A building’s façade is crucial as it protects against water leakage, air infiltration, and energy loss. Over time, exposure to various elements can deteriorate the façade’s components. If unaddressed, this deterioration can lead to multiple problems, including decreased performance and potential hazards.
Improving a building’s façade can help increase the building’s value, enabling the owner to negotiate a better rent or purchase price. A timely building façade inspection and upgrade can reinforce the building’s structural integrity and address any damage.
If the problems are caught early enough, building owners and managers can resolve façade deterioration with standard repairs. Undetected issues can result in costly rehabilitation projects and potentially hazardous circumstances. Building owners and managers must be aware of the signs of a deteriorating façade, such as cracks in concrete or stucco.
Leakage indicates a building façade’s decline, often leading to structural issues and deterioration. Leaks should be investigated and remedied as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the building.
The significance of inspecting building façades is emphasized in the ordinance issued by Jersey City, New Jersey, in August 2021. It covered structural and façade examinations of multi-story buildings. The tragic Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside, Florida, prompted the legislators in the Jersey City Council to require inspection of the building’s façades at least once every five years.
Under the ordinance, structures with more than six stories or buildings with masonry façades at least four stories high must undergo a commercial building inspection NJ. All exterior walls and attachments of the building must be inspected following the guidelines established by the Jersey City Construction Code Official.
The ordinance also requires property owners to submit a documented Façade Inspection Report to the Division of the Construction Code Official within thirty days following the façade inspection. A licensed architect or commercial building engineer NJ must produce the report.
Façade upgrades based on the findings from the inspection can help improve a building’s aesthetic appeal and increase energy efficiency. It is also considered an environmentally-friendly way to differentiate one commercial building from another structure.
For more details about façade inspection and upgrades, here is an infographic by Lockatong Engineering.
