Annual Commercial Exterior Inspection: A Systematic Approach

A professional annual exterior inspection identifies deterioration, compliance gaps, and safety hazards before they become emergencies — here's a systematic approach for commercial property owners.

Commercial Property Services

A professional annual exterior inspection identifies deterioration, compliance gaps, and safety hazards before they become emergencies — here's a systematic approach for commercial property owners.

Roofing and building envelope: inspect from grade level for visible issues (sagging, missing cladding, broken glass) and arrange roof access for flat roofs and membrane inspection. Document all areas of concern with photos and GPS coordinates for tracking over time.

Industry Best Practices

Hardscape and paving: walk every paved surface with a systematic grid pattern, noting crack locations and sizes, pothole locations and dimensions, drainage performance issues (standing water locations), and pavement marking condition for all required designations.

Building envelope penetrations: inspect every location where a pipe, wire, vent, or conduit penetrates the building wall. Failed sealant at penetrations is one of the most common water entry points. Note any locations where sealant has separated, cracked, or is missing.

How D&D Commercial Services Can Help

Accessibility compliance: assess all accessible parking spaces, routes, and building entrances against current AODA and Building Code standards. Compliance requirements change over time, and properties that met standards when constructed may now have gaps relative to current requirements.

Documentation and follow-up: the value of a systematic inspection is in the documentation and the follow-through. Create a prioritized repair list with urgency designations (safety hazard, compliance issue, deferred maintenance, planned capital) and a timeline for addressing each item. Review the list against the previous year's report to identify recurring or worsening issues.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead — D&D Commercial Services

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Commercial Services, delivering professional commercial property maintenance across Waterloo Region.