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Church Property Maintenance Checklist: Establish A Church Maintenance Checklist

Your church property is one of your most important assets. It’s a place of worship, community center, and gathering for your congregation.

That’s why keeping your church roof, drainage pipes, electrical system, and HVAC system in excellent condition is so important. A well-maintained facility will be more inviting to members and guests, and will better reflect the values of your congregation.

Fortunately, keeping your church property in top shape doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your church is always looking its best.

What To Include In Your Church Property Maintenance Checklist

1. Building Exterior

Maintaining the building exterior of your church property is crucial in creating a welcoming and safe environment for churchgoers. Integrity Now Insurance Brokers has inspected many church buildings, but we could not provide church property insurance due to the obvious failed exterior and interior maintenance.

When looking at the church exterior buildings, church leaders should inspect the following items:

Building facade
Roof age and condition
Gutters are secured to the building and clear of debris
Windows are not broken and are in good working order
Exterior walls should be free of holes, cracks, loose mortar, and moss.
Exterior paint should not be peeling, cracking, or missing from the wood trim and exterior walls
Trip hazards such as cracks and potholes in the parking lot and uneven walking paths
Trimming plants, trees, and shrubs, that are overgrown.
Remove dangerous trees that are dead or have compromised root systems.
Ensure rainwater flows away from your building.
Check that all doors are in good working order.

2. Building Envelope

Maintaining the building envelope of your church property is crucial to prevent water damage, air leaks, and other potential issues. Regular inspection, facility management, and maintenance of the exterior walls, roof, windows, and doors are necessary to ensure church members are safe on Sunday mornings.

The building facade should be inspected annually to discover cracks, loose mortar, moss, water penetration, paint or sealant deterioration, and early signs of building movement.

3. Church Furnishings

Maintaining church furnishings is essential to keeping your church in good condition. To keep pews, altars, and other furniture in pristine condition, it’s recommended to dust them weekly using a soft cloth or vacuum cleaner.

Use a furniture polish suitable for the type of wood to keep it clean and shiny. Inspect them for any damage or wear and tear, and repair or replace them as necessary.

4. Church Fire Prevention Measures

Fire prevention is an essential aspect of church property maintenance. Here are some actionable steps that church property managers can take to ensure the safety of their facilities:

Fire extinguishers are serviced annually
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Electrical equipment and gas boilers should be inspected and serviced annually
Inspect Fire Detection and Suppression Systems
Ensure electrical outlets are working properly

5. Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

Maintaining your church’s heating and air conditioning systems is crucial to ensure they function correctly and efficiently. Here are some tips to help you keep them in good condition:

Schedule professional maintenance at least once a year:
Change filters regularly
Keep the outdoor unit clean
Check for leaks

Deferred maintenance can be a significant problem, especially when churches struggle to stay open during Covid-19. Historic church buildings must perform more frequent inspections to solve maintenance problems quickly.

6. Checklist for Church Cleaning

When creating a church cleaning checklist, it is crucial to consider the different areas of the church that require regular cleaning. This includes the sanctuary, restrooms, common areas, administrative offices, and nursery/classrooms.

A checklist should be divided into three categories, including daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.

Daily tasks should include wiping down walls, cleaning floors, and sanitizing surfaces.
Weekly tasks such as vacuuming carpets, cleaning bathrooms, and tidying up administrative offices should be more thorough.
Monthly tasks can include deep cleaning and inspection of the church building.

7. Building Repairs

The following repairs should be included in a church property maintenance checklist:

Inspect your roof and repair or replace old roofing systems
HVAC system maintenance
Electrical system inspection
Plumbing inspection and repair of pipes and drains
Fix broken stonework

When churches perform, regular inspections and maintenance, they can prevent significant problems in the future and ensure a safe and functional church building.

8. Equipment and Appliances

Maintaining the equipment and appliances in your church facility is crucial to ensure their longevity and functionality. Regularly inspect and check for loose or frayed cables, excessive heat, vibration, and unusual noise.

9. Roof Repairs

Including roof repairs in your church property maintenance checklist is crucial to protect your church buildings. It is vital to have an annual roof inspection from a licensed roofer to solve water intrusion concerns quickly.

A roof inspection will look for the following common roofing issues:

Damaged roofing ridge tiles, slates, and lifted shingles
Debris in gulleys and valleys
Corroded lead
Dampness or moisture in roof timbers
Signs of bats or infestation in roof spaces

Why You Need A Church Maintenance Checklist

1. Keep your building in good condition and avoid future repairs

Regular proactive church maintenance and repair of your buildings help ensure the overall health of the entire church property. General church upkeep can reduce more costly repairs in the future.

2. Ensure the safety and security of the building occupants

A church property maintenance checklist ensures the building occupants’ safety and security. The checklist should include regular inspections of the building’s maintenance systems and processes, such as heating, cooling, and electrical, to promptly identify and address potential hazards.

