Why Building Maintenance is so Important

At the beginning of the season, winter weather can seem fun, or sometimes even magical. But after that feeling wears off, surviving winter can be wearing—especially if it points out issues such as leaky gutters, gaps in door jambs, or slippery surfaces.  As every business owner knows, it’s best to fix these issues as soon as they are noticed to prevent additional damage and accidents.

During the winter months, your entrance ways and floors may seem constantly slippery. Winter weather can bring in enough precipitation to cause this constant issue, but it isn’t the only one. A leaking gutter that causes water to pool can be even worse. If this isn’t properly remedied, it can cause icy sidewalks or parking lots, which could lead to costly slip and fall injuries to customers and employees. As a business manager or owner, it is important for you to take the necessary steps to prevent these issues. Whether you handle it yourself or delegate to an employee you trust, make sure the process starts with keeping a close tab on the weather and preparing before expected precipitation. Test your gutters to make sure they are not leaking, fixing any leaks prior to winter, and ensure you have sand or salt on hand to break up any ice. This step can be just as important as making sure you have drying fans and floor mats in entrance ways.

Cold air coming in through gaps in door jambs or windows may be an obvious issue, but we often block out the other issues that can enter with the cold air—rodents. A mouse can enter through an opening of just ¼ inch and a rat can enter as long as the opening is at least ½ an inch. Both species can gnaw and scratch to make openings bigger too. Check out the information and resources on the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management to help make sure your building is rodent-proof.

Finally, one of the main reasons to keep your building maintained—your customers notice! If a customer feels your establishment is in poor condition or not properly maintained, they will look elsewhere—especially when it comes to food. So, always take care of maintenance tasks as soon as possible. It’ll help you save money and keep customers coming back.