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How Spring Cleaning Builds Resilience for Commercial Properties

Posted on by anthony@the-robinson-agency.com

Leap year provided us an early spring this year, while the “prognosticator of prognosticators,” Punxatawney Phil, all but guaranteed it. With spring comes the welcoming, warm weather, losing an hour of sleep due to daylight savings time, and possibly even more when we realize it’s also time for spring cleaning.

For commercial property owners, spring brings about the opportunity to get your buildings in tip-top shape in preparation for all that Mother Nature brings in beauty and beast. This article covers how a robust spring cleaning regiment fortifies your building against the upcoming seasonal challenges.

The Power of Spring Cleaning

The concept of spring cleaning dates back hundreds of years, if not more, and is steeped in cultural tradition. As a long-standing tradition, spring cleaning presents the perfect opportunity as the temperatures get warmer, the days get longer, and nature awakens from its slumber to restore your building’s shine.

The building’s exterior is the first thing people notice, and a well-maintained facade can significantly enhance the building’s curb appeal. Spring cleaning improves the overall appearance and hygiene of your building by removing accumulated dust, dirt, and other debris. While the act of cleaning itself positively impacts health and well-being, it also affects the health and morale of occupants. As a building owner, checking off your spring cleaning list provides a sense of accomplishment and instills confidence that your tenants are taken care of.

If you don’t have a spring cleaning checklist, start with an assessment of your property to uncover what areas most need attention. Sidewalks, parking garages, windows, and parking decks are a few of the most common areas to review during your assessment. This is also an excellent time to work with your building services provider to check sealants for signs of wear and the facade for damage. Spring cleaning and proactive maintenance are your best line of defense and offense for upcoming seasonal challenges.

Pollen Impact and Preparation

Itchy eyes, runny noses, and sluggish feelings are just a few symptoms people struggle with as spring flowers bloom. Pollen doesn’t just wreak havoc on those with allergies. If left unabated, pollen can affect indoor air quality. Pollen can pile up on parking decks, walkways, and other exterior surfaces, making your building look dingy and neglected. Pressure washing and window cleaning, can rid your building of its coat of pollen.

Bracing for the Buzz: Pre-Spring Pest Prep

Pollen isn’t the only thing that emerges around springtime. This year experts predict what they call a double brood event of cicada emergence, producing billions of noisy creatures. While cicadas aren’t quite the nuisance to building owners that, rodents, roaches, and bedbugs are, their emergence will leave behind carcasses and attract predators sure to leave their mark. Birdproofing and a proactive approach to spring cleaning and maintenance is your first line of defense in ensuring your building is well-protected from pests.

Spring Into Action With Proactive Maintenance

Both spring and fall present opportune moments to spruce up your building and remove the remnants of the previous season. Just past the winter thaw and before the full brunt of the summer heat is perfect for comprehensive window cleaning. Professional window cleaning services don’t just remove superficial dirt, they take care of pollen, bird droppings, and smudges and streaks. This is essential in preventing build-up on your windows that can deteriorate their quality over time. When that happens, returning your windows to the ideal condition requires more extensive efforts including deep cleaning, restoration, or even full replacement.

Other common areas, like parking decks and walkways, are equally important in spring cleaning. These high-traffic areas bear the brunt of daily traffic and the harsh summer and winter environments. Using a scrubber or pressure washing these surfaces removes residue from ice-melt treatments and other contaminants. Pressure washing can remove mold growth from walkways common during the rainy season and a potential risk for slips and falls. This paves the way for a safer and aesthetically pleasing building and campus.

Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze with Valcourt Services

Through spring cleaning and preventative maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs and replacements, significantly boost tenant satisfaction, and, ultimately, enhance your property’s value. Valcourt Building Services stands at the forefront of preserving and elevating commercial properties with an unwavering focus on safety and customer satisfaction.

By entrusting your property to Valcourt Building Services, you choose a partner dedicated to maintaining its aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. Contact Valcourt today to see how our range of services, from cleaning facades to large-scale restoration projects, ensures that your building not only withstands the tests of time and nature but also thrives.

 

Professional Glass Restoration

Deep Clean or Glass Restoration, Part 2: Comprehensive Guide to Professional Glass Restoration

Posted on by a1_admin

Despite your best efforts in regular upkeep, natural wear and tear sometimes take its toll on your windows. When you notice that even the most meticulous cleaning doesn’t restore former glory, it’s time for a strategic pivot. This article will help you recognize the signs of window deterioration and introduce window restoration as a cost-effective and budget-friendly alternative to complete replacement.

Glass Restoration: Reviving Your Windows

Addressing common issues like stubborn stains and fading clarity shouldn’t cost you an entire window installation. When regular window cleaning isn’t returning your windows to pristine condition or staining, clouding, and etching won’t go away, restoration may be in order.

Removing ground-level staining, which is expected due to hard water from irrigation systems, can rejuvenate your windows and add to your building’s curb appeal. This budget-friendly project is smaller in scope than a full glass restoration and is a good addition to any preventative maintenance plan, especially for areas notorious for hard water.