It should also include checks of fire safety equipment, such as smoke alarms, fire sprinklers, and lighted fire exits, to ensure they are in good working order.

3. Prevent damage caused by external elements and elements within the building

A church property maintenance checklist is crucial for preventing damage caused by external elements and elements within the building. Regular checks on the walls, utilities, and appliances can help identify any signs of wear or damage, allowing for timely repairs before they worsen.

4. Reduce the overall cost of maintenance

A church property maintenance checklist can help reduce the overall maintenance cost in several ways.

First, it allows for identifying potential issues before they become costly repairs. Regularly inspecting the property and equipment can address minor problems before they become major ones.
Second, a checklist ensures regular upkeep of equipment and facilities, which can prevent malfunctions and breakdowns that require expensive repairs.
Third, a checklist can help prioritize maintenance tasks and allocate resources more efficiently.

5. Improve the congregation experience

A well-maintained church facility can significantly enhance the experience of the congregation. Here are some ways that a clean and organized space can positively impact the worship experience:

Create a welcoming atmosphere
Promote safety and security
Improve functionality
Encourage cleanliness and hygiene

Step-by-step Guide On How To Create And Use Your Church Facility Management Checklist

Step 1: Research and define your church property maintenance needs

To research and define your church property maintenance needs, follow these steps:

Assess the current state of your property: Walk around your church building and grounds to identify any obvious maintenance needs, such as cracked pavement, peeling paint, or overgrown landscaping.
Identify potential hazards: Look for safety hazards such as loose handrails, uneven flooring, or damaged electrical wires.
Prioritize maintenance tasks: Create a comprehensive checklist that includes preventive and reactive tasks, assign responsibilities, and schedule regular inspections and maintenance.
Seek professional help: Know your limitations and get the help needed from a licensed contractor who is insured and bonded.
Keep accurate records: Keep track of the tasks performed, when, and by whom. Use this information to identify improvement areas and plan for future repairs or replacements.

Step 2: Identify and prioritize your facility maintenance tasks

Start by creating a comprehensive list of tasks that must be performed, including preventive and reactive maintenance. Assign responsibilities for each task and schedule regular inspections and maintenance based on the checklist.

Step 3: Develop a thorough, ongoing maintenance schedule that takes into account user needs

Developing a thorough maintenance schedule for your church property can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to get you started:

Create a comprehensive maintenance checklist that includes all essential tasks, such as HVAC maintenance, fire alarm system inspections, and cleaning schedules.
Determine the frequency of each task based on usage, manufacturer recommendations, and other factors.
Assign tasks to a dedicated maintenance team or volunteers.
Prioritize tasks based on urgency and assign deadlines to ensure all tasks are completed on time.
Regularly review and update the maintenance schedule to remain relevant and practical.

Preventive maintenance is vital to avoiding sudden equipment failure and disrupting your church activities. Water damage is one of the top church insurance claims facing insurance companies.

Replacing sump pumps, updating old galvanized pipes with modern materials, and updating older roofs are essential for the health of church buildings to preserve the safety of church members and staff.

Step 4: Equip yourself with the right tools for the job

Investing in quality tools for maintaining church property should include wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, power drills, saws, and plumbing snakes. These tools can be used to fix leaks, clogged pipes, repair electrical equipment, and conduct routine checks on utilities and appliances.

Step 5: Follow diligent protocols when performing inspections and assessments

To follow diligent protocols when performing inspections and assessments for church property maintenance, creating a comprehensive maintenance checklist that includes preventive and reactive tasks is crucial. Assign responsibilities to individuals or companies and communicate the schedule and expectations.

Step 6: Maintain accurate records of all work completed

Maintaining accurate records of all work completed in your church property maintenance checklist is crucial to ensuring the longevity and safety of your facility. To do so, keeping records of all repair reports, blueprints, photos, lists of building assets, notes on the history of heating and cooling systems, and other important documents is essential.

Step 7: Hire outside help for larger jobs

Pastors are experts in spiritual counseling and preaching the gospel; they are not general contractors. Whether your church is older or newer, when you have a large job that requires repairs, look for an expert who can tackle the job.

Tips And Tricks For Making The Most Of Your Church Building Maintenance Plan Checklist

1. Create a checklist that is easy to read and understand

Creating a user-friendly checklist for church property maintenance ensures that all tasks are completed efficiently and effectively. To make the checklist easy to read and understand, use clear and concise language and organize the tasks logically.

2. Break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps

Breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can make a big difference. By creating a comprehensive maintenance checklist, assigning responsibilities, scheduling regular inspections and maintenance, communicating expectations, monitoring progress, and keeping accurate records, you can ensure that all necessary tasks are completed promptly and efficiently.

