A Vital Step in Toronto Property Management: Building Restoration 

Investing in Your Future: The Impact of Building Restoration Services

Building restoration solutions offer a cost-effective alternative to tearing down and rebuilding a property. By investing in these solutions, property managers can quickly and efficiently bring a building up to code while reducing future costs.

Moreover, building restoration services play a crucial role in promoting positive tenant relationships, satisfying landlords, ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations, enhancing aesthetic appeal, and safeguarding the structural integrity and property value of a building.

Nevertheless, a lot of property managers are still uninformed about the value of building restoration and refurbishment services and how they can support them in fulfilling their duties. This article aims to make it easier for property managers to ensure the safety and security of the properties they manage while maintaining tenant and landlord satisfaction through investment in building restoration solutions.

That said, this article will cover topics such as the value of investing in building restoration solutions for property management, some of the common reasons to carry out building restoration solutions, and the five key stages of the building restoration process.

Furthermore, to guide property managers on how to ensure the safety and preservation of their properties, we will provide expert advice from the fully licensed and IICRC-certified contracting and restoration company, Desa Contracting & Restoration, throughout this article.

They offer helpful insights on how property managers can invest in building restoration solutions to address underlying issues, promote positive tenant relationships, and safeguard the structural integrity and property value of their buildings while reducing future costs. For more information on the importance and value of building restoration services for Toronto property managers, please read on to learn more.

Invest in Your Future with Building Restoration Solutions

As a property manager, choosing to invest in building restoration solutions is often a wise decision for several reasons, according to the expert advice provided by Desa Contracting & Restoration. First, damages are often more cosmetic than structural, meaning a quick restoration job can bring the building back to its former glory at nearly half the cost of demolishing the building and starting anew.

This includes repairing features such as traditional windows that may not be fixed by modern window companies, building envelope repairs to ensure the structural integrity of the building, and masonry restoration to repair the bricks, stone, and concrete that make up a building’s structure.

Second, experts in building restoration services are likely to use the same materials and resources to ensure the building retains its original character and style. Unlike renovations, restoration aims to preserve the building’s unique features, preventing unwanted modernizations and additions.

That’s why building restoration is often performed on listed buildings and older properties. This specialized form of building repair aims to preserve the building’s original appearance and features, using specific techniques to match up with the old structure.

The last reason for investing in building restoration solutions for property managers is that it offers a cost-effective, time-efficient, and eco-friendly approach to enhancing a building’s aesthetic appeal and safeguarding its structural integrity and property value.

Building restoration addresses underlying issues and repairs damages by using fewer resources and less energy while preserving the original charm and style of the building. To that end, property managers can ensure that their properties are well-maintained while minimizing their environmental impact when they choose to invest in building restoration solutions.

Exploring Reasons For Building Restoration Solutions

Earlier in this article, we discussed how building restoration solutions can benefit property managers by providing them with a practical and cost-effective way to maintain and improve their properties. However, it is important to understand the underlying reasons for investing in building restoration solutions before fully appreciating the value of this type of building management.

This section of the article aims to explore these specific reasons why building restoration solutions are worth considering for property managers. By focusing on promoting positive tenant relationships, ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations, enhancing aesthetic appeal, and safeguarding the structural integrity and property value of a building, property managers can invest in their properties and improve their overall management practices.

In light of this, many owners of listed buildings and other protected properties find it worthwhile to invest in building restoration. This process involves the removal of visible signs of wear and tear, damage, and erosion. Preventative restoration solutions are then applied to protect the building from future damage.

With that in mind, building restoration solutions are not only about eliminating the existing damage; they are also about minimizing future damage. The following are some of the most common reasons for employing building restoration solutions, according to the IICRC-certified team of professionals at Desa Contracting & Restoration:

• The building is showing obvious signs of wear and tear, such as sagging.
• Structural damage caused by time, weather, or physical damage/vandalism.
• Accumulation of dust, debris, or live pests that weaken the foundations.
• Radiation and light that washes the building out, removing its strength and value overall.
• Damage caused by the elements, such as wind, rain, or even fire.

That said, building restoration solutions can help restore a building that has been affected by the above and bring it back to a livable, usable standard. Furthermore, by future-proofing the building from further erosion, building restoration can help property managers put a stop to any potential damage in the future. In the short term, property managers can make a profit from a building restoration by reducing the cost of future repairs and maintenance.

The return on investment is as high as 6–7 times the cost of restoring a building. Moreover, if restoration costs ever become an issue, they can use their restoration costs to defend themselves.

