Facility Maintenance Inspections

A well maintained building is more efficient and less expensive to operate.

More importantly, preventative maintenance can save building owners from the exorbitant cost and inconvenience associated with unanticipated failures in systems and components. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This adage undoubtedly applies to building maintenance.

There are many disadvantages to repairing items only after breakdown has occurred, as opposed to heading off issues in advance with preventative maintenance. Some of the unintended consequences are:

  • Relatively minor maintenance issues, such as a clogged roof drain or a small roof leak, may go unnoticed for a long time while doing major damage to structural members and expensive equipment
  • Costly replacement becomes necessary where routine servicing could have extended the useful life of the component
  • Conversely, frequent servicing may be performed out of routine where it may be more cost effective to replace
  • Owners face economic hardship when major expenditures are unplanned and unbudgeted
  • Business operations are disrupted by unexpected shut downs or failures
  • Tenants are disgruntled because work must be done with little notice, during inconvenient times
  • Cost of repairs can be greater because there is no time for competitive bidding
  • Work may be performed by less qualified contractors since hiring is based on immediate availability over more important criteria
  • Parts may not be available locally and/or on short notice, and expedited delivery from non-regional suppliers can be complicated and costly

Buildings rarely remain in the condition they were in when first built or purchased as time, weather, and use all take their toll. A proactive approach to maintenance makes good financial sense. Our maintenance inspections can help by providing decision makers the information necessary to plan and budget, including:

  • The current condition of the building and its major components
  • Remaining useful life of major components, such as roofing and HVAC equipment
  • Detailed list of deficiencies, including those that require immediate attention for health and safety reasons
  • Recommendations for upgrade, repairs or replacement--required immediately, in 1-5 years and 5-10 years
  • Assistance with establishing maintenance schedule, as needed
  • Gathering pertinent data required to begin implementation of computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), as needed
  • Gathering real-time data to update information in currently used CMMS, as needed
  • ADA compliance survey, as needed
  • Consultation on specific areas of concern

In addition to addressing specific concerns about the building, our facility maintenance inspections include the evaluation of the following components:

  • Structure – concrete, steel and wood components
  • Roof system -- surface material, condition, age and remaining useful life
  • Building envelope – roof and sidewalls including windows and doors
  • Interior finishes – floors, walls and ceilings
  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
  • Electrical system and components
  • Plumbing system and fixtures
  • Fire suppression and life safety systems
  • Landscaping
  • Hardscape - walks, roadways, drives, parking areas
  • Storm water drainage

 The benefits of hiring an independent third-party inspection company are many, including:

  • Hiring an inspection company to perform periodic maintenance inspections can be more cost effective than retaining a dedicated facility engineer
  • We are completely unbiased in our evaluations. Because we are not contractors and do not perform any of the work ourselves, we do not benefit from recommending expensive replacements or unnecessarily frequent servicing of equipment. Clients can be rest assured that we have their best interest in mind.

If you are an owner or property manager, you may also be interested in learning about our Lease Inspection for the Lessor and ADA compliance surveys.