Winter Condominium Inspection: Key Points

It is important to adopt regular maintenance and inspection procedures to properly preserve your building and guard against the various deficiencies that can arise as the seasons change.  

In this post, you will find the ones best suited to the current season: winter.  

Snow accumulation and ice buildup

1. Make sure the base of the exterior walls is sufficiently cleared and that there is no significant accumulation of snow or ice, on balconies and rooftop terraces among other places. During a thaw, meltwater trapped behind an ice or snow dam could overflow and cause leaks.
2. Make sure there is no ice buildup along the roof edge and no icicles forming at the eaves. As a temporary measure, heating cables can be installed to prevent this buildup. However, icicle formation is usually the sign of a problem, and it would be worth checking certain conditions in the attic, such as air leaks, insulation or ventilation.

Roof

1. Make sure roof vents are clear to allow proper attic ventilation.
2. Avoid overloading due to snow accumulation. In some cases, it will be useful to remove excess snow from your roofs. Specialized contractors offer this service.

Attic

1. It is recommended to inspect the attic at least once a year. Doing this inspection in winter is advantageous, since condensation problems and the presence of frost are easier to spot during this period.  

Exterior walkways

1. Make sure all exterior walkways (stairs, sidewalks, etc.) are kept free of ice and snow at all times to ensure users' safety. Be careful not to use abrasives that can damage concrete.

Annual checks

1. Several items require annual checks, including the fire protection system and the backflow prevention device that protects the municipal drinking water network (for buildings with more than 8 units or more than 2 storeys). You can take advantage of the winter season to carry out these checks, since companies are often less busy at this time of year. Also, have the condition of the sump pump examined before the spring snowmelt.

If you do not have a checklist or maintenance guide, keep in mind that inspections, such as those carried out for contingency fund studies, can be very useful to you. Our firm provides its clients with a 200+ page "Maintenance Manual" containing a wealth of information on the preventive maintenance of your building. Contact us for a free quote.  

Happy inspecting!