Within the world of property, façades and maintenance, we are all getting used to the world post-lockdown.
Each day brings new challenges, change and adaptions. We can move around more, travel and work – but all must be done with social distancing in mind.
Working safely within the construction sector has its trials. But it can be done. For many companies, organisations and individuals maintaining the building/s in which they operate and live hasn’t been a priority. This is understandable, of course. But it doesn’t detract from the fact that for ongoing safety of staff and visitors, checks still to be undertaken and buildings made secure.
Now that we are starting to return to work, building property owners and managers will no doubt be faced with reduced or delayed budgets. But during lockdown buildings have remained idle and uncared for. For some, gutters will have become blocked, windows dirtied and yes, leaks will have appeared in roofs. It’s now that action needs to be taken to fix these. Otherwise bigger bills will run up.
The key to success, minimising spend and working efficiently through the post-coronavirus period will be in having a strategy to tackle maintenance. That means prioritising the work that needs done and leaving the rest for next year’s budget. Getting the right company in to tell you what needs done, and when, is important – as is getting it the work done to a high standard.
Pressure will be on the maintenance and operations managers to find a company to deliver this work. It has to be done with safety in mind at all times. That means using trained operatives who can deliver the work – and within current social distancing guidelines.
In order to maximise each building’s potential – a multi-billion-pound portfolio in London or a 500-year old Grade I listed church – the best and most appropriate way to do this is by using both a collaborative and holistic approach. In essence, the building envelope must be maintained on a cyclical basis in order to avoid major, costly work in the future.
