The lifespan of a building reflects whether it still fulfills the many functions for which it was established. Basically, a building lifespan of between 35 and 60 years has been assumed, based on calculating the depreciation of construction investments. However, empirical data for annual rates of new construction, renovation and demolition show that an average building lifespan of 100 years or more would be more accurate. Calculating how long a house or building can stand quality tests of time and nature depends on several factors. Therefore, it is paramount for you as a property owner to take care of it so that it would prolong it life expectancy and boost its value.
Below are the top proven ways to prolong your property’s lifespan.
Ensure to check Dampness on the walls
Keep a regular check for leakage or dampness at plinth levels and walls. Over a period, the water seepage makes the wall hollow due to erosion. Ignoring these walls will lead to a big hole in your pocket in the long run. The first thing you must do when you see a leakage is present, find its source and then hire an expert and get it repaired at the earliest possible
Invest in Maintenance
It’s important to know the significance of cultivating a maintenance culture after successful completion a building, your duty does not end with building a house using good-quality materials. Just like you chose the best for your house during construction, you should do your best to maintain it. It is important to clean your house regularly for maintenance and hygiene purpose. Also, you must get your house painted every 4 to 5 years and check for termites. Moreover, all the wooden items in the house should be polished and painted as and when required and regular pest controlling too should be done.
Special attention should be paid to the flooring of the house too. Vacuuming or sweeping the tiles regularly can keep it free from dust and dirt that can scratch its surface. Broken tiles should be replaced, and scratched tiles should be repaired immediately.
As a property owner, who is always on the lookout for tenants whenever your building is vacant, you would not want your precious apartment blocks. You must prioritize weekly or monthly maintenance of your property. You can hire professional services for this purpose and add the expenses as a service charge to your tenants, but make sure that the building keeps a strict maintenance checklist for electricity, water, drainage, and other cleanings are routinely done.
Repairing Defects.
As a property owner, it is essential to make time to inspect every area of your building. You would be surprised how these structures usually have a defect that needs to be repaired or replaced within the nick of time before it affects the structural integrity of the property building. In a situation where you notice or get complaints from tenants about water leakages or dampness of walls, make sure to repair it immediately, else you could be calling molds into your buildings. These defects would affect the lifespan of your property.
Using good concrete and cement mixture
Building materials play a big role in deciding the longevity of a concrete structure. There have been instances where concrete buildings not more than 20-30 years old have collapsed. However, there are cases where concrete buildings that were constructed 100-150 years back are still going strong without any kinds of damage or problems. Unfortunately, the fact that housing projects are being mass-produced today has resulted in countless buildings being constructed with inferior quality materials. Masonry if constructed with proper materials and proportions of the cement and sand and other materials are proper can be expected to be the most durable component of the house.
