greatly enhances the aesthetic of a building.
HVAC and Building Systems
Spring is the time to perform seasonal maintenance on your HVAC system, before the summer heat kicks the system into overdrive. This should include changing air filters, cleaning around condenser units, checking cooling fins for damage, checking refrigerant levels and cleaning drain lines. Do a walk-through of other building systems as well, inspecting sprinklers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure everything is in good working order.
Interior Cleaning
A little TLC will go a long way to brightening up your building interiors. By deep cleaning your floors and upholstered furniture, you’ll get rid of any accumulated dirt, salt, grime and odors trapped indoors. A deep cleaning and dusting of your building will make your interior fresh and ready for spring.
There are many advantages to performing spring maintenance on your commercial property. This not only saves you time and costly repairs, but increases the value of your investment. And, with a building that is bright, clean and in good repair, your tenants will be happy, too.
Remember, while these items may look intimidating, you don’t have to do everything yourself. You can enlist the help of quality vendors or have an experienced property management company oversee the process for you.
Allison Moreno is a Senior Property Manager at Wheelhouse Commercial in Denver, Colorado. For more information about how Wheelhouse Commercial can help manage your properties, please call 303.518.7406 or email info@wheelhousecommercial.com.