Parking lot [...]]]> One of the biggest environmental issues troubling municipalities today is storm water runoff, and the regular use of vacuum sweepers can help mitigate this concern. Roughly 55% of rainfall from parking lot surfaces in most urban areas is contaminated with toxic pollutants and hazardous debris and it should be removed at source.

Parking lot runoffwill find its wayinto the urban storm water collection systems that eventually flush the water into watersheds. If the polluted runoff is not removed or filtered, it poses serious environmental and health concerns. The parking lot sweeping industry armed with powerful vacuum sweepers and efficient methods can help contain this problem.

Parking Lot Sweeping Provides A Solution for Storm Water Runoff

Technologically advanced parking lot sweepers, especially those equipped with regenerative air systems that are specifically designed to collect even the finestparticles, are very useful. Regular and thorough parking lot sweeping and street cleaning in urban areas offers the most potential for limiting water pollution from storm water runoff.

As well, some municipalities and various companies are now installing permeable pavement in parking lots and in some side streets. The porous surface of this pavement allows water to be absorbed and seep through to the ground below, which acts as a natural filter for any water that makes its way to the storm sewers and watersheds. These pavements also need thorough cleaning so that the porous material doesn’t become clogged with debris and fine particles and no longer function as filters.

Environmental Responsibilities To Be Taken Seriously

For any commercial property owner and for the municipality itself, the need for regular cleaning and maintenance of parking lots and streets goes beyond mere aesthetics. It is important to address the serious environmental responsibilities to the community in which the property is located.

Among the basic guidelines to help reduce storm water runoff and prevent pollutants from entering our ecosystems, the National Education for Municipal Officialsmakes these suggestions:

• Use penetrable pavement surfaces where possible – that is, pavement constructed of asphaltand concrete made with coarse particles rather than fine sand, or pavement constructed with crumbled,treated,tire rubber.

• Arrange for the regular cleanup of roads and parking lots.

Regular parking lot sweeping removesnot only the usual discarded garbage and debris but also tiny pollutantsas small as 2.5 microns. These microscopic sizepollutants are composed of rubber particulates, oil, engine soot, and other hazardous chemicals.

Why Choose an Established Parking Lot Sweeping Company?

When it comes to choosing your parking lot sweeping provider, keep in mind that no two companies are the same. It is generally best to choose one with an excellent reputation, expertise, and resources so that you have a provider who is fully equipped with the most advanced tools to deliver the job expertly and seamlessly instead of counting on a startup sweeping company that doesn’t have established processes in place.

Reputable contractors today have the latest sweeping equipment that offers high quality performance and maximum operating effectiveness. In fact, the latest models of vacuum sweepers come with LCD display screens and accurate vacuum adjustments for increased precision and efficiency.

Without a doubt, the choice of a parking lot sweeping service contractor is a crucial one. Hire a reputable sweeping business to prevent contaminated, storm water runoff from polluting our environment. Your customers and the community, too, will be impressed.

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Like city streets, commercial parking lots tend to collect dirt and debris—the amount of which differs according to location and frequency [...]]]> Whether it’s commercial complexes or city sanitation, good property maintenance isn’t limited to building interiors or main streets. Parking areas, whether open-air or below ground, should also be cleaned effectively with regular sweeping services.

Like city streets, commercial parking lots tend to collect dirt and debris—the amount of which differs according to location and frequency of use. The parking lots of restaurants and malls, for example, are generally more prone to dirt and debris accumulation. All the more reason to stay on top of good, ongoing property maintenance.

Property Maintenance & Parking Lot Cleaning Benefits

Really, no matter where a parking lot is situated, a regular cleaning method such as brushing and flushing is certainly needed. Parking areas adjacent to public recreational facilities, as well as government offices, are taken care of by the municipality or affiliated governing body. On the other hand, parking lots situated in privately owned businesses locations are the responsibility of the owner or whoever manages the commercial property on their behalf.

Through regular parking lot cleaning, there are a number of pluses for the general community in terms of health and environmental safety alone. Here are just a few benefits to consider:

• Safe and clean parking spaces. If the parking area is kept clean and well-maintained, it also means that motorists are safe and protected from health hazards. Accidental slips or falls and resulting injuries can be effectively minimized or eliminated when loose litter and debris is kept at bay. These waste materials can also puncture the tires of vehicles. This only has to happen once for a driver to feel they shouldn’t bother returning to your business.

• Enhanced reputation and image. Commercial establishment owners can enjoy the benefit of having a good reputation by maintaining a clean parking lot. The aesthetic value and overall cleanliness of the business complex and its environment is essential to both employees and customers. Excellent property maintenance projects an image of professionalism and reliability, and sends the message that customers are a priority. Employees, too, of course, will enjoy the benefits of working in a clean, safe environment. Thumbs up on all counts.

