CHAPTER 4 • )·( 
THE 
TRUE 
COST 
OF 
DOING 
NOTHING 
Waiting today almost always 
costs more tomorrow. 
Buildings do not fail suddenly. They decline gradually, 
often in ways that are not visible from the ground. 
Small issues-left 
unaddressed-allow 
moisture, 
corrosion, and deterioration to spread, turning simple 
maintenance items into complex, costly repairs. 
The longer problems are ignored, the more building 
systems become involved, and the higher 
the cost to restore. 
FIGURE 4.1 
THE COST OF MAINTENANCE OVER TIME 
Preventive maintenance keeps costs predictable. 
Deferred maintenance allows costs to escalate. 
-
Preventive Maintenance 
(Stewardship Approach) 
-
Deferred Maintenance 
(Reactive Approach) 
I-
V, 
0 u 
$$$$ 
$$$ 
$$ 
$ 
0 
5 
10 
15 
20 
25 
TIME (YEARS) 
EXAMPLES OF HOW SMALL ISSUES BECOME BIG EXPENSES 
-
e e 
0 
SEALANT FAILURE 
CLOGGED GUTTERS 
BIOLOGICAL GROWTH 
IGNORED CRACKS 
A small crack in sealant 
Overflowing gutters 
Algae and mold trap 
Small cracks in stucco, 
allows water intrusion. 
lead to fascia rot, 
moisture and degrade 
concrete, or masonry 
Left untreated. it can 
wall staining. and 
coatings. leading to 
allow water in and 
damage framing, insulation, 
moisture behind 
premature repainting 
wealcere structural 
and interior finishes. 
siding systems. 
or replacement. 
components over time. 
A 
COSTS ACCELERATE 
aa WHEN MAINTENANCE 
IS POSTPONED. 
What could have been 
a small repair can become 
a major restoration. 
Timely care saves 
money. stress, and 
valuable time. 
-
POOR VENTILATION 
Trapped moisture in attics 
or crawlspaces leads to 
wood decay, mold growth, 
and increased enetgy 
costs. 
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The earlier you act. the more options you have-
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and the more you protect. 
CHAPTER 4 
I THE ECONOMICS OF PROPERTY STEWARDSHIP 
STEWARDSHIP TODAY. VALUE TOMORROW 

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