Taking care of a commercial building is complex enough. You may not want to add another kind of inspection to worry about. But if you don’t check up on your building’s foundation regularly enough, small problems can grow over time to threaten the value and integrity of the entire structure.
Don’t let your investment in a warehouse, restaurant, retail, or lodging space go to waste. Timely inspections can make all the difference between quick and affordable repairs and the need for more extensive foundation reinforcements. These tips will help you decide the right frequency of foundation inspections for your property based on soil conditions, weather risks, and more.
Annual Inspections
For most commercial structures that are in good shape and aren’t too old, an annual inspection should provide all the protection needed. This is only true for strong foundations installed under relatively new construction. Structures under 10 years old rarely need an inspection more than once a year unless other issues could affect the foundation.
To stick to an annual inspection schedule for your commercial building’s foundation, you’ll also want to know that the soil conditions under your structure were tested before construction. Buildings with unknown soil conditions or known subsidence issues need inspection more often than just once a year.
It’s also only appropriate to inspect a commercial foundation once a year if the structure is in an area with few to no natural disaster risks and no known leak issues. If there are issues with water eroding soil around the structure or storms that regularly lead to flooding, it’s best to get inspections at least twice a year instead.
Twice a Year
If the structure has been impacted by a major storm or disaster, or the soil underneath the foundation was affected by a major leak or flood, bump your foundation inspections up to twice a year. This is also recommended for commercial structures built over soil that wasn’t fully tested for proper compaction and composition. If new soil tests reveal concerns about stability due to shifting sand or expansive clay, it’s best to invest in inspections at least twice a year to catch signs of soil movements early on.
Commercial structures relying on repaired foundations also deserve at least two inspections per 12 months. While these repairs can last for decades without needing further attention, you don’t want warning signs of failure to go months without notice. Inspections once every six months, at least for the first few years after the repair, will verify that it was sufficient to solve the foundation issues.
Once Every Three Months
Commercial buildings with confirmed soil quality issues putting the foundation at risk may benefit from inspections as often as once every three months. This kind of inspection frequency is also recommended for structures in volatile climates with regular flooding issues or areas with plenty of seismic activity. All of these risk factors can affect the soil supporting the foundation, increasing the chances of a problem developing within a few months rather than over the course of multiple years.
If your building’s foundation is already showing signs of trouble but you’re not repairing it yet, don’t go long without another inspection. Quarterly inspections will ensure that inspectors catch warning signs of worsening damage so you can get timely repairs before it’s too late.
Monthly
Commercial properties with actively failing foundations need monthly inspections, including during extensive repairs that take weeks to complete. These inspections allow technicians to stay on top of their repair plans and alter them as necessary if other signs of damage are occurring in different parts of the structure.
Buildings undergoing extensive demolitions and renovations that could damage the foundation may also need inspections only a month apart, or even more frequently. Before building a new structure with different weight distributions and intended uses over an existing foundation, make sure the inspection verifies that it’s a safe and worthwhile plan.
If you have a commercial building that keeps showing new warning signs of foundation trouble, but a cause just can’t be found, scheduling a few back-to-back inspections once a month can finally reveal the problem. That’s better than ignoring the problem or assuming there’s no issue at all.
Signs That Your Commercial Building Needs an Emergency Inspection
While scheduled foundation inspections are essential for catching early signs of trouble, you can’t wait if those warning signs occur outside of the schedule. Calling for an emergency inspection determines whether immediate repairs are needed or not. Don’t delay your next inspection when you notice any of these signs of growing foundation problems.
Large Cracks
Cracks that grow more than 1/4th of an inch in a short time or that suddenly appear already wider than ½ an inch at any point deserve emergency attention. Waiting too long to deal with spreading cracks caused by a sinking foundation only increases the risk of a serious structural failure and collapse.
Sinking or Rising Floors
Foundation issues often cause floors to split open and sink or rise unevenly, especially with a slab foundation where flooring is installed directly over the concrete. Not only do these issues indicate the need for repairs, but they also interrupt business on their own and require prompt repairs to resolve the trip risk.
Interior and Exterior Gaps
Cracks aren’t the only warning sign of foundation damage that you can spot on ceilings, walls, and floors. Your commercial property shouldn’t show any new or widening gaps between materials like facades, glass enclosures, windows, and doors. These openings are less noticeable than cracks, but if you spot a widening space opening anywhere on the exterior or interior of the building, call for a prompt foundation inspection.
Sticking Windows and Doors
You might think that a single door or window that sticks in the frame is no emergency. If that sticking problem starts affecting more than just one feature in the building, it’s time to inspect the foundation. Windows and doors that don’t open smoothly not only pose a serious safety risk in an evacuation situation, but they also mean the foundation is moving and putting strain on the entire structure.
Bowed Walls
Bowing walls are a dangerous hazard that can indicate a structure is in imminent danger of collapse. Get out, then call for a foundation inspection. If it’s not the foundation, you’ll still need intensive stabilization and repairs to restore the safety of your commercial building.
Let Pinnacle Foundation Repair take care of your routine inspections, along with recommending a schedule based on your structure and its needs. There’s no need to guess how often you need professional inspections when we can help. Reach out today to get started on a free evaluation of your commercial foundation.