Understanding the true potential of glass restoration is knowing when to intervene. This isn’t merely about reversing obvious damage; it’s about preventing the gradual, often unnoticed, deterioration that accumulates into major financial drains. The environmental onslaught of sun and storms, as well as the occasional misadventures of accidental damages, merits a comprehensive approach to window wellness.

Commercial Window Restoration Process

Revitalizing your commercial windows through restoration isn’t merely an aesthetic upgrade—it’s a strategic move that strengthens their endurance and function. Consider it a proactive measure to secure your property’s market worth and the satisfaction of its tenants. When carried out correctly, the process can return the glass very close to its original clarity, offering a far more cost-effective solution than a complete replacement.

A typical glass restoration project may consist of the following elements.

Pressure Washing & Seal Facade

This step removes dirt and grime from the building’s facade using high-pressure water jets. Depending on your building, you may want to consider sealing or re-sealing the facade to prevent future mineral leaching and staining. Sealing can also help improve energy efficiency and maintain aesthetic appeal.

Restore the Glass 

Similar to buffing a car, this method efficiently removes stains without harming the glass. The process involves applying a restorative cleaning product that is carefully buffed and polished across the window’s surface.

It’s a meticulous procedure that targets surface dirt and pollutants trapped within the glass’s microscopic imperfections, effectively eliminating deposits and staining that regular cleaning can’t address. To further lengthen the lifespan of the windows, a water repellant can be added, offering extra surface protection for the glass.

Deep Clean Window Frames 

Deep cleaning involves thoroughly removing dirt, debris, and any corrosive elements accumulated over time, ensuring the frames’ structural integrity and visual appeal are maintained. Specialized cleaning solutions and techniques address each frame’s unique material, whether metal, wood, or vinyl, effectively rejuvenating them to match the restored glass’s pristine condition.

While the deep cleaning process is optional, restoration is an opportune time to implement this proactive measure. This step not only improves the overall look but also contributes to the longevity of the window system.

Quality Check & Final Walkthrough

This ensures the restoration process meets quality standards. The quality check and final walkthrough verifies the restoration has successfully restored the window’s aesthetics, ensuring a seamless blend with the building’s overall appearance.

This comprehensive approach guarantees the longevity and effectiveness of the restoration work. With the windows restored to their optimal state, attention shifts to maintaining their condition and performance through post-restoration care and maintenance.

Post-Restoration Care and Maintenance

Post-restoration, the service provider should clean the windows one final time, making them appear new. A best practice is to provide the customer with an after-action report to ensure they understand the ongoing maintenance necessary for upkeep.

We recommend:

  • Regular Window Cleaning – Cleaning the exterior glass a minimum of 2-4 times a year removes dirt and pollutants while preserving visibility and glass quality. You can save in the long run and prolong the need for deep cleaning by staying on track with regular window cleaning, pressure washing, and sealing.
  • Facade Cleaning & Resealing – Pressure washing the building facade every 5-7 years and following resealing guidance will help protect against environmental damage and water intrusion.
  • Periodic Deep Cleaning – Deep clean exterior glass if it is affected by heavy build-up from deferred maintenance or construction debris. This more intensive cleaning addresses any buildup that regular cleanings cannot remove and checks the integrity of the frames.

While windows don’t last forever, a proactive approach to window and facade maintenance will extend their life and deliver a greater ROI on your investment.

Optimizing Your Building’s Window Longevity with Glass Restoration

Employing glass restoration and proactive care offers a strategic approach to revitalizing your commercial windows. Investing in restoration protects not just your windows but also your peace of mind, knowing that you’re preemptively mitigating risks and future expenses like window replacement.

Rest assured, with Valcourt’s expertise, you’ll be extending the life of your windows, enhancing the aesthetics of your building, and improving energy efficiency. If you suspect your windows need attention or professional cleaning, contact Valcourt today for a quote.

 

Professional Window Cleaning

Deep Clean or Glass Restoration, Part 1: Comprehensive Guide to Professional Window Cleaning

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Beyond merely offering clear views, regular window cleaning is an essential practice in preserving a building’s aesthetic appeal and its long-term well-being. Sparkling windows elevate a structure’s facade and signal a proactive approach to property maintenance while creating a welcoming environment. This article shines a light on the world of professional window cleaning services, emphasizing their role in extending the lifespan of various window types through preventative care.

Regular Window Cleaning: Methods and Benefits

Window cleaning techniques encompass a spectrum from traditional to advanced methodologies. Traditional methods, such as mops and squeegees, are indispensable for achieving thorough dirt and streak removal. In contrast, water-fed pole systems represent a more modern approach, utilizing purified water to deliver a spot-free finish. However, it’s important to note that water-fed poles have their limitations when cleaning from the ground; they are generally effective up to five stories.