• Maintain cleaner air. Regular parking lot flushing and cleaning services minimize air pollution. Road dust (including gas combustion wastes, oil or fuel spills and construction dust) composes a huge percentage of pollutants in the air. In order for the community to breathe cleaner air, it counts big time to have parking areas properly and regularly cleaned.

• Parking lot flushing helps conserve natural resources. Water runoff collects in sewers or catch basins before flowing into lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. When litter and debris mix with water that ends up in sewers, the bodies of water eventually become polluted—an unclean parking lot makes a nasty contribution to the problem.

Having parking lot flushing and cleaning done regularly cuts down on the cost of sewer maintenance. Almost all cities must budget money for filtering or cleaning sewers and basins in order to decrease pollution in the surrounding bodies of water. Be part of the best possible kind of responsible property maintenance—beneficial not only to the community—but kinder to nature, as well. A clean conscious is a beautiful thing.

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It’s important to perform regular parking lot sweeping in your [...]]]> Fact: cleanliness in parking lots is ranked as a major factor in determining where customers prefer to shop. What’s seen from the outside significantly influences the overall impression of the business—its capability, reliability and reputation.

Top 3 Reasons to Invest in Parking Lot Sweeping Service

It’s important to perform regular parking lot sweeping in your commercial space. Here’s the list you’re looking for to find out why:

1. Successful businesses are the ones patronized by more people. An inability or refusal to maintain a clean parking lot area gives the impression that a business isn’t capable of taking care of its customers, either. Neglect begets neglect.

2. Clean parking lots play a role in dictating market share among shopping centers. If the outside area of your commercial property isn’t well maintained, it’s hard to preserve and build upon your client base. Enjoy a competitive edge, and keep things above par.

3. First impressions DO count. Professionalism is first determined by the overall exterior appeal of a commercial property. Connection: generally, there’s an expected increase in commercial traffic in the area when it’s established that people can shop there comfortably and safely. Word gets around.

Parking Lot Sweeping Fights Hidden Health & Environmental Hazards

Waterways are often polluted by toxic wastes from cars and other vehicles, along with leaves, debris and sediments from parking lot surfaces and streets. These are only some of the harmful materials that go directly into rivers, lakes and streams when washed away through storm sewers.

During heavy rains, the accumulation of debris can cause street flooding, especially when storm drains are blocked. Regular parking lot sweeping can minimize all of these drawbacks, and more.

A remarkable 50% to 90% of these pollutants can be removed just by regular parking lot sweeping service. Professional sweepers can also minimize slippery surfaces during light rains, and remove litter to improve overall aesthetics. Parking lot sweeping equipment is much more thorough than manual broom treatments—and captures far more harmful pollutants, removing them completely from the vicinity.

In cities, parking lot sweeping is essentially a cost-effective solution in reducing storm water waste. You might be surprised to hear it, but virtually tons of accumulated contaminants and debris are removed from parking lots and streets each year. They can pose serious damage to the environment and health, not to mention the perception of your business as irresponsible. Keeping things spic-and-span is a boost for your public relations.

Seasonal Benefits to Parking Lot Sweeping

• Traction sand from snowmelt—plus salt residue and other messy debris from the whole dreary winter—can be collected in one sweep during spring.

• Accumulated debris most often removed in summer includes dust, trash and litter.

• During the fall, leaves are collected often to prevent them from entering and clogging up storm sewers.

Year round, there’s always something to keep on top of. Literally. In order to prevent pollution, there are even some states that impose rules on best practices.

One good way to enhance an effective parking lot sweeping program is by establishing schedules and other guidelines. This is essential, in fact. When cars occupy parking spaces that can’t be accessed by the sweeper operator and he must bypass some sections, the job will be much more challenging to perform. And patchy, at best. Definitely discuss your operating hours with your service provider and work out the best viable schedule for cleaning. It’s a clean sweep, and everybody wins.

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Have you ever been trapped in a downpour? Who hasn’t, right? While people are [...]]]> Permeable pavement is the latest rage of communities struggling to find the best material with which to construct roadways and parking lots; however, the best pavement in the world does not eliminate the need for an excellent parking lot sweeping service.

Have you ever been trapped in a downpour? Who hasn’t, right? While people are busy scrambling to open their umbrellas, something else irritating is happening right under their feet. Rainfall from side streets, curbs and gutters swiftly rises over the shoes of people caught in the storm, with gallons of water flowing down the streets, sidewalks and alleyways.

And we all know what is being carried along with the water, don’t we?

