Signs Your Commercial Property Needs Repair

Commercial property owners dread the call from your tenant that the roof leak in the back room that you thought you’d fixed is back and is getting worse. That can derail your day when you get these kinds of calls: that crack in the drywall is getting bigger; there's water leaking out from under the toilet; there's an awful, musty smell emanating from the supply closet; there's a popping noise whenever someone flips the light switch in the front room. Any of these scenarios can be ominous signs that your commercial property is in need of minor or major repair. Sometimes, investigation of the problem reveals that it's not as bad as it first sounded, but the important thing is to actually initiate the investigation.

Office Space

Examine Systems

Some signs that your commercial property is in need of repair are simply more subtle than others. You might find that your heating or air-conditioning costs have been slowly rising for a period of time. In this case, it's worth figuring out what’s making your systems work harder. It may be that your heating and cooling units are old and in need of maintenance or even replacement. Or it may mean that your roof has developed problems. Over time, roofs can lose their reflective properties, resulting in less constant regulation of temperature within the building. Have a professional examine your roof if you believe this is the case.

Rodents and Insects

Simply noticing an influx of insects or rodents can also be a telltale sign that there's something wrong. If moisture is entering the building, insects and rodents can make easier inroads into your building. If you're noticing signs of these critters, which include droppings and nests, it's time to have your maintenance person look into how they’re entering the building. Building maintenance also includes regular extermination services so make sure you've contracted with a reliable exterminator who can address the presence of any rodent or insect activity.

Agreement

Look at the Lines

You'll also want to keep an eye on the visual lines of your building. Sagging rooflines or noticeably sinking walls can sometimes indicate problems with the foundation. Joists that have succumbed to breakdown from mold and moisture are often the culprit here. Simply finding that the building has settled over time, revealing weak spots in the foundation can also be the case. Either way, it’s important to get these weak places shored up or replaced.

Beyond Sensibility

The longer you wait to jump into the process of finding out what's wrong with your commercial building, the worse the problem is likely to get. You'll also be facing liability if those renting the property find their health or safety compromised as a result of any neglect in fixing the maintenance issues that inevitably arise. Maintaining a property’s functional and structural integrity is simply part of owning a commercial building. This is an important factor to keep in mind when searching for general construction in Los Angeles, CA. It's a good idea for you to have a general contractor on hand in case of maintenance emergencies that balloon into large projects. See www.jhbryant.com For more information on selecting a general contractor could you can work with for the long term.