If you run a business, building maintenance costs are a fact of life. While it’s impossible to avoid maintenance costs entirely, there are certainly steps you can take to reduce the amount of time and money you’re spending on repairs and replacements.
So, let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take to cut down your spending on maintenance and repairs.
1. Plan for Regular Maintenance and Inspection
Over time, your equipment, fittings and parts of your building will begin to suffer from wear and tear. This includes everything from electrical and plumbing, to your doors and walls.
While you can’t entirely avoid things having issues, you can stay on top of any problem by having regular, scheduled checks of your building. An inspection is an opportunity to take some time to check-in with your work area and take stock of where everything is at.
With most problems, the sooner you catch the issue the less damage it’ll cause and the easier it’ll be fixed. A door that isn’t shutting quite right won’t magically get better if you ignore it, it’ll only get worse. Same goes for a leaking tap or damage to your wall. Without regular inspections, you’ll be surprised by the number of problems that can slip you by.
Keeping track of your building and taking prompt action can save you money, time and frustration. Inspections can be done by someone within your company, or you can hire an outside party to do this for you.
Examples of maintenance tasks that should be performed regularly
- Check the condition of your walls, doors, floors and ceilings. Make note of any damage and try to figure out the cause. Knowing how damage has occurred is the first step to creating a solution.
- Check the taps are working well and keep an eye out for signs of water damage. Water damage is a classic example of a problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
- Make sure doors open and shut properly.
- Check that all railings and handrails are secure and not loose.
- Ensure the hallways are clear of rubbish or any obstructions.
- Check any weatherproofing and security features are working.
- Make sure all health and safety codes are met. If any accidents have happened recently, consider ways to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
- Talk to managers and staff about any issues they’ve been having or any repairs they believe need taken care of.
2. Use Durable Materials in Construction
When it comes to the material you use for your building, you need to consider both short term and long-term costs. While cheaper materials may save you some money in the short term, the number of repairs and unreliability may soon negate that first saving. Durable materials will require less maintenance and can withstand more physical impact and the elements.
Companies that want to protect their assets should consider extra protection for their buildings. Something as simple as installing wall protection supplies extra reliability and strength to your building. Not only will this add durability to your walls, but it’ll also decrease the chance of any unsightly scratches, nicks or dents.
Durable materials that can be used in commercial building construction
- Steel
- Wood
- Concrete
- Brick
- Stone
- For any type of wall protection, corner guards, handrails or crash rails use strong durable material like PVC or stainless steel.
3. Hire Professional Contractors
When it comes to maintenance work, hiring a contractor may be a necessity, depending on the nature of the repair. Along with the issue of safety, the risk of an amateur performing repairs is any mistakes they make could make the problem worse, and therefore make any future professional repairs more expensive.
Professionals can perform repairs at half the time of even the keenest DIYer and know all the costly mistakes to avoid. Having a licensed contractor perform these repairs also avoids any liability issues that would come with you or any employee carrying out the task.
If you have a workplace, it’s inevitable that something will eventually break or need repairs, so it’s best to be prepared. Research your local contractors and find yourself, at the very least, a trusted electrician, plumber and general handy man and have their numbers close by for any emergencies.
Examples of tasks that should be left to professional contractors:
- Any electrical work (doing this yourself is extremely dangerous)
- Plumbing
- Major renovations
- Installation of wall protectors, door protectors, corner guards or crash rails.
- Consider hiring a professional cleaner to keep your facility clean.
4. Install Energy-Efficient Systems
Installing quality energy efficient systems in commercial buildings not only cuts down your carbon footprint, but it will also save you money on energy bills in the long term. It can also be a great look for your business with customers, so going green has a range of benefits. Energy bills can make up to a whopping 30-50% of maintenance costs, so any chance to cut this down will make a difference.
Examples of energy-efficient systems that can be installed in commercial buildings
- Consider installing solar panels to reduce electricity bills.
- Quality insulation can keep your business area consistent, comfortable temperature, saving you a fortune in energy bills.
- If you’re building from scratch, consider an open floor plan. Also, discuss with your builder the orientation of your building and the air flow through the building.
- Weatherproofing your windows and outer doors.
- Install antibacterial, easy to clean wall protection which requires no harmful chemicals to upkeep.
5. Consider Preventative Measures
The best way to lower maintenance and repair costs is to take preventative measures to avoid damage in the first place. No matter how careful your employees are, walls and doors in your building are vulnerable to scratches, dents, scuffs and even holes in your wall.
Along with being an eyesore, this damage could cause safety issues and decrease the lifespan of your door or wall. Repairs are not only pricey, but they also lead to downtime and inconvenience. Without taking any preventative steps, these types of accidents will keep happening. Installing protection of your walls, doors and corners is a great long-term investment which will save your time, money and frustration.
Wall, door and corner protection can provide a barrier against everything from trollies, hospital beds, furniture, wheelchairs, people and any impact that can happen during a hectic workday.
Examples of preventative measures that can be taken in commercial building maintenance
- Install door kick plates. Designed for the lower half the door to prevent damage from kicking and objects hitting the door.
- Install door protection: A protective layer installed on your door to shield in from impact and significantly increase its lifespan.
- Add wall corner guards: Ideal for protecting your corners from misjudged turns and impact.
- Add Crash Rails and bumper guards: Ideal for high-traffic areas, crash rails are specifically designed to absorb heavy-impact and protect your walls.
Even a few adjustments and additions to your maintenance approach can pay off dividends in the long run. While there will always be wear and tear, preparation and preventative measures are your best bet for cutting down on costs and keeping money in your pocket.
Want to reduce your maintenance costs? Rootex is your one-stop shop for all your wall, door, and corner protection needs. Our expert team can happily recommend the perfect products for your business. So, for more information or to discuss your next project, talk to our friendly team today.