There is a Serious Problem With Storm Water Runoff

Aside from soaking shoes, that same rainwater accumulates pollutants – dirt, grit, and particles – that are then washed into storm sewers. That’s when the big problem arises. Governments have demanded that municipalities find a way to limit the amount of runoff that flows into sewer treatment facilities. When these treatment plants are overloaded with rainfall, the excess water ends up in rivers, lakes, and streams.

One option and a good solution that has become popular in some key areas of the country is the use of permeable pavement. It is used specifically to allow rain to soak through it into the ground, basically filtering out pollutants. While permeable pavement can’t be used in highways because it can’t support heavy truck traffic, it’s becoming a popular material for parking lots, pedestrian walkways, driveways, overflow parking areas, and residential roads.

The absorbent surface is excellent for reducing storm sewer overflows at sewage plants, but there is still a concern. The same material that lets rainwater seep into it and through to the ground beneath can also become clogged with sand, sediment, and even large pieces of debris. In effect, there is a limit on the amount of water the pavement can absorb and allow to pass through and, therefore, water pollution is reduced but not eliminated.

Permeable Pavement is Not an Alternative To Good Cleaning

This problem reminds us of an important fact: parking lot sweeping services are still an absolute must. It’s a good idea to replace paved parking lots with materials that absorbs and filters polluted water and reduces the amount that flows into our sewer systems, but it really only works well in conjunction with regular parking lot sweeping. The pavement is not a substitute for a good cleaning service.

There are actually two categories of porous materials that can be used as permeable pavement:

• The first one lets water soak directly into it through surface pores, such as specially treated asphalt and concrete – mixed without fine particles – as well as pavement constructed with crumbled, treated tire rubber.

• The second is a sequence of interconnecting waterproof blocks – concrete pavers or grid pavers – that lets water flow down between them.

These kinds of surfaces must be kept clean in order to maintain their permeability and to allow the rainwater to move through the surface or between the gaps unhampered.

Vacuum Parking Lot Sweeping

Due to environmental concerns and requirements for cleaning various parking lot surfaces, the need for quality vacuum sweeper machines was created:

• Vacuum sweepers comprise 5% of the market in the United States.

• Broom sweepers, on the other hand, account for 60% to 70% of the market.

• Air sweepers have about 20% to 30% share of the market.

Vacuum sweepers are considered to be the best choice for cleaning permeable surfaces and are preferred for parking lot sweeping.

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If that has been your practice, you know that you not only have to coordinate schedules, you have to [...]]]> Whether you are a property owner or a manager, you really don’t want the hassle of hiring and dealing with several contractors to give you a parking lot sweeping service,andcleaning and maintenance services as well.

If that has been your practice, you know that you not only have to coordinate schedules, you have to do more recordkeeping, write more monthly checks, worry more about hiring various companies, and do more monitoring of the quality of work that these companies perform. It’s timefor you to re-think this time-consuming ordeal.

Why Choose a One-Stop-Shop Provider?

It is beneficial to choose a parking lot sweeping contractor who also provides other services such as general clean up, emptying waste cans, repairing parking lot surfaces, changing light fixtures, replacing signs, and removing graffiti, etc. In other words, choose a one-stop-shop company that can provide a multitude of services.

However, you need to be extra careful if you are going to hand a variety of jobs over to one company. If your sweeping company lacks the equipment, manpower, or the expertise to do all the jobs you require, chances are, it will find another contractor or two and subcontract some of the work.

If that happens, you pay only one check and you don’t have the hassle of coordinating schedules, but you also have less control over the quality of work and any complaints or special requests go through a third party, which is less efficient and less satisfactory. This is why it is a good idea to choose an established and reputable company to cater to all your cleaning and maintenance needs, complete with the required manpower, expertise, and equipment.

The one-stop-shop provider is especially important to out-of-town property owners who don’t have the time to deal with different service providers. When hiring a sweeping company on which you can truly rely, it is great to be able to turn over the full accountability of daily cleaning and maintenance as well.

Established Providers Are Better Equipped to Cater to Your Needs

While many parking lot sweeping companies are expanding their services to offer different cleaning and maintenance jobs, not all providers have the resources to offer the one-stop-shop services. The benefit ofhiring a company that has already attained a solid reputation in providing a wide array of services is thatit has already established tried-and-tested processes and the best are already set in place to ensure a seamless delivery of services.

This powerful advantage is one of the reasons why these companies are able to secure contracts with large companies and businesses that require a variety of work, from simple trash cleanup along delivery entrances and walkways, to line striping, and to the never-ending parking lot sweeping serviceand maintenance.

