Building maintenance

DAMPNESS IN BUILDINGS

Roman wisdom states that a fire may be stopped with water but asks with what can you stop water? Water is one of the most destructive forces faced by buildings. It needs to be eliminated by careful design, construction, and regular maintenance. Buildings generally represent the largest investment most of us make in our lives. We use buildings as investments and as a hedge against inflation. It is worth remembering that to enhance the longevity of any building, it must be maintained regularly. Some useful tips in that respect are:

•Ensure that water does not run under the building.
•For floors above the ground, ensure there are vents to facilitate air flow.
•Repaint painted surfaces before the paint coating has broken down too far.
•Ventilate the interior by opening windows.
•Do not vent showers or clothes dryers to the roof space. Ensure they vent to the outside.

Remember, buildings are constructed to provide comfort against the elements of nature. The buildings must be designed and built to resist natural forces of degradation. From the time that a building is completed, it is on the slow downward path of destruction, usually at an infinitesimal rate. But that rate will depend on how well it is cared for. It is that prudent intervention of planned maintenance which gives building owners the optimum return on their investment.

As a harsh assessment of the situation, you could say that all built infrastructure (including buildings) is waste in transit.