One of the advantages to owning a steel building is the ease of maintaining your structure. Because of their durability and ability to withstand the elements steel structures need very little maintenance and few repairs. If you invest a little time into properly taking care of your building it will easily withstand the test of time.
If you have purchased a steel building for its endurance and robustness. You appreciate impressive versatility that steel provides as a construction material. Also, you surely enjoy the idea of lower maintenance costs.
However, there is just a little maintenance that must be performed on a regular basis to ensure your building remains as sturdy and clean as when you first erected it. Let’s take a look at what you can do to preserve your beautiful metal building.
How often you must perform various maintenance activities depends on the local environment. If the building is located near a saltwater coastline, you will need to check the exterior panels for corrosion more often, perhaps every three to six months instead of annually.
Areas of high pollution, high humidity and extremely dry regions may also require more frequent maintenance. Certainly, after a major storm, you will want to inspect the building and repair any damage caused by wind, branches or other debris.
- Clean the wall and roof panels with water and a gentle detergent to remove dirt and dust. You can use a low-pressure spray washer or a sponge or soft rag.
- Carefully rinse with clean water to remove remaining detergent and allow it to air dry. Never use caustic or abrasive cleaners as they may damage the protective coating.
- Inspect any power vents and clean the fan blades of built-up dirt and debris.
- Repair scratches. As long as the metal substrate beneath the finish is protected, you can buff away small scuffs and scratches. Anything deeper will require repainting or replacement.
- Check the fasteners. Cycles of heat and cold can cause movement that may loosen fasteners. Screw any that have backed out snuggly into the screw hole without over-tightening. If any fasteners have rusted, replace them.
- Clean leaves and debris out of the gutters and downspouts so there is no standing water on the roof or near the eaves.
- Remove leaves, dirt, and debris off the roof, paying close attention to the roof valleys where leaves and dirt may gather. A clean roof ensures water will flow properly to the gutters.
- If you have overhead doors, inspect the rollers, cables, tracks and any safety features such as an auto-reverse, replace worn components and lubricate where needed.
- Remove ground material resting against the bottom of the wall panels. It can hold moisture against the panels for prolonged periods and lead to rust formation. When you mow, aim grass clippings away from the structure.
Even though steel buildings are extremely durable, you can get more years out of your building by providing timely maintenance, including cleaning, repair and replacement as needed. None of the maintenance will take much time or have to be performed very often.
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