Winter has officially ended, and it’s time to embrace spring building maintenance, taking the necessary steps to protect your building and your business in preparation for the heat of the summer.

From taking care of your landscaping to cleaning your equipment, spring building maintenance is an important step in protecting your building, your staff, and your visitors.

Winter damage

If your property sustained any exterior damage during the cold winter months, now is the time to identify and rectify that damage. This could look like potholes in your parking lot, cracks on your walkways, fallen trees, and more. Take a walk through the grounds to assess its condition, note any necessary repairs, and arrange to take care of any issues.

Litter

While not technically a maintenance item, litter is often exposed in the spring as the snow thaws. It makes your property look messy and it can leave a negative impression on your visitors. Pick up any litter or debris and assess whether you may need to relocate or add garbage or recycling stations to your property.

RELATED: Why curb appeal matters (and how to get it)

Drainage

Drainage can present an issue as the snow melts, backing up and causing flooding if the water doesn’t have a place to go. This is an issue you will need to fix with the increased precipitation in the spring. Check to make sure that your drains are clear so that they can get the job done to reduce the amount of water that remains in your parking lot. You may also want to look into adding some curbing to discourage water from coming in from other sources if you are finding that your parking lot is flooding often.

Turf

If you have grass on your property, work on putting together an all-season maintenance program with seeding, fertilization, leaf blowing, and aeration to keep it in good shape. Not only is an unhealthy lawn unappealing to look at, but it can also provide shelter and hiding places for pests like mice and mosquitos on your property.

This strategy should also include weed management, as you work towards keeping a neat, tidy, and healthy lawn for guests and staff. Be sure to check on your irrigation system, too, to ensure that it’s ready when you need  into the summer.

While some of these spring maintenance items are a reflection of the previous winter, some are preventative measures to make sure that the outside of your building puts its best foot forwards this spring.