Warm weather has finally arrived, spring is under way, and summer is just around the corner. Now is a crucial time for commercial property developers and building managers to take a minute to assess the structural integrity of your build. Canadian winters are notoriously harsh on buildings; commercial properties that face higher foot traffic and demands from tenants can experience accelerated wear that leads to dangerous structural issues in the long term.
At the Krahn Group of Companies (KGC) and through our partnership with Krahn Engineering Ltd., We know how vital assessing your structural health is to prevent costly damage and other headaches. Below, we’ll cover 5 of the most important things to do to protect your building during the spring and summer seasons. Read on to learn more!
1. Investigate the entire property thoroughly
Structural damage can often go unseen during the seasonal transition due to many factors being less overt than you might expect. In addition, it can be easy to miss extenuating factors from outside areas (landscape features, for example), that may be putting your structure at risk, either due to external or accidental details. Conducting a thorough assessment as winter fades to spring and the peak warm months roll in keeps you on top of any early signs and allows you to maintain a proactive approach rather than being stuck in a reactive position.
2. Maintain a Rolling List of Details
As you investigate, keep a detailed record of any and all factors that could (or are) lead to issues. Even if something isn’t a problem “today”, it’s important to know that you often have far less runway than you think when it comes to waiting on structural emergencies. Knowing any precursors to eventual damage (early signs of a crack in a foundation, for example) allows you to stay in control and on top of things with ease.
3. Triage
If you do find issues throughout your property, it’s important to take care of any major elements immediately. Your foundation, your building envelope, or any risk to core structural features must be tended to as soon as possible to reduce both short and long-term risk, as well as minimize any future repercussions both from regulatory standards, as well as from potential liability suits, etc. Know what needs to be done and seek to partner with an experienced team like Krahn Engineering to move forward quickly.
4. Don’t Forget Internal
When assessing structural risk, it’s crucial to make sure ALL elements are inspected, including other systems involved in the building as a whole. Faulty HVAC, storage, electrical and related systems can increase strain on the structure as a whole, and thus everything should be assessed to reduce the chance of error.
5. Plan for the Future
Finally, spring and summer evaluations bring you the chance to highlight any future areas of improvement and begin plans to update and maintain to stay efficient and compliant. The more detailed you are now, the better prepared you will be for future renovations and maintenance. Address the issues you have now, look for future threats, and always have a plan for any problematic factors down the line. Doing you will save you time, money, and valuable resources!
Discover the Krahn Group of Companies Difference for Your Next Build
At the Krahn Group of Companies, we make it easy to plan your next build or renovation with ease. With decades of experience and a multidisciplinary background that gives you access to a whole roster of engineering consulting services, including structural, civil, mechanical disciplines and more. In addition, we also offer comprehensive design and architectural services to give you the complete, 360° project development package. Contact us today to learn more!
