In my maiden tour of the restaurant, I noted certain matters that needed urgent attention in order to guarantee the safety of the investment, staff and the customers. This letter is written to you in order to inform you of the potential dangers that emanate from the continued disrepair of the restaurant. My correspondence with the manager of the dining room revealed that previously, the focus has been on the guests and the dining room. The following is a summary of the potential dangers in the restaurant.
The trees around the restaurant have not been pruned so that the branches may potentially entangle with power lines that connect the restaurant to the national grid. The consequence of this is an electrical accident that could potentially result in an inferno that might raze the restaurants and neighboring property. Additionally, the roots of these trees pose an imminent threat to the water pipes. The losses associated with this not only include the costs of replacing the pipes, but also discontinued services in the restaurants because of lack of water. The windows in the building housing the restaurant appear not to have been replaced for a long time.
As such, there are gaps appear from the building settling. These gaps cause an increase in the cost of energy as they affect air conditioning, and heating during the colder months. The foundation of the building also exhibits a spider web pattern of cracks. Additionally, a puddle of water has collected against the building. If left unattended, this will weaken the structural integrity of the foundation, and by extension, the building. Additionally, water will seep in through the seams and cause dampness in the restaurant. This will result in mold problem, some of which are toxic, especially around areas where food is handled (Costa, Guedes & Varum, 2013).
The roof of the restaurant also needs attention. The area of the roof around the exhaust vent located in the hood system is charred. If a heavy object were to fall on this section, it would cave in, potentially injuring the employees in the kitchen. Branches from adjacent trees have also overgrown, and some are leaning on the roof. This is dangerous, especially if the trusses holding the roof in place are also in a state of disrepair. The bird’ nests on the branches above the roof of the restaurant need to be removed (Cullinane, 2012).
The uric acid from the bird’s droppings, though a weak acid, can cause deterioration of the roofing material with time. Finally, certain areas of the tar paper used in the roof are pulled. This means that the roof is not entirely waterproof. A leaking roof poses an imminent danger to the electrical installations in the kitchen and the entire restaurants. This will also cause destruction of the ceiling material and also the trusses holding the roof in place (Cullinane, 2012).
In my position as a manager, I suggest the maintenance of the exterior system, the roof and the structural integrity of the building. With regards to the exterior system, it is my suggestion that the overgrown branches around the restaurant be pruned. Any overgrown trees should be cut down in accordance with the bylaws of the local authorities. Additionally, their stamps should be treated so that they do not continue to grow.
Before any repairs are done on the roof, a professional assessment on the state of the rafts and trusses should be carried out in order to determine their structural integrity. The charred part of the roof adjacent to the exhaust vent should be replaced along with the pulled tar paper in order to make the entire roof waterproof. The structural integrity of the building at present needs to be determined by a professional. However, drainage can be improved in the meantime in order to remove the water puddles against the walls of the building. While these actions are important, the actions should be taken in this order; structural integrity maintenance, exterior system maintenance and roof system maintenance (Costa, Guedes & Varum, 2013).
It is my belief that these actions are required for the good of the business and all involved. I will be waiting for any correspondence or direction on this matter.
Herman Rabb
References
Costa, A., Guedes, J. M., & Varum, H. (2013). Structural rehabilitation of old buildings. Heidelberg. Springer
Cullinane, J. J. (2012). Maintaining and repairing old and historic buildings. Hoboken: Wiley.
