By Kingsley Adegboye

Do you know that the durability of a building is a function of maintenance? This explains why for an old building to retain its value any time, it must be routinely maintained. Whether you are residing in the building or the property is for outright sale, routine maintenance in form of remodeling or general renovation will help retain the value of the building.

And with all the improvements you have made on the property over the years, you are sure of getting a handsome return on the sale of the building if you decide to sell it

Explaining that maintenance in a building starts from the beginning of the structure with what is called maintenance schedule which means how the building will be maintained throughout its existence, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, former chairman, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) Lagos state branch, added that it is of utmost importance to put into consideration choice of materials that can stand the test of time at the commencement of the project.

...A typical house that requires renovation

According to the professional builder, remodeling can be frustrating but it is also fun-filled with anticipation and visible rewards at the end of the project. Awobodu who noted that maintenance is dull and routine, said it is important for one to do it if one wants to retain the value of one’s home.

‘’For example, hardwood floors need to be refinished every five to10 years depending on wear and tear. If they get too worn out, it can cause permanent damage to the wood. Exteriors need to be repainted every five to10 years too depending on such factors as the weather and others to avoid exterior wood being damaged.

“Your roof needs annual inspections.  While general of the house is required  at every two years, plasters that are cracked need to be refilled , cladding of the frontal part of the building will generally raise the value of the property.

‘’As a matter of routine, you need to carry out checks on aspects of your home. For instance, check   for leaks under and around the sink in your kitchen. Plumbing leaks can damage cabinetry and floors. Check and repair grout and caulking on tile counter tops and around the sink. Check for plumbing leaks and check grout on tiles around the bathrooms.

‘’If the grout gets worn out, water will start getting into the walls behind the bathroom,  and this can cause damage. Check for cracks in the foundation and leaks. This is because buildings settle over time and even after decades of having a dry basement leaks may suddenly occur.

Check for signs of water leakage from the roof. If any shingles have fallen off, you can always hire a reliable roofing professional to  repair the roof’’, the building expert said.