WPA is currently working on two buildings with water infiltration problems. The buildings have areaways on the basement level and rainwater was infiltrating inside the occupied spaces. This was a small ongoing problem for years, which gradually began to cause visible damage.

After investigating the causes of the problem, it became clear that one of the main reasons was that the areaways were not being cleaned regularly. Leaves and other debris were clogging the drains. Bringing in a plumber to clear the drains solved the problem. In addition, all the areaway surfaces will be waterproofed to further prevent seepage of water to the inside.

The client will set up a maintenance-cleaning program to avoid future problems, but still there is the cost of interior repairs.

The moral of the story is that a leaf in time saves nine. Maintenance is not always seen as a burning issue, but applying thought now can create good programs, which will save substantial sums in the future.