Quality products and plantings on the exterior of your building can lower your utility bills. Using sustainable or recycled materials can also lower your maintenance costs. Work with professionals to find the best ways to create a sustainable exterior.
Use Sustainable Materials
If your building is exposed to strong sunlight, make sure your siding is UV tolerant and that your paint is UV resistant. Wooden trim may not be long-lived without regular repainting; it may make sense to get any wooden trim wrapped with metal to protect your property.
Pay careful attention to your roof. If your property includes any storage that doesn’t offer air conditioning, you need a membrane product that will tolerate strong UV rays and not break down over time.
If possible, try to put large membrane pieces to use. A large membrane with a strong UV tolerance will last longer than narrow strips that you need to glue together or re-seal on a seasonal basis. Anywhere these membranes have a break, even if they overlap, will become vulnerable over time. UV exposure can cause these edges to become fragile and break down. The fewer seams you have, the longer the membrane will last.
Include Reflective Products to Avoid Heat Build-Up
Make sure that the exterior of your property is not sucking up heat from the sun. Even if your building is in snow country, heat build-up will be tougher on your building overall if your building is dark.
Add a white rubber sealant to any flat roofs to reflect sunlight and reduce heat build-up. Consider getting your windows covered with a UV filter or add UV-protected windows if you’re planning a window replacement.
Manage Water Effectively
Commercial hardscapes can allow many benefits to keep your commercial property looking great. Proper hardscaping will allow you to plan ahead for rainfall that can be captured and provided to your landscaping.
Make sure you are working with a skilled landscaper to make sure that features on your property, such as retaining walls, are effectively capturing run-off. Different soils and fillers will provide you with different ways to capture, hold, or store water for your existing plants.
Of course, you’ll also need to choose plants that are ideally suited to your environment. If you really want to try growing fruit trees in pots in the northern United States, do it at home. Make the plants around your home as vigorous and healthy as possible by choosing the right plants.
Finally, make sure that you’re managing run-off effectively. If you’ve got a flat roof warehouse, get your drainage checked out before the rainy season hits. Take the time to get your roof checked out for debris. Sadly, dirt, debris, and even dead animals can cause serious drainage issues if they end up in your downpipes.
Your commercial property tells people a lot before they walk in the door. If your lawn has to be watered daily or your landscaping is left to die because you don’t water, you may be sharing an unhelpful message.
