With the harsh months of winter upon us, now is a good time to start thinking about winter maintenance and care for your steel building. After all, while steel buildings are very durable and resistant to harsh conditions by their very nature, there are always some steps you can take to avoid damage and protect against safety issues.
Mind the Landscaping
A metal roof’s steel panels are generally resistant to scratches, but surface scratches can occur when rough tree branches are continuously blown against the sides of buildings as a result of fierce winter winds. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to have any landscaping (trees, bushes, etc.) around your steel building trimmed or pruned back sometime in the late fall or early winter.
Clear Off the Roof
Now is also a good time to check the roof of your steel building for any accumulated debris. This can include leaves, small tree branches/twigs, and dirt. As harmless as these things may seem (especially on a strong roof), they can cause issues if left over time. This is especially true if debris becomes water-logged (which is more likely to happen during the winter months) and leads to rust or corrosion of surfaces over time.
If you can safely clean debris off your roof yourself, that’s great. However, it’s always safer (and less work for you) to hire a professional.
Check All Seals
As winter approaches, all seals around a steel building should also be checked for leaks. Some common areas where leaks may occur include around chimney flashing or pipe boots. If any leaks are detected, these should be repaired as soon as possible.
This is also a good time to check the seals around any doors and windows on your steel building. The application of a little weather-proof sealant can go a long way in keeping these seals reliable all winter long and potentially cutting down on your heating costs, too.
Clean Gutters
Accumulating debris inside gutters can prevent your steel building’s roof and gutter system from carrying water away from the structure itself. This can result in common wintertime issues like ice dams, which may lead to corrosion, rust, and leaks over time.
The good news is that these issues can be easily avoided by simply taking the time to clean the gutters on your steel building at least once a year. If there are a lot of trees around your building that shed debris into the gutters year-round, you may even need to have this service done more often.
The Bottom Line on Steel Building Maintenance
Overall, steel buildings require very little maintenance—even during the winter months when the weather is harsh. Still, no building material is 100% maintenance-free, which is why making the right preparations is so important to caring for your steel building.
If you have any questions about preparing your steel building for winter or need help choosing the steel structure that best suits your needs, Bunger Steel is here to help.