Parking Garage Seasonal Maintenance Checklist

Parking structures face constant challenges from the elements, including rain, snow, extreme heat, and wind. Investing in proactive planning and preparation for weather-related challenges is a more beneficial long-term strategy than simply reacting to damage as it occurs. 

Continue reading to see how our parking garage seasonal maintenance checklist can save you time and money as well as extend the service life of your garage.

Before we dive into our complete parking garage seasonal maintenance checklist, it’s important to understand what our approach is and why it works. At StructureCare, we use a mix of experience, industry knowledge, and investigation to make informed predictions about what your garage may need over the next three to five years. 

When it comes to seasonal parking garage maintenance best practices, our approach is simple and consists of three key components: anticipation, mitigation, and control.

1. Anticipate

Understanding what risks are most prominent for your structure can help you prepare for and prevent unnecessary repairs in the future. Parking garage inspections reveal the unique characteristics of your structure, from past construction challenges and environmental impacts to subtle signs of damage that indicate bigger problems down the road. 

2. Mitigate

Maintenance is an ongoing process. Keeping up with regular inspections and assessments ensures you don’t miss a small problem before it becomes a larger issue. It’s essential to address any repairs the moment you notice them. By implementing a parking garage seasonal maintenance checklist, your structure remains operational, safe, and profitable all year round. 

3. Control

When you’re proactively anticipating and mitigating potential problems, you have the opportunity to take control of your parking structure's health. This makes seasonal parking garage maintenance tasks and extending the life of your garage easier. For example, scheduling repairs and planning restoration projects, as well as maximizing your budget.

The environmental elements you’ll have to prepare for will vary depending on where your garage is located. Knowing which weather challenges you are more at risk of can help you create a more detailed and customized parking garage seasonal maintenance checklist. Generally speaking, no matter where you are, your parking structure will be exposed to one or more of the following common weather conditions.

Water

Water is one of the most common weather challenges for a parking garage since it can degrade concrete and seep into supporting metal structures, causing corrosion and delamination. This becomes even more of an issue for garages located in marine environments since salt can accelerate corrosion. 

While a small amount of water may not seem like a cause for concern, years of water penetration can create cumulative damage to your parking structure. With proper waterproofing treatments and routine maintenance, you can keep small problems from turning into larger, and more expensive repairs. 

Snow

There are many ways snow can damage your concrete parking garage, and while not every location needs to worry about snow challenges, those that do should take it seriously. The first instance where snow can be dangerous is known as overloading. This occurs when piled snow puts more weight on your structure than it was initially designed to withstand. 

Damage can also result from snow plows. When plows pile snow against a load-bearing wall, pushing it away from the structure and dislodging it, this could cause structural damage and may require emergency repairs. Chemical damage is another issue if a garage is improperly treated for snow and ice. 

Heat

Extreme heat can cause structures to expand and contract. If this isn’t something considered during the design and building process, it can result in cracking and oxidation. As we mentioned above, waterproofing sealants and coatings are imperative to protecting your garage from water damage, however, if they are exposed to extreme sun and heat, these treatments can crack apart. Then, next time it rains, your parking structure isn’t protected the way it should be.

Preparing for weather-related issues year-round can save you money and headaches. Instead of costly emergency repairs, you can implement routine maintenance as part of a solid weather resiliency plan. 

A crucial — and often neglected — piece of that plan is proper training for your maintenance staff. Without the knowledge to recognize, handle, and prevent weather-related problems, your parking garage is vulnerable to ongoing deterioration and unexpected damage.

In the following sections, we’ve provided a parking garage seasonal maintenance checklist you can share with your team to use year-round. 

Parking Garage Spring Maintenance Checklist

Primary challenge(s): Rain

What to look for:

• Is there any water damage near drains and other low-lying areas?
• Is there any pooling near drains and other low-lying areas?
• Are there any cracks in the concrete?
• Is there chipping in topical waterproofing coatings?
• Are there any damages to joints? 
• Do you notice any new leaks after heavy rains? 

Pro-Tip: Always check for new damages that may have occurred during the winter months, such as snow overloading, plows, de-icers, etc.

Parking Garage Summer Maintenance Checklist

Primary challenge(s): Rain, severe storms, and heat waves

What to look for:

• Are there any cracks or flaking on joints?
• Are there any cracks or flaking in topical waterproofing coatings? 
• Is there any pooling near drains and other low-lying areas
• Is there any water damage near drains and other low-lying areas?
• Do you notice any new leaks after heavy rains? 
• Are there any signs of chipping, cracking, or flaking after excessive heat waves or drastic fluctuations in temperature? 

Pro-Tip: After severe storms or heavy rains, always check for new structural damages and potential repairs. 

Parking Garage Fall Maintenance Checklist 

Primary challenge(s): Rain, snow, and temperature fluctuations

What to look for:

• Are there any debris buildup drains?
• Are there any clogs in drains causing water pooling? 
• Are there any cracks, or flaking in waterproofing surfaces?
• Are there any cracks, or flaking in joints?
• Do any repairs need to be addressed before the colder months?
• Are there any signs of chipping, cracking, or flaking after significant temperature fluctuations? 

Pro-Tip: Consider doing a winter maintenance training program to prepare your team. 

Parking Garage Winter Maintenance Checklist

Primary challenge(s): Snow and ice

What to look for:

• Is there any accidental damage to joints and surfaces after snow cleanup or ice removal? 
• Are joints clearly marked for easy identification during snow removal?
• Is there ice buildup in unexpected places like wall joints or drains?
• Are snow piles heavier than your parking structure can handle?
• Are you using the proper de-icers to prevent slip-and-fall injuries? 
• Are de-icers being applied correctly to lessen the risk of corrosion? 

Pro-Tip: Communicate with third-party contractors about joint locations and where to pile snow to avoid unnecessary damages. 

To ensure the safety and longevity of your parking structure, regular assessments and inspections are essential. These proactive parking garage maintenance procedures and measures can reveal hidden issues and prevent costly repairs down the road. Our team offers three specialized types of inspections and assessments, each designed to address different needs and provide specific benefits, as detailed below.

Detailed Condition Assessments

We'll provide a comprehensive parking structure assessment, including a three-year construction pricing forecast. Our expert team will use advanced testing and decades of experience to prioritize repairs based on safety, structural integrity, and cost-effectiveness. The detailed proposal will outline the scope of work and a clear budget to support your decision.

Condition Reviews

We generally recommend a full condition assessment for a thorough understanding of your structure's condition. However, we also offer condition reviews, which can be done independently or after a full assessment. These reviews help track previously identified problems and adjust your repair priorities, but because they are less detailed, they may not uncover the full extent of any deterioration.

Field Investigations

With this specialized inspection, we'll identify and address all existing damage, both visible and hidden. This allows us to prioritize repairs based on severity, ensuring the most critical issues are addressed first.

Make sure your structure remains healthy year-round. Talk to our team to set up a maintenance plan today.