Building Maintenance: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

During our inspections, we often see mistakes made by owners who are unaware of their consequences. To guide you and help you understand why they matter, we explore a few of them today.

Blocking weep holes

A weep hole is a small opening located at the base of walls and above openings (doors and windows) that allows the cavity behind a masonry veneer to ventilate and dry out. They are also sometimes found at horizontal junctions: balconies, secondary roofs, etc.

It is common to see steel wool or spray polyurethane foam (urethane) stuffed into weep holes. People block them for fear that they will let water in, or to prevent some kind of pest infestation. Although this usually stems from good intentions, deliberately blocking weep holes can be very damaging to the building. Missing or undersized weep holes can cause several problems, including water infiltration and structural damage.  

Misusing the sprinkler system

We frequently find various objects hanging from sprinkler system piping. This habit can damage the piping, which is not designed or installed to support extra weight, and above all, it can break the sprinkler head.

Make no mistake! Sprinkler activation is nothing like what you see on TV; the water is often foul-smelling and dark in colour. Such a large volume of water causes extensive damage to the building. Above all, it will be hard to justify to your insurers.

Poor maintenance of wood components

Wood requires diligent, ongoing maintenance to stand the test of time. If it is not properly treated, it will eventually rot.

On balconies, this can pose a danger to users, while on cornices and other decorative elements, replacement costs can be very high.

Poor maintenance of steel elements

Steel is a very durable material; however, like wood, it requires frequent maintenance to avoid major, very costly work. The main maintenance challenge lies in preparing the surfaces before applying a new coat of paint.  This step alone can make you regret not having been more proactive. And once corrosion goes all the way through, it is often too late.

On a building, steel is normally found on stairs and guardrails. Where there is masonry cladding, it is also present above openings (windows, doors, etc.); these are the lintels that carry the loads. They are sometimes made of painted steel and must also be maintained.

Failing to act on leaks or water infiltration

When infiltration, water damage or condensation problems occur, the priority is to find and fix the cause of the damage. However, the consequences deserve just as much attention as the source. The visible traces often seem minor or harmless. Yet, just like an iceberg, you only see the tip of a problem that is spreading behind the surface.

It is essential to replace affected materials to rule out the possibility of mould growth. This will also allow you to keep proper track of that water damage.

These mistakes are just a few examples, but we see many more when inspecting your buildings. Our firm performs general inspections and contingency fund studies. We also provide our clients with a "maintenance manual" of more than 200 pages containing a wealth of information to ensure the long-term durability of your building. Contact us for a free quote.  

Contact us for information about our services or to book an appointment.

NIVOEX

T: 450-695-1265

Toll-free: 1-855-595-1265

info@nivoex.com

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