Churches experience wear and tear just like other structures, like hotels and other hospitality services. In order to maintain the parishioners’ pride and the facilities’ functionality, many churches that are significantly older need expert maintenance methods and procedures.
Because of this, keep in mind that not every process described here will apply to you and your church, and that your particular church building management may differ. The most prevalent problems and problems that will affect most churches are covered in this article.
Remember that maintaining a church involves more than just keeping it looking good; many essential functions rely on the unnoticed electrical and plumbing requirements that exist behind the scenes. All of that is covered in our maintenance advice for churches.
Let’s start from the top and work our way down.
Clean Your Concrete
Having JWConcreteContractors.com maintain your concrete is necessary if you want to keep it looking excellent. Cleaning your concrete can assist get rid of dirt and debris and improve the aesthetics of the finished product. Choose the concrete cleaning method that fits your particular needs from the available choices.
The Roof
It is crucial for the building’s overall health that the roof is maintained, thus it must continue to be waterproof and watertight.
Although every roof is unique and certain old buildings will have far more intricate roofs, the following are some features to look out for:
Lead or shingles with damage or lift
Slippery tiles or slates
Damaged or missing ridge tiles
Junk in the valleys and gulleys
Rusted lead
Moisture or dampness in the roof timbers
Infestation or bat signs in roof spaces
Obviously, some of these won’t apply to a modern structure, but regardless of the age and state of your church, make careful to use caution when conducting inspections.
Eaves and Gutters
It is simple to assume that your gutters and eaves are doing their jobs until they stop doing so and you are faced with a possible disaster.
Gutters shield your structure from water harm much like your church roof does. Therefore, it’s crucial that they receive regular maintenance. Your gutters may become clogged as a result of leaves and other material accumulating there. When that occurs, water is no longer directed away from your building, which can cause serious damage. To the degree of damaging your foundation.
Walls
Maintaining the walls of a more modern structure won’t be as as difficult as it will be if you had an old church.
The walls of an old or historic church usually represent a considerable portion of the heritage of the structure. They can illustrate the local workmanship from the time the building was constructed, which calls for particular care and attention, and convey a tale about your church’s facilities.
Keep an eye out for wear or damage on the walls to preserve that story. The usage of any improper or harmful building methods or materials that may have been employed in the past is another crucial factor to look out for. They might affect the strength and durability of your construction.
The distinction between concrete that attracts attention and concrete that makes people afraid to walk on can be made by knowing how to maintain concrete. Fortunately, preserving concrete is a straightforward job that you can complete by yourself.
Clean Your Concrete
Cleaning your concrete is necessary if you want to keep it looking excellent. Cleaning your concrete can assist get rid of dirt and debris and improve the aesthetics of the finished product. Choose the concrete cleaning method that fits your particular needs from the available choices.
Seal Your Concrete
Concrete can be sealed to increase its lifespan and maintain its attractiveness. Concrete sealers come in a variety of varieties. Every few years, concrete’s surface can be treated with topical sealers to stop stains and surface wear. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for sealing concrete.
Remove Stains Immediately
Cleaning stains and spills from concrete as soon as they occur is always a good idea even if your concrete sealer will help protect it. For instance, if you see that your automobile has spilled oil on your concrete driveway, clean it up as soon as you can. This will assist in avoiding any yellowing or stains, improving the appearance of your concrete.
Limit Your Weight
Although concrete is a very durable and robust material, residential concrete pours are not intended to support very heavy loads. For instance, even while your driveway is perfectly capable of supporting the weight of your regular car, it is not designed to support the weight of large equipment or oversized vehicles like delivery or moving trucks. To prolong the life of your concrete, make sure these vehicles stay on the road and store heavy equipment somewhere other than your driveway.
Windows and Doors
The likelihood is that some of the original timber doors, window apertures, and either stained or plain glass panes still exist in your church if it is a heritage structure.
You must take good care of these treasures if you want to keep them in your church buildings. It entails staying current with maintenance.
Utilities and Mechanics
Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical. Is everything functionally sound?
Do you have a church maintenance check list that includes items like lighting, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, and so on?
Checks should be carried out on a regular basis, checking for items like:
Leaky pipes
Dripping faucets
Worn wires or cabling
Church Grounds
Your outdoor church facilities need to be maintained as well.
Examine the walls, memorials, and monuments in your churchyard for any structural issues. You should also examine the pathways. Moss should be kept off of all of them.
Additionally, parking lots need to be inspected and maintained. Fix any cracks or potholes—or anything else that can endanger people or vehicles.
Miscellaneous
Include your church’s furniture, organs, audiovisual equipment, and other facility components on your maintenance checklist. For instance, if you have wooden pews, make sure the wood is checked frequently for rot and jagged edges. During your services, your congregation doesn’t want to be stabbed by splinters.
Do you have a bell tower at your church? If so, you ought to maintain a record of its upkeep.