Discover the 5 Steps for a Successful Building Restoration

It’s important to have a clear understanding of what a building restoration project entails so that you can alleviate any anxieties surrounding the process. Considering that, we understand that at some point, building owners and property managers may need to restore the façade of their building.

This section of the article aims to explore the five key steps involved in a typical building restoration. It delves into each stage and examines the scope of work. Property managers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the process, making it less intimidating. So, please read on for more information.

Step 1: Assessment Phase

To determine the extent of your building restoration project, a comprehensive assessment of your building envelope is necessary. This process can take up to three to four weeks to complete. Ideally, a restoration professional, such as Desa Contracting & Restoration, with expertise in engineering and construction should be hired to assess the condition of your building envelope and provide a list of recommended repairs or replacements.

This assessment is critical to the success of your restoration project and ensures that all necessary repairs are identified and addressed.

Step 2: Initial Design Phase

The assessment of the building envelope is the foundation for the engineer’s initial schematic designs. During this phase, it is essential to consult with key stakeholders in the property, who take into account the materials used, the recommended project specifications and improvements, the efficiency, safety, and aesthetics, and what the restoration aims to achieve. Typically, an initial design can be expected within a few weeks.

Step 3: Detailed Design Phase

The final plan for the detailed design phase must fulfill the following requirements:

• Structure: The building’s frame and structure must support all restorative materials and elements.
• Infiltration: Restoration must reduce water penetration, air infiltration, and condensation.
• Movement: Proper material use and application must support differential movement related to temperature variations, typical structural movement, etc.
• Energy efficiency: Thermal-transfer-resistant materials and proper installation methods must improve energy efficiency.
• Noise reduction: Adding insulation and energy-efficient windows should reduce exterior noise and noise transmission.
• Fire prevention: Heat and smoke-resistant materials mitigate risks and positively impact insurance.
• Security: New secure doors and windows reduce the risk of crime.
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance, highly durable materials improve restoration return on investment (ROI).
• Execution: Proper scheduling and management, including construction, tendering process, service requirements, materials accessibility, clearance for restoration teams, available tradespeople, etc., ensure a smooth operation and efficient project execution. Partnering with certified and licensed construction companies like Desa Contracting & Restoration can ensure cost efficiency, avoid disruptions, and complete the project safely.
• Site safety: Procedures to improve productivity and efficiencies are outlined in the site safety plan.
• Aesthetics: All recommendations in the plan must enhance the property’s curb appeal, contributing to its rentability and sellability.
• Budget: The combined restoration recommendations must not exceed the budget.

It’s important to note that the detailed design phase can take one to three months.

Step 4: Tendering Phase

To ensure a transparent process and establish accountability, property managers invite qualified contractors to assess the project and submit bids in the tendering process. The proposals are thoroughly reviewed by management and ultimately approved by the property owner(s). Tendering is a legally binding process that ensures complete transparency throughout the contractor selection process.

Step 5: Construction & Project Completion Phase

To ensure a successful restoration, the construction team works to execute the initial design and detailed design plan, which includes various types of restorative work as the last step in the building restoration process. This includes:

• Brick/block and stonework replacement/repairs
• Tuck-pointing repairs
• Installation of masonry helical-ties
• Shelf-angle repairs
• Through-wall flashing
• Caulking and sealants
• Painting/wall coating
• Metal refinishing
• Application of masonry and concrete sealers
• Balcony concrete rehabilitation

It’s important to note that the completion time for a building restoration project depends on the scope of work, and can range from a few days or weeks to over a year. By understanding what to expect during a building restoration, you can ensure that the project moves forward efficiently with clear project deliverables. Moreover, this approach increases your chances of achieving your goals in a cost-effective and timely manner.

Conclusion: Making Sense of Complex Restoration Services

Now that you know the five key steps involved in a successful building restoration, property managers can better understand how to navigate the often complex world of restoration services. That said, in conclusion, investing in building restoration solutions is an excellent strategy for property managers in Toronto to maintain the safety and security of their properties while keeping their tenants and landlords satisfied.

By addressing issues like water damage, structural damage, and energy inefficiency, property managers can avoid more significant problems down the line, improve the aesthetic appeal of their properties, and even increase their value.

Moreover, with expert advice and guidance from a reliable contracting and restoration company like Desa Contracting & Restoration, property managers can ensure that their building restoration project is executed efficiently, safely, and within budget.

Investing in building restoration solutions is a smart decision for property managers to safeguard their properties, maintain tenant and landlord satisfaction, and improve the bottom line. If your building is in need of any restoration work, don’t hesitate to contact Desa Contracting & Restoration. They’ll be happy to assist you in restoring your property, no matter the size of the project or work required.