For buildings approximately six stories and taller, which fall into the mid to high-rise category, rope descent systems (RDS) become essential for window cleaning. RDS allows for comprehensive façade cleaning, reaching areas where water-fed poles cannot. This distinction is crucial for ensuring the cleanliness and maintenance of taller buildings, where specialized equipment like RDS is necessary to address the unique challenges posed by their height, architectural features, and fall protection requirements.

An imperative part of building facade maintenance, regular window cleaning is vital for maintaining the overall health and appearance of a building’s windows. However, there are circumstances where standard window cleaning may not suffice. Environmental exposure, construction work nearby, or prolonged neglect can lead to conditions where deep cleaning efforts are needed to improve the windows’ condition.

Deep Cleaning Window Services: Process and Techniques

Deep cleaning tackles the more stubborn issues that cannot be remedied by standard cleaning, including removing heavily built-up grime, construction debris, paint overspray, or adhesive residues. Deep cleaning services for commercial windows utilize specialized treatments and techniques to tackle what regular cleaning cannot remove.

Professional window cleaners carefully select methods and materials based on the window’s condition, the type of dirt or damage present, and the building’s architectural considerations. These experts employ different abrasive pads, razors, or cleaning agents to remove heavy build-up. It’s important to note that these methods require expertise as they risk permanently damaging the glass if not done correctly. This transition marks a return to the regular cadence of window maintenance, ensuring the longevity and aesthetic appeal of the building’s exterior.

Window Maintenance Cadence

  • Standard Window Cleaning – Clean exterior glass 2-4 times yearly to remove accumulations of dirt, grime, and pollutants that obscure visibility and degrade the glass over time. In areas prone to higher levels of dirt and dust, increasing the frequency of cleaning may be necessary to maintain the glass’s aesthetic and structural integrity.
  • Periodic Deep Cleaning – Deep clean exterior glass if it is affected by heavy build-up from deferred maintenance or construction debris. This more intensive cleaning addresses any build-up that regular cleanings cannot remove and checks the integrity of the frames.
  • Facade Cleaning & Resealing – Pressure washing your facade every 5-7 years and resealing per the manufacturer’s recommendations improves its overall health, protecting it from environmental elements. It also prevents mineral water run-off from leaching from the facade to the windows and window frames, which can eventually cause staining.
  • Glass Restoration Services – When regular cleaning no longer restores the original clarity due to heavy build-up, mineral deposit staining, or damage from deferred maintenance, it’s time for professional glass restoration. This service, ideal for buildings experiencing issues beyond the scope of standard cleaning, uses specialized techniques to revive the glass.

By adhering to these maintenance practices, buildings can enjoy the immediate benefits of clean and well-maintained windows and the long-term advantages of enhanced durability and reduced repair and restoration costs.

Benefits of Regular Window Cleaning

  • Increased Longevity: Regular cleaning prevents the accumulation of harmful substances like pollutants, dirt, and hard water minerals, which can eventually cause staining, etching, or even cracking.
  • Cost Savings: Regular window and facade maintenance helps avoid the significant expenses associated with deep restorative cleaning or complete replacement. Clean windows maintain high thermal efficiency, reducing energy costs by maximizing natural light and heat retention.
  • Aesthetic and Value Enhancement: Clean windows significantly improve a building’s appearance, boosting its curb appeal and potentially increasing its market value. They also enhance the indoor environment for occupants by allowing more natural light and providing clear views.

Regular window cleaning enhances the aesthetic appeal of commercial buildings and contributes significantly to the preventative maintenance strategy and longevity, preventing the premature need for costly repairs or replacements. It’s a proactive measure that preserves the clarity and integrity of glass over time. However, when routine or deep cleaning is insufficient to address accumulated wear, neglect, or other specific issues, restoration services become essential to restore the windows to their optimal condition.

Identifying When Regular Cleaning Isn’t Enough

When regular window cleaning no longer restores the original clarity and brilliance of your building’s windows, it’s a sign that deeper issues need addressing. Signs include:

  • Persistent stains that resist standard cleaning efforts
  • Visible scratches and etchings
  • Heavy spotting, streaking, foggy glass, or dullness
  • A noticeable decline in window transparency affects the building’s appearance

These conditions highlight the need for comprehensive glass restoration services. Window restoration services apply a solution coupled with abrasion to remove stains safely. Through restoration, you can significantly extend the life of your windows, enhancing the building’s overall appeal and value.

Maximizing Glass Longevity and Aesthetic Through Professional Window Cleaning

Professional window cleaning stands as a critical component in the maintenance regimen of commercial buildings, ensuring not just aesthetic brilliance but also the longevity of window systems. This guide has highlighted the significance of regular and deep cleaning to address various window conditions and building environments. Opting for professional exterior building service providers like Valcourt ensures that windows remain pristine, enhancing a building’s appeal and contributing to its overall value.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this series, where we will dive into glass restoration, including identifying the signs that your building’s windows require restoration.

Contact Valcourt for comprehensive window cleaning services tailored to your building’s specific needs.