Housing and Community Development

A client who is developing a small housing project is looking for a schedule for maintenance activities.

Does anyone have any leads for such a thing?

Thanks!

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Kate Svoboda-Spanbock AIA, CID
Principal
HERE Design and Architecture
Los Angeles CA
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LEED for Homes has a template that is useful: http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/Archive/General/Docs9166.pdf

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Yumiko Ishida AIA
Vice President
Acanthus Architecture & Planning, PC
Phoenix AZ
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I have prepared similar schedules for historic projects.
What I pre[ared was based on the specifics of the project.
What materials do they have, brick, cement plaster, painted wood...then how often is a reasonable period for looking at these? my recomendation would be that most materials are looked at annually, in california we can work on buildings year round and we get our rain in the winter season, therefore in the late summer and fall it is a good time to look at the exterior envelope and check sealants, painted surfaces...
the roof system should be looked at in the fall, on the roof you should include that gutters and roof drains are cleared as well as looking at the integrity of the roof system.
And in california with earthquakes, look at rigid systems such as brick masonry, etc. after any seismic event.
Also to include: MEP systems replacement of filters..., replacement of lamps.
Landscaping, to trim vegetation back from the facade, inspect sprinklers to see that they are not spraying on the building.
You might also include an inspection of accessibility type items: do the entry doors meet the operating force requirements, is the strike and pull side clearance maintained throughout.


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Peter Birkholz AIA
Architect
Page & Turnbull
San Francisco CA
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For my own home, I have put together my own "maintenance manual" with information on the various systems and equipment (plumbing, HVAC, etc) as well as a checklist of items to check, replace, or maintain throughout the year - change filters, drain sediment from water heater, check anode rod, check and clean gutters, look at shingles, and so forth. Some of it is having all the information in one place rather than having to run down to the basement to check the furnace filter size or such. Some of it is just a reminder to me of what I have and have not done - did I check the anode this year?

I've considered offering a service along those lines to produce a custom manual for a homeowner. But you have two types of people. Those who are going to hire out the work (so don't need the manual) and those who do it themselves (so don't need the manual). I could see that there would be a better chance with a developer because all the systems are going to be the same - or reduced to a small set of options. I haven't found anyone willing to pay me for my time to go through to survey the particulars of their home and then create a custom manual for their house. And if you make it too generic, then they might as well just buy the "Guidelines for being a Homeowner" book at the big box store.

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Thomas Bank AIA
Principal Architect
Simply Stated Architecture, P.C.
Lemoyne PA
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