When managing a building, it’s common to encounter some issues or areas in need of repair prior to the winter months. With limited resources, it can be difficult to budget for and implement long-term solutions.
However, managers must address potholes and other issues with a temporary solution before these pose bigger challenges to work through during the frigid temperatures of the winter season. Here are some items to watch out for when conducting a building inspection before the winter season.
Sunken areas
Sunken areas in your parking lot or near entrances/exits can pool over time with water. These areas then freeze and can cause slips and falls or traffic incidents, posing a hazard and liability issues. As a temporary solution, these areas can be skimmed or filled until thorough repairs can be completed at a later date. These can be done along with filling any potholes to buy some time.
Catch basins
One sign to watch out for is if the asphalt appears to be below the level of the steel frame edge. When this happens, snow plows can get caught in the edge and break the steel, requiring a replacement of the catch basin itself. Another sign to look out for is if there is a significant dip or hole beside or near the catch basin; this indicates a form of collapse of the structure. These two signs, in addition to major cracks and breakage of the asphalt, can save you from a great deal of headaches and costly repairs down the road.
It is crucial to complete a building inspection before the winter season to spot these signs early and adequately address them. The photos below are a perfect example of repairs that Fort York Paving has provided within a client’s limited budget. With plans for a very costly replacement of the entire storefront sidewalk next year, the client needed a temporary solution to address pedestrian trip hazards.
Our team replaced the broken and heaved concrete section with asphalt as a temporary solution, which solved the fundamental issue of providing safety for pedestrians until the permanent solution is implemented.
Early awareness of these issues and a thorough building inspection before the winter season will save you from liability, hazards, and high-cost repairs in the future. Our professional paving company is able to assess your property and implement the right solution at the right time. Get in touch with us at info@fortyorkpaving.com for a property assessment today.