Expertise and Experience Pay Off

Although parking lot sweeping is the primary focus, a successful sweeping contractor will also offer auxiliary services designed mostly for commercial clients. By dealing with and forging a partnership with a single contractor, your business will be able to make all requests and monitor the performance of only one provider. If you have special needs such as requiring sweeping work in the summer and snow removal in the winter to be completed over night by a particular hour, you will be able to arrange it easily.

Specific cleaning and maintenance services may not be available through a small, startup parking lot sweeping contractor. One-stop-shop services will save you time, money, and stress. Find awell-established company who does it all.

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The [...]]]> Graffiti is a disaster for all commercial buildings. It’s not only unpleasant to look at—it can also drive your customers away. You can’t just leave it as is, and trying to remove it yourself (often repeatedly!) will cost you a lot of time and effort—especially if you don’t have the right skills and equipment.

The good news is there are actually professional companies that offer graffiti abatement and prevention services.

The Ugly Face of Graffiti

No matter what the size of your business property—whether it’s a skyscraper or a small office building—graffiti can still bring it down. Graffiti destroys the image of the whole building and makes it less appealing for customers to frequent.

There are cleaning companies that specialize in graffiti removal services for various types of buildings and surfaces. One effective way to remove graffiti without damaging the building’s surface is through pressure cleaning, which uses pressurized water with effective detergents.

Some of the surfaces that can be taken care of with pressure cleaning are:

• painted surfaces
• bricks
• timber
• cladding
• stone

Choose a Reputable Graffiti Abatement Service Provider

For a cleaning company to properly determine what type of graffiti abatement service you need, an initial meeting is important. A professional and reputable company makes use of repellent coatings, applied once graffiti is removed to prevent it from recurring.

However—like graffiti—no two service providers are the same. You need to be careful in choosing which cleaning company to contract for ongoing graffiti removal services as soon as they are needed. Without careful consideration, you might end up having more problems than you started with. The correct equipment, supplies and techniques must be used, with both safety and avoiding potential further damage in mind.

Some extra words of warning:

• When graffiti is sprayed on, it penetrates into your exterior walls, especially with materials such as concrete, brick, granite and sandstone.  If your brick walls are destroyed due to the use of the wrong cleaning solution or improper technique in pressure cleaning, the only real solution is to knock out the bricks and replace them. This isn’t what you want—either in terms of time OR cost!
• Having graffiti removed from your commercial building as soon as possible after it occurs makes it significantly easier to eliminate. The sooner, the better.
• Graffiti poses a serious threat to the viability of your business, especially if you have competitors nearby.

Invest in Quality Graffiti Removal Service

A skilled technician is needed to remove graffiti using the correct technology. The technician must also have the right experience and expertise, so as not to further degrade or erode the building’s original surface.

Graffiti takes many forms. It can be a heat resistant engine enamel, spray paint designed for decorative color or permanent pens. Considering that there are numerous combinations that react differently to various types of building surfaces, it’s especially important that the graffiti removal services technician knows exactly what to do, and how to do it.

Getting good graffiti removal services is highly recommended for the fight against unsightly graffiti on your commercial building.

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There are a number of problems that may occur in commercial properties when parking lot sweeping services are not provided on a regular basis. More often than not, this oversight can bring about expensive [...]]]> Planning on investing in parking lot sweeping services? Read on to discover the many important advantages of such a wise decision.

There are a number of problems that may occur in commercial properties when parking lot
sweeping services are not provided on a regular basis. More often than not, this oversight can
bring about expensive repairs and even lead to unsatisfied customers.

Regular Parking Lot Wear and Tear Can Weigh Down Your Business

Heat, dense foliage and humidity are just some of the common factors that increase the
deterioration of asphalt in many parking areas. Weather, traffic, and other activities cause loose
dirt, grit, gravel, trash and debris to collect on the parking lot surface. Such daily wear and tear
not only creates stress on the property itself, but more importantly, to the health and well-
being of your loyal patrons.

Whether you own or manage a commercial property, evaluating the requirement for ongoing
parking lot sweeping service is critical. In the long run, if routine parking lot sweeping service
is not utilized early on, you might have to contend with a host of unavoidable issues down the
road.

Important Points to Consider in Maintaining Your Parking Lot

Here are some factors that you need to take into account when maintaining your commercial
parking lot:

• The surface of your parking lot will eventually suffer gradual damage if left unattended.
• The surface coating and sealant can be damaged. This can speed up shedding and
  alligatoring—a pattern of interconnected cracks that look like an alligator’s skin, as well
  as the development of potholes and significant erosion of the parking lot. Due to regular
  foot and vehicle traffic, your parking lot’s striping, pavement and seal coating will be
  greatly decreased by the dirt, grit and gravel deposited on its surface.