Smart Scheduling: Navigating Winter Maintenance
As the winter season approaches, community managers and building owners are tasked with the challenge of scheduling essential maintenance activities. Winter weather can complicate these tasks, making it crucial to strategically plan and execute maintenance like interior painting, gutter cleaning, caulking, and pressure washing.
While the rainy season and cooler months present challenges, they also present opportunities. We want to help you avoid common pitfalls associated with winter maintenance with the best practices and scheduling tips to ensure your property remains in top condition throughout the year.
Why Winter Maintenance Matters:
The winter months can exacerbate existing property issues or create new challenges if maintenance is neglected. The key to effective winter maintenance lies in understanding the potential hurdles of winter weather and scheduling tasks during periods that minimize exposure to these risks. Doing so not only protects the property but also enhances its functionality and aesthetic appeal when it's most needed.
Navigating the Challenges of Winter Scheduling:
Interior Painting: The Indoor Advantage
Winter is an opportune time to refresh interior spaces—not just for aesthetic improvements but also for health benefits. With residents spending more time indoors, a fresh coat of paint can significantly enhance the living environment and provide a mood lift for the occupants. Nothing like a fresh coat of paint (or color!) to start the new year. Winter time usually means more crew availability, so your projects will be completed faster, minimizing the disruption to residents
Pass the Sniff Test: With colder and potentially wetter conditions outside, winter provides an opportune time to focus on indoor spaces. Since windows and doors will be closed to keep the heat in, choosing low or no-VOC paints is essential to avoid fumes and ensure the health and comfort of occupants.
Timing is Everything: Schedule painting during times when building occupancy is lower to minimize disruption. For residential buildings, this might mean working room by room and providing residents with clear schedules and expectations. For commercial properties, consider utilizing weekends or holiday periods when office spaces are empty.
Gutter Cleaning: Preparing for the Rain
Before the rains set in, clearing gutters, downspouts, scuppers, and drains is critical. Clogged drainage means water is not directed AWAY from the building as it should - causing issues getting in and out of doorways, flooded hardscapes and balconies, and standing water against foundations. Overwhelmed deck drains lead to flooding, and water entering the interior over door thresholds. Winter-preceding gutter, downspout, and drain maintenance ensures that water can freely flow away from the building preventing water infiltration issues that are costly to rectify.
Preventive Measures: Gutter cleaning is most effective when completed just before the rainy season starts but after most of the leaves have fallen. If you can wait until this window of opportunity, you’ll make the most of the contractor’s time. Many properties, depending on the amount and type of trees near the buildings, budget for a follow-up visit for the mid/latter part of winter. Check with building residents to see if their balcony decks routinely flood - this might indicate a clogged drain or drain scupper. Usually, an easy fix before the rains hit - sometimes more costly if you wait until there is a flood event and interior remediation is needed in addition to the original fix.
Regular Checks: After initial cleaning, schedule regular inspections throughout the winter, especially after storms. Quick check-ups can prevent major blockages and mitigate the risk of water damage, ensuring that gutters remain effective.
Caulking: Sealing Out the Winter Chill
Properly sealing gaps in the building envelope with high-quality caulking can significantly impact a building’s energy efficiency and comfort levels. Effective caulking keeps out cold drafts and moisture, which helps maintain a warm, dry, and energy-efficient environment. It's best to tackle this task when conditions are dry, and temperatures are mild—ideal for sealant to adhere and cure correctly. Note - there are emergency-fix sealants that can adhere in wet conditions. Best not to wait until you need this type of sealant if you can help it : )
For building managers, inspecting old caulking for damage and wear should be a routine pre-winter task. Areas around windows, doors, and building joints need particular attention as they are most susceptible to air and water leaks. Ensuring these areas are well-sealed not only enhances comfort but also protects the property from moisture damage that can lead to dry rot, mold, and mildew. If possible, reach out to your trusted, experienced contractor. They will have the expertise to recognize failed (and more importantly “about-to-fail”) sealant and make the necessary repairs - especially in areas requiring special access. We recommend leaving the ladder and high-access work to the pros. We’ve seen so many DIYers end up with an unpleasant injury, and the work still needs to be done.
Pressure Washing: Preparing for a Clean Start
Cleaning the building’s exterior might seem counterintuitive as winter approaches but pressure washing this time of year can prevent the build-up of dirt, mold, and mildew that wet conditions tend to exacerbate. A thorough cleaning also prepares surfaces for other maintenance work like painting and caulking, ensuring that these materials adhere properly and perform their protective roles.
The ideal time for pressure washing is on a clear, mild day, which allows surfaces to dry completely and ensures the effectiveness of subsequent treatments. This maintenance not only preserves the materials and integrity of the building’s exterior but also enhances its curb appeal, maintaining or increasing the property's value.
The Take Away
Winter maintenance is about more than just responding to issues as they arise; it's about proactive management that prepares a property to face the colder months with confidence. By strategically scheduling interior painting, gutter and drainage system cleaning, caulking, and pressure washing, property managers can protect their buildings, ensure resident comfort and safety, and maintain the aesthetic and structural integrity of their properties. Effective winter preparation not only addresses immediate maintenance needs but also sets the stage for a smoother, more efficient management experience throughout the year.
