Is building maintenance that important?

 How great would it be if once you’d finished a structure, you never had to touch it again? No repairs. No fixes. No maintenance. Just once it’s done, it’s done.

Unfortunately, we don’t live in that universe. The law of entropy sees to that. Whatever you build eventually breaks down, even if the rate is slow.

But how much does that matter?

Can you get by just fixing things when they break? Or should you actually try to get ahead of them? Is it more fiscally responsible to hold off on repairs, or take care of them when you see issues?

The hidden cost of shoddy maintenance

Here’s the thing about maintenance: like many other professions, the only time maintenance is in the spotlight is when things are on fire. Most people don’t bother to invest the time and money into maintenance they need to because why should they? Out of sight, out of mind.

And then they have to pay for an entire wall of their building to be rebuilt because the bricks are starting to fall out.

Major structural issues don’t usually begin as major problems. In fact, most of the time they’re minor issues that never got fixed. Rust stains on your concrete? Get ready, you’re about to see some concrete tear itself apart because there’s water in your rebar. Loose mortar? Better hope that wall’s not structural, because you’ve got some work that you’re going to need to get done sooner rather than later. Maintenance keeps structural issues from getting out of hand by addressing them while they’re still small.

That maintenance crew is also a lot less obtrusive than a full restoration operation, too. If you’re trying to keep a business running, you want to make it as easy as possible for your customers to both find you and get to your door. If half your facade is being rebuilt, you’re going to take a dollar hit.

Appearance matters

We’ve talked about the issues that can be solved by having maintenance done early, but there’s one more benefit that you might not necessarily think about: curb appeal. A well-maintained building stands out over the long term, and if you’re keeping your building in good condition, it says a lot to your customers about the sort of maintenance you’ll put into your relationship with them.

Maintenance matters. Don’t skimp on it. If you don’t have a full maintenance staff, or you need some support in an area they don’t cover, talk to JK Industries. From painting to masonry repair, we’re able to help with any building maintenance needs you have.