The 2 easiest ways to maintain your parkade correctly
The 2 easiest ways to better maintain your parkade.
How condo boards of directors can maximize their investment now and for years to come.
Recent maintenance information shows that a condo board can plan to pay between $ 100 and $ 500 per parking space to keep their parkade in good condition and to budget for the maintenance of the moisture protection systems. So if a building had 150 stalls, it breaks down to an average of $ 25 per stall, or $ 15 to $ 75,000.
What are the best ways for a condo board corporation to use this money effectively?
By focusing on the reserve fund and operating budget, here are some guidelines to make sure the parkade is properly maintained.
Before we start, let’s get down to the basics.
Most of today’s parkadas are equipped with reinforced concrete. These are durable due to the waterproof membranes that protect against water and salts, which can destroy the concrete surface. This happens when water and salts mix and come into contact with metals and steels creating iron oxide or rust. The rust expands and creates pressure on the surrounding concrete. These metals are found in rebar, creating strength in concrete floors. The oxidation process reduces the strength of concrete and can seriously affect its ability to handle weight in parking areas. Eventually the integrity of the structure can be affected, in some cases it could even completely collapse!
Therefore, the goal of maintaining parkades properly is to ensure that hazardous salts and contaminants are removed regularly.
These are the 2 easiest ways to maintain your parkade and help reduce damage to the parking structure.
1) The most cost effective plan is to have your parkades pressure cleaned, pressure washed and pressure washed, at least twice a year. This will fight against the harmful influences of rust, dirt and hazardous waste.
2) Have a regular schedule to flush and clean the floor drains and drain pipes in the garage every 6 months. A good time to do this is while you are sweeping and scrubbing your coat. This allows salts and dirty water from the parkade to flow through these pipes safely. This reduces salt and debris contamination on the concrete surface.
It is much easier to ensure that the membrane and concrete are properly cared for with regular maintenance than it is to overspend on replacement costs for the overall structure. A little maintenance goes a long way when it comes to important structures like your parkade.