The pandemic has forced businesses to move online. According to a small business survey conducted by PNC Financial Services Group, a third of companies introduced work-from-home policies in 2020. However, not every business can afford to maintain their work-from-home arrangements in the long term. Gradually, business owners have been reopening their physical premises. After spending the major part of a year away from the office, you need to make the workplace a safe environment again. For most entrepreneurs, this is synonymous with desk distancing, layout changes, and the addition of PVC panels to desk and customer-facing areas. But don’t let COVID safety distract you from checking and fixing the structural damage that could have developed during your absence.
Clogged up gutters
If you haven’t kept up with roof maintenance during the pandemic, now’s the time to give your roof your uttermost attention. Clogged-up gutters have always been a recurring issue for households and offices. But the pandemic has disrupted habits. Therefore, many property managers are only performing seasonal checks and cleaning now. As ski stations are still open late into the season, it’s a good idea to consider the risk of ice around the office. You may want to clear up your gutters, as debris will lead to blockage. If the water accumulates, it could freeze and damage the gutters. Similarly, spring pollen and flowers can also make their way onto your gutters, clogging up the surface.
Basement or warehouse leakage
If you abandon your offices for a year, you may come back to bad surprises. Property experts recommend checking all areas for potential leaks and water infiltration. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Human error is the most likely cause, such as accidentally leaving a window open. Heavy rain can find a way inside the basement or the warehouse. It can be especially damaging if you’ve got items stored there that can absorb the water. You can reach out to professional vacuum truck services to remove stagnant water and floating debris.
Parking lot recovery
If you’ve left your car fleet unmoved for the best part of a year, you might call emergency car repair services to make your vehicles road-ready. Unfortunately, vehicles could have developed corrosion in places after spending a year exposed to the elements. Brake disks could have corroded and got stuck to the wheels. They would require changing. Another common issue is corrosion in the oil tank, which can lead to spillage. To avoid surface damage in your parking lot, you will need to clean tough stains. Additionally, lack of maintenance could also cause the formation of cracks in the asphalt, which needs to be filled and requires asphalt parking lot repair.
Plumbing checks
If your office is in a cold region, you may want to check for potential freeze damage on your pipes. The cold weather can cause pipe frost and create cracks on the surface. This is especially common if the pipes are not being used frequently, as has been the case during the pandemic. Ensure the restrooms, manufacturing structures, or the office kitchen plumbing are in working order to avoid disruptions. If you're concerned about potential freeze damage to your pipes, consider reaching out to the best plumbing maintenance nearby for professional assessment and assistance.