Commercial Property Services
An exterior audit transforms reactive maintenance into proactive management. Systematic documentation of conditions creates a baseline, tracks deterioration rates, and informs capital planning before emergencies force decisions.
Prepare before walking. Gather the previous audit report, current maintenance contract documentation, and a building map. Note known issues to confirm status and look for new developments adjacent to known problem areas.
Industry Best Practices
Start at the highest accessible point and work down. Beginning at the roofline and working toward the parking lot ensures you assess areas in logical drainage sequence — from water source to water destination.
Use a consistent documentation format. A numbered item list with severity ratings (immediate, near-term, routine maintenance), location descriptions, and photographs creates an actionable, comparable record.
How D&D Commercial Services Can Help
Pay special attention to transition points between materials. Water infiltration most commonly occurs at transitions — roof to wall, wall to window, cladding to foundation. These are the highest-risk inspection areas.
Test things, don't just look. Operate every accessible door and window to check function. Test lights after dark or with a flashlight in covered areas. Check catch basin grates for stability. Functional testing reveals problems that visual inspection misses.
Distribute the audit report with responsibility assignments and a follow-up timeline. An audit that doesn't create action items has limited value. The follow-up system — tracking completion and re-inspecting — closes the loop.