Planned Maintenance Schedules

 

Planned maintenance

It is in the nature of things that the building fabric and components deteriorate and wear out with time and use.

 

A comprehensive planned maintenance regime is an asset management strategy designed to ensure buildings and their components function adequately, preserve the value of the building, satisfy legal obligations, and achieve best value in terms of built assets during the occupational life of the building.

 


The regular expenditure of a small amount of maintenance funds is much better for a building, and more cost effective, than large injections of capital every 20 year or so. People often mistakenly believe that once a building is constructed it doesn’t need to be looked at again for many years.


Unplanned or reactive repairs are most often found to be required after a building component has failed, which usually also results in damage to surrounding areas and components. A defective and unmaintained roof , for example, can lead to significant damage if left unchecked, not only to the roof structure but also to the internal finishes when the inevitable rainwater ingress leaks through the ceilings, floors and walls.

Such repairs can prove to be very costly if they need to include new ceilings, decorations, carpets or floor coverings, and particularly if the damaged areas need to be vacated for the duration of the repair works.


Why have planned maintenance?

The main reason for a planned maintenance schedule is that it is the most cost effective way to maintain the value of an asset. The advantages of a plan are:


  • The property is organised and maintained in a systematic rather than ad-hoc way.
  • Future maintenance costs can be properly assessed, planned, managed and budgeted for.
  • Costly emergency and reactive maintenance can be minimised.
  • The standard and presentation of the property can be maintained

 


A planned maintenance schedule will usually be complied to look up to 10 years forward but will asses and prioritise the maintenance and repair requirements on an annual basis from the point in time that the schedule if prepared.


The aim of the planned maintenance schedule is to reduce expenditure on emergency and ad-hoc repairs, which will also have the effect of minimising the disruption and added costs of repairing consequential damage resulting from the initial building defect.

 

How we can help

Regular inspections are basic to planned maintenance. They ensure continuing serviceability and economy of labour and materials.


There is no general rule on how often maintenance surveys need to be carried out, as the frequency will be influenced by the age and condition of the property, as well as rates of decay and deterioration of the various building elements. One of the first tasks when preparing the initial maintenance schedule is to identify and prioritise the future maintenance requirements of individual property elements, and to tailor the maintenance schedule accordingly.

 

We can provide advice on all aspects of your property maintenance requirements, and prepare bespoke maintenance schedules to facilitate a cost effective and trouble free occupation of your property.

 

Please contact us for more information and a free no obligation consultation.