Taking things one step at a time can make church property maintenance feel less daunting and more achievable. Remember, every small step counts towards a larger goal of keeping your church property in excellent condition.

3. Create a checklist that is easy to update as needs change

A CMMS software like Xenia can help streamline the process by offering customizable checklists and automated reminders to staff and volunteers when maintenance tasks are due. Assigning tasks to a larger, non-dedicated workforce and simplifying the process with a CMMS is essential.

4. Use checkboxes or other visual cues to make the checklist more engaging

Use checkboxes or other visual cues to make the Church Property Maintenance Checklist more engaging. These can help make the checklist more interactive and visually appealing and provide a sense of accomplishment as tasks are completed.

How Building Maintenance And Upkeep Helps Reduce Your Church Property Insurance Cost

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers specializes in church property insurance. We are an independent church insurance agency that works with churches throughout the United States.

Regular building maintenance can help reduce the cost of church property insurance in several ways:

First, church insurance companies often offer lower premiums to well-maintained properties with a lower risk of damage or loss. By conducting regular inspections, identifying and addressing potential hazards, and performing necessary repairs, churches can demonstrate to insurance companies that they are actively working to mitigate risks.
Second, regular maintenance can help prevent minor problems from becoming more significant issues that could result in costly insurance claims.
Finally, churches with a documented maintenance plan and a history of regular maintenance may be viewed more favorably by insurance underwriters, which could result in lower premiums.

As church insurance agents, we work hard to ensure our clients save money on their church insurance costs. Investing in regular maintenance can help save money on insurance costs and protect the church’s financial resources in the long run.

What should be included in a church property maintenance checklist?

A Church Maintenance Checklist should include tasks that must be regularly inspected, cleaned, and maintained. Some examples of items that should be on the checklist include checking and cleaning HVAC filters, inspecting and maintaining electrical systems, checking for leaks or damages in the roof, walls, and flooring, maintaining the church’s plumbing, and checking and maintaining fire safety systems.

What are the common maintenance repairs for a church?

Some of the most common repairs that churches need to undertake include:

Regularly inspecting and maintaining the building structure, including the roof, walls, and foundation, to prevent leaks or structural failures.
Maintaining the HVAC systems by regularly checking and cleaning air filters, inspecting ductwork, and checking for leaks in the system.
Inspecting and maintaining electrical systems, including outlets, light fixtures, and wiring, to prevent electrical fires and ensure safe operation.
Checking and maintaining plumbing systems to prevent leaks and other damage, including inspecting and cleaning pipes, checking faucets, and inspecting the water heater.
Checking and maintaining all windows and doors to ensure they are properly sealed and in good working order can improve energy efficiency and prevent leaks or break-ins.
Regularly cleaning and maintaining interior finishes such as painting, flooring, and ceilings to ensure they remain in good condition and to maintain the church’s appearance.
Maintaining the church’s grounds and landscaping, including mowing the lawn, trimming bushes and trees, and checking for pests.
Maintaining sound and AV equipment, such as microphones, speakers, and projectors, ensures they are in good working order and congregants can hear and see clearly during services.
Regularly inspecting safety and emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and emergency lighting, to ensure they are in good working order.
Maintaining the church parking lot, signs, and surrounding area to ensure safety and accessibility for congregants and visitors.

What kind of maintenance is required for stained glass windows?

Stained glass windows require regular maintenance to preserve their beautiful appearance and ensure their longevity. The maintenance process includes cleaning and repairing any damage or deterioration.

The cleaning process involves removing dust, dirt, and other debris that accumulates on the surface of the glass over time. Cleaning should be done with a soft cloth, mild detergent, or glass cleaner.

Any damage to the glass, from cracks to missing pieces, should be promptly repaired to prevent further damage. When repairing, using materials compatible with the original glass is essential.

The window frame should also be checked for signs of wear or rot, and repaired or replaced.

What kind of tools and software are available for church maintenance?

Using church facility management software like MaintainX can help remind your staff when recurring work orders need to be completed and performed, while also tracking all maintenance tasks.

Small Church Insurance Program Expert: Integrity Now Insurance Brokers

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers are experts in providing a Small Church Insurance Program tailored to meet your community’s specific needs. Their coverage includes property, liability, and workers’ compensation insurance options for churches.

With over 20 years of experience in the church insurance industry, they have worked with many churches to help them navigate complex insurance policies. We understand churches’ unique challenges and strive to provide affordable church insurance coverage that protects the congregation and the facilities.

We offer competitive rates from top-rated insurance carriers, so you can be confident that you receive the best coverage at the best price.

Integrity Now Insurance Brokers are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and working with you to meet your needs. You can trust them to provide reliable insurance solutions that give you peace of mind, so you can focus on what truly matters – serving your congregation.