Don’t want to constantly pour money into emergency repairs?
Business owners with commercial properties face money pit situations every day. Stuck with cracked parking lots and sinking sidewalks? Before you know it, your property has gone from money maker to money pit.
This is how it usually goes…
Majority of commercial property owners wait until something needs repaired or replaced before calling for help. Reactive maintenance is expensive! The few that utilize preventive services keep concrete repair replacement costs down and property values up.
Let’s dive into…
- Why Preventive Services Are Saving Commercial Property Owners Money
- The Financial Impact Of Neglecting Concrete Repair
- 5 Preventive Services To Save You Money
- Repair vs Replace
Why Preventive Services Are Saving Commercial Property Owners Money
Why preventative maintenance is like an insurance policy for your property.
Maintenance keeps your property in working order and helps you avoid pricey band-aid solutions. It also prevents minor issues from developing into budget-busting projects. Studies have shown that every $1 you spend on preventive maintenance can save you $4-$5 in corrective maintenance.
For example, if you spend $500 on preventive concrete repair now, you could potentially save yourself $2500 or more in the future.
Preventive maintenance isn’t JUST about concrete repairs…
Maintaining a regular concrete repair replacement schedule can help your entire property. A crumbling parking lot doesn’t just hurt your curb appeal, it causes frustration for tenants and customers alike. Property owners who offer asphalt paving in Denver and other large cities know this all too well. Concrete and paving services keep their property looking pristine while avoiding expensive full replacement costs.
Simply put, it’s better to spend a little now than a lot later.
The Financial Impact Of Neglecting Concrete Repair
Now let’s talk about the downsides of neglecting maintenance…
Putting off maintenance can cost you more than just money. Deferred maintenance can also decrease your property values by as much as 20% in just 5 years. That’s a chunk of change for any commercial property.
Here’s something else to consider…
According to Commercial Property Executive, most emergency repairs cost between 3-5 times more than they would if they were scheduled regularly. That parking lot hole that would have only cost you $500 to fix because of normal wear and tear? It now costs you $2500 because it’s an emergency.
Once damage is done, it only gets worse.
Water seeps into tiny cracks and freeze/thaw cycles expand them. Before you know it, you’ve got major structural problems that lead to an even more expensive concrete replacement.
Don’t be that property owner. Preventative maintenance is the best way to control those costs.
5 Preventive Services To Save You Money
There are several maintenance services that can help you save money and keep your property in tip-top shape.
Regular Property Inspections
This is the single most important step in any preventive maintenance plan.
Twice a year your property should be inspected by a professional. Catching issues early can save you tons of money down the road. Many property owners choose not to do this and that’s why their repair bills are always so high.
Crack Repair And Joint Sealing
Tiny cracks in your pavement aren’t just ugly, they’re bad for your wallet.
Rainwater will seep into these cracks and deteriorate the materials underneath. Sealing cracks is one of the best and cheapest ways to avoid unnecessary concrete replacement. It will prolong the life of your surface and prevent water damage.
It’s a no brainer. Crack sealing is usually much cheaper than replacing entire sections of your pavement.
Sealcoating And Surface Resurfacing
Sealcoating is used on both concrete and asphalt surfaces to protect them from the sun, chemicals, and general wear and tear. Resurfacing is similar, it just adds a new layer of material on top of your existing concrete.
Both of these services are way cheaper than tearing out an existing surface and starting from scratch. Plus they can add years onto the life of your parking lot or walkway.
Drainage Management
This is HUGE when it comes to protecting your concrete surfaces.
Waterflow is the number one enemy of pavement. Not only does it destroy the structure of your concrete but it’s unsafe for tenants and customers. Make sure your property has proper grading, working drains, and nothing blocking the flow of water. Keeping water away from your concrete will prevent substructure erosion and big replacement jobs.
Scheduled Resurfacing
Don’t wait for your pavement to fall apart before you take care of it. Implementing a scheduled resurfacing plan is one of the best ways to control those repair and replacement costs.
Breaking up the cost over time guarantees that no area of your pavement will become worse than the others. Commercial property owners who have resurfacing schedules avoid those huge one-time payments that throw their budgets out of whack.
Repair vs Replace
When it comes to concrete repair vs replacement, not every problem requires tearing out and starting from scratch. Understanding when to repair, and when to replace can save you thousands.
When to repair:
- Small isolated cracks
- Superficial damage
- Structurally sound base and subgrade
- Concrete is fairly new (less than 15 years old)
When to replace:
- Large areas of cracking or heaving
- Water damaged base underground
- Area has been patched multiple times
- There are safety hazards that can’t be repaired
Keep in mind that these are general rules to go by. A professional opinion will be able to give you a better idea of what you should do. However, if the repairs will cost you 50% or more of a full replacement… it’s usually best to replace.
Final Thoughts
If you want to save money on concrete repair replacement, you NEED to be taking advantage of preventive services.
Not only do they save you money, but they help you maintain and even increase the value of your property. Here’s your recap…
- Inspect your property regularly to catch issues early
- Seal cracks and repair joints before they get out of hand
- Invest in sealcoating and resurfacing your concrete pavement
- Fix drainage issues to avoid water damage
- Create a schedule for regular resurfacing
Commercial property owners who take pride in their maintenance schedule are the ones who come out on top. It takes a little bit of effort to stay on top of things. But once you start seeing your savings add up, you’ll understand why it’s so important.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take control of those repair and replacement costs now.
