Have you made your budget for next year yet? Did you include a line item for building updates and maintenance? It is smart to plan and budget for building improvements, so when the time comes, you’re prepared for the project.
To help with creating a building improvement budget, we’ve listed building elements and their average lifespan. From the list, you can determine what elements are applicable and plan accordingly.
Exterior Building Projects
- Roof
EPDM Ballast Roof – 10 years
Asphalt Gravel Roof – 15-25 years
Metal Roof – 30 years
Asphalt – 20 years - Doors – 15 years
- Windows – 20 years
- Rooftop Units (Heating & Cooling Units on the Roof) – 10 years
- Lighting Fixtures (Building or Parking Lot) – 5-10 years
Interior Building Projects
- Floor Covering
Carpet – 5-7 years
Vinyl Tile – 10 years
Ceramic Tile – 25 years - Door Elements
Door Hinges – 5-10 years
Door Locksets – 10 years
Door Closures – 5-6 years - Lighting – 10-15 years
- Plumbing Fixtures – 10-15 years
- Ceiling Tile – 15 years
- Wall Finishes (Paint or Wall Covering) – 5-10 years
- Furnace & Air Conditioning – 15-20 years
Properly maintaining the listed building elements is a major factor in determining their lifespan. It should come as no surprise, the better something is taken care of, the longer it will last. Routinely checking and maintaining a building can also prevent very costly issues. Here are some building maintenance items to also factor into your building improvement budget.
Annual Building Maintenance Projects
- Seal Joints in Walls & Roof (Around Windows, Pipes, Vents, etc.)
- Seal Cracks in Parking Lots & Walkways
- Change Furnace Filters (avg. MONTHLY!!!)
- Heating & Cooling System Tune Up
- Replace Weatherstripping & Thresholds
- Clean Out Sewer Drains
- Repair/Replace Leaking Plumbing Fixtures
- Replace Batteries & Bulbs in Exit Lights
- Professional Carpet Cleaning (Every 6 Months; Depending on Traffic)
- Seal Ceramic Tile Floors
- Wax & Seal Hard Surface Floors
- Service Overhead Garage Doors
- Check & Secure Base Trim
- Repair/Replace Broken or Missing Parts of Fence
- Re-Stripe Parking Lot
- Wash Windows
If you have a project in mind or any questions, contact us. Dale Gruber Construction is happy to help.
