Prepping Your Building Facades and Garages for Winter: Essential Tips for Property Owners

As winter approaches, preparing your building facades and garages is crucial to avoid costly damage and maintain safety. The harsh freeze-thaw cycles, especially in regions like New England, can lead to the rapid deterioration of exterior surfaces. Taking preventive steps now can help protect your investment, keep your property safe, and reduce energy costs.

Understanding the Risks of Winter Weather on Facades and Garages

Winter weather brings unique challenges, including temperature fluctuations, ice, snow, and the use of de-icing chemicals. These factors can cause significant wear and tear on building facades and garages. Water infiltration, cracks in masonry, and the buildup of snow and ice can all contribute to accelerated damage if not addressed.

Winter Preparation for Building Facades

A well-maintained facade not only enhances a building’s appearance but also ensures structural integrity. Here are the key steps to prepare your building’s exterior:

Sealant and Caulking: The Importance of an Airtight Building Envelope

Failed caulking can significantly decrease a building’s:

Energy efficiency: Cracks and gaps in the building envelope allow warm air to escape and cold air to infiltrate, making it difficult to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. This leads to higher heating costs.

Preventing Pests: This is also the time of year when pests like ladybugs and bees search for warmth. Gaps in failed caulking provide easy access to the inside of the building, allowing these bugs to enter.

Impact of Freeze-Thaw Cycles: In regions like New England, freeze-thaw cycles are a major cause of facade degradation. Water seeps into small cracks, and as temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, widening the cracks. This cycle repeats with each temperature fluctuation, accelerating wear on surfaces such as lintels, mortar joints, and other concrete elements.

Masonry and Concrete Repairs: Protecting Your Building’s Foundation

Inspect your building’s masonry and concrete surfaces for signs of cracks, spalling, or deterioration. The presence of these issues can be exacerbated by winter weather, especially when water infiltrates cracks and causes further expansion during freeze-thaw cycles.

Addressing Cracks Early: Repairing small cracks now prevents them from becoming larger problems that require costly repairs in the future.

Applying Protective Coatings: Consider using water-repellent coatings on masonry to reduce moisture absorption and protect against freeze-thaw damage.

Weatherproofing Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are common sources of energy loss in buildings. Ensure that the caulking is intact and replace any damaged materials. Properly sealed windows and doors not only enhance energy efficiency but also prevent drafts and moisture from entering.

Garage Winterization Tips

Garages face unique challenges during winter, particularly from vehicle traffic, de-icing chemicals, and temperature variations. Proper preparation helps avoid damage and ensures safety for building occupants.

Clear the Drains

Garages are prone to water accumulation from snow and ice melting off vehicles. If drains are clogged, water can pool, creating puddles that may freeze overnight. This poses a slip hazard and increases the risk of structural damage.

Prevent Puddling and Freezing: Regularly clean and inspect garage drains to ensure they are free of debris. This will help prevent standing water and reduce the likelihood of ice formation.

Repair Cracks in the Floor and Walls

Cracks in garage floors and walls are more than just cosmetic concerns. When left unaddressed, they provide entry points for water and salt, which accelerate concrete degradation.

Seal Cracks Before Winter: Filling cracks before winter helps prevent water and de-icing chemicals from penetrating the concrete. This can avoid costly repairs down the line and extend the lifespan of the garage floor.

Collaborate with Your Snow Removal Vendor

Snow removal can have a significant impact on garage surfaces. It’s essential to coordinate with your snow removal service to protect your property.

Avoid Salt: Make sure the vendor does not use salt, as it can cause corrosion and further deterioration of concrete surfaces. Consider alternative de-icing solutions that are less harsh on building materials.

Use the Right Equipment: Ensure that your snow vendor uses rubber, non-skid blades to prevent scraping and damage to garage surfaces. Metal blades can leave deep scratches, especially on epoxy-coated or sealed concrete floors.

Take Advantage of PIERCE’s LIFECYCLE360 for Winter Readiness

As a PIERCE client, you have complimentary access to LIFECYCLE360, our proprietary facade-assessment technology. This advanced tool allows you to stay ahead of maintenance needs and ensure your building is ready to weather winter storms.

How LIFECYCLE360 Works

Our certified LIFECYCLE360 technicians conduct detailed, real-time assessments of your building’s exterior condition during regular maintenance visits, such as window or garage cleaning. The comprehensive reports cover every aspect of your facade, from foundation to roof, providing valuable insights into the current state of your building’s exterior.

Empowering Informed Decisions: The report helps you identify necessary repairs, prioritize fall maintenance projects, and make informed decisions to prevent winter-related damage.

Planning for the Future: Use LIFECYCLE360 to forecast next year’s budgetary needs by understanding which repairs are imminent. It’s not a matter of if, but when repairs will need to be done. With LIFECYCLE360, you have the power to control the timing and plan strategically.

Fall Project: Review Your LIFECYCLE360 Report

Before winter hits, review your latest LIFECYCLE360 report to assess your building’s readiness. Prioritize repairs that will prevent costly damage later, such as sealing cracks, addressing failed caulking, and clearing garage drains. By taking advantage of LIFECYCLE360, you can be confident that your property is well-prepared to withstand the challenges of winter, all while optimizing maintenance costs and timelines.

The Cost Benefits of Preventive Maintenance

Addressing issues before winter can save property owners a significant amount of money compared to emergency repairs. Preventive maintenance costs are typically 20-25% lower than repair expenses, and well-sealed buildings can reduce energy loss by 10-20%, leading to lower heating bills. Proper winterization not only prevents damage but also increases the safety and efficiency of your property.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Neglecting Small Cracks: Small issues can quickly become major problems during winter, so it’s essential to address even minor signs of wear.

Ignoring Drain Maintenance: Failing to clear drains can lead to water pooling and ice formation, posing risks for slips and falls.

Not Planning for Snow Removal: Ensure that your snow removal plan is suitable for your building’s surfaces, avoiding aggressive techniques and harmful de-icing products.

Winter is a challenging season for buildings, but proper preparation can make a significant difference in preventing damage and reducing costs. By taking steps to seal the building envelope, repair cracks, and maintain garage areas, you can ensure that your property is ready to withstand the cold months ahead.

Contact us today to book your winter preparation services. At PIERCE, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Our team specializes in waterproofing, restoration, and preventive maintenance to keep your facades and garages in top condition year-round.