Owners of a three-storey 100,000-square-foot multi-tenant commercial office building were following what they believed to be a good strategy – namely having the leaks repaired from the exterior on an as-needed basis. The problem was that the low-cost repairs did not seem to be working.
On rainy days, water leaks through the exterior walls were causing absenteeism within the tenants' suites because workstations close to the perimeter walls would flood with water that penetrated the building skin. Drafts through the envelope were compounding tenant discomfort on cold windy days. Contractors were called on to repair and repaint drywall and clean carpets after water damage, while in-house maintenance staff was distracted with emergency cleanups and working overtime to get things back to normal, letting some regular duties slip. Exterior and interior repairs were adding to the overall operating costs and cutting into the bottom line profitability of the building.
The vacancy rate in the building was rising and new tenants were not coming in. When prospective tenants toured the building on a rainy day, they'd get to see the full effects of the ongoing water penetration issues and, understandably, show little interest in leasing. Even on a sunny day, the tired exterior appearance of the building contributed little to curb appeal.
Download the full article now.
