Would you rather pay $30,000 for property damage to your church – or $1,000? Some experts estimate that putting off facility management can lead to repairs that cost 30 times the cost of preventive maintenance. Proper upkeep can not only help reduce costs, but risk as well. As a continuation of our series discussing how churches can mitigate risk to their facility, we wanted to take a deep dive into building maintenance. We’re going through church maintenance best practices with every letter of the alphabet (truly the ABCs) and linking to valuable, free resources you can use to save your church money and boost safety.

Assess

The first step to any safety and maintenance program is to assess the entire scope of the property. For large worship centers, this can seem overwhelming. To help make this task more manageable, divide the property into sections such as exterior, roof, main rooms, utilities, etc. Completing a walkthrough of the property with a risk specialist or insurance professional can help get a more comprehensive assessment as well.

Assessments aren’t a one-and-done task, however. Annual assessments of the property are recommended as part of preventive maintenance.

Get started now. Download our free property self-assessment checklist.

Build a team

Maintaining even a small church can be too much for one person. Create an in-person safety committee that can share responsibility. For accountability, make sure each member has assigned roles with their duties clearly written out.

Checklists

Checklists are your new best friend when it comes to property management. Trying to remember every single detail of what needs to be done is impossible for most people. Fortunately, Glatfelter has free, downloadable checklists for nearly every aspect of property maintenance. Take a peek at our checklists and other risk resources here.

Documentation

So you’ve completed your checklists, but have you kept the documentation? Do you have copies of invoices from repairs and installations? How about yearly calendar reminders of when inspections are due, alarms need testing or batteries need changed?

Documenting the maintenance process will help keep the ball rolling, as well as provide necessary information if an incident were to occur.

Electrical Systems

According to FEMA, while electrical malfunctions are not the most common cause of fires in non-residential buildings, they are among the top three most costly. Maintain electrical systems by scheduling inspections once every 10 years, and every time your church builds on additions or completes renovations. Additionally, areas surrounding electrical panels and outlets should be kept clear of debris, storage and other obstructions.

Learn more about maintaining electrical systems in our Building Self-Inspection Checklist.

Fire Prevention

Fires are the most expensive type of property loss for churches with costs easily reaching into the millions. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to help prevent fires at your worship center. Take a look at our helpful infographic on fire prevention for some quick tips.

Grounds

Your property is more than the building itself. It also includes the grounds. Landscaping, utility sheds, outdoor equipment and playground areas also need regular assessments and upkeep.

Here are some risk bulletins to help you keep your grounds safe and secure:

• Playground Inspection Checklist
• Winterizing Your Worship Center
• Preparing Your Church for Extreme Weather Events
• Water Hazards Risk Bulletin

HVAC

Furnaces, air conditioning and HVAC units should be regularly inspected, serviced and cleaned to help ensure they remain safe. As an added benefit, maintaining these systems can also help reduce energy costs by up to 40%!

Inspections

Self-assessments are great, but professional inspections are best. From sprinklers and HVAC systems to plumbing and electrical equipment, various aspects of your church should be inspected by licensed professionals on a regular basis.

Junk Removal

The older your church, the more likely it has a storage problem. Hanging onto outdated equipment can be hazardous, especially if storing it blocks access to exits and utilities. We’re not saying you have to Marie Kondo your entire worship center, but purging unused items from storage frees up space and helps to reduce risk.

Kitchen

Cooking is the number one cause of fires within non-residential buildings, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Properly training staff and equipping your church’s commercial kitchen, as well as maintaining equipment is crucial.

To learn more about commercial kitchen safety, download our risk bulletin.

Loss Prevention and Crime

Criminals often target churches because they house fine art, cash donations, expensive audio/visual equipment and other valuables. Finding the right security measures for your church can go a long way in preventing and deterring crime.

Make a Plan

It’s not “if” an incident will occur; it’s “when.” Creating emergency action plans in the event of fires, severe weather events, security breaches and other events can help mitigate damage, and more importantly, save lives. Check out our Emergency Action Plan Outline to help you get started.

Neighbors

Unfortunately, even if your staff remains vigilant in maintaining your property, this doesn’t mean your neighbors are as dedicated. Nearby buildings can also pose a threat to your church. For example, if your church is next door to an apartment complex and a fire breaks out in one of the units, it has the potential to spread to your property. For this reason, it’s important to take a 360° assessment of not only your property, but surrounding properties as well. If possible, try to work with your neighbors to ensure proper upkeep.

Organization

A place for everything and everything in its place. Staying organized cannot be stressed enough. Proper organization allows for smoother staff transitions, faster retrieval of documentation and can help make the overall maintenance process easier.

Plumbing

Water damage (not from flooding) is the second most common and most expensive type of loss for churches. A burst pipe can wreak havoc on floors, walls, equipment and more. Insulating plumbing is only one way to help prevent this type of incident. Learn other ways to protect your church from water damage with these resources:

• How to Prepare Your Church for Winter Weather
• Cold Weather and Broken Pipes
• 3 Steps to Successfully Maintaining Your Church

Quality Repairs

When equipment breaks down, or parts of the building need to be repaired, it can be tempting to go the DIY route or accept volunteer work from untrained members. However, this can lead to more costly repairs in the future. As with inspections, it is always better to seek professional help with repairs.

Roofing

Wind and hail damage is the most common type of property loss for churches, and roofs are often the most susceptible to these natural elements. Think of your church’s roof as its first line of defense. A loose shingle, if left unrepaired, can lead to bigger and more costly damages. For this reason, seasonal roof assessments and maintenance are a must.

Safety First

As important as your church property is, your members and staff are unequivocally more important. So when undertaking property maintenance, always do so in a safe manner.

Training

Safety and training go hand-in-hand. Ensure that staff is trained on how to properly assess and maintain important aspects of your church’s property.

Utilities

As mentioned above, electrical systems, plumbing and HVAC units need regular attention. Upgrade these utilities as needed.

Visual/Audio Equipment

Many church services rely on audio/visual equipment, which is often expensive and can become obsolete quickly as technology continues to advance exponentially. To help minimize replacement costs, properly storing and securing AV equipment can help keep it in operational shape. Another important tip: make sure that wiring doesn’t overload electrical outlets with surge breakers and other preventative measures.

Windows and Stained Glass

Stained glass windows add beauty and color to a church that can inspire members. With the right care, these priceless features can last a lifetime and beyond.

But ordinary windows need love and care too. Regularly check windows for damage and to ensure they provide a tight seal against air and water. Board windows prior to extreme weather events.

Exterior Architectural Elements

Bell towers, domes and spires are iconic architectural elements for churches, but they require specialized care and maintenance. This applies to stone and masonry work as well. Schedule inspections on a yearly basis and after strong storms.

Yearly To-Dos

Many items on a maintenance to-do list should be done yearly. To help your members complete these annual tasks, tie it in with another yearly event. For example, you could make scheduling annual inspections part of your church’s spring cleaning list.

Zonal Compliance

While older buildings, including historical churches, can sometimes be granted exceptions from changing ordinances, it’s still a good idea to try and keep up with them. Often, new building codes are enacted due to safety measures, so whenever possible, even if not legally necessary, updating and upgrading your church building can be worthwhile.