Stay Informed

Parking Lot Maintenance

• Carefully inspect your pavement on a regular basis for cracks, fading pavement markings, and other signs of failure or liability issues
• Sealcoating a parking lot helps to slow pavement deterioration; for maximum benefit, asphalt should be sealed every 24-36 months
• Sealcoating should only be performed under the proper weather conditions (50°F during sealer application and for 8 hours afterward)
• Traffic should be kept off a newly sealed surface for 24 hours to allow for drying (curing) time
• Lot marking using a “straight-in” design (at 90°) allows for the most stalls and accommodates two-way traffic flow
• According to ADA guidelines, all businesses must have the proper amount of handicapped-accessible parking stalls, and required van parking spaces
  
  

Window Maintenance

• It is difficult to inspect each window on an annual basis.  An alternative is to inspect a representative sample of the windows, usually between 15 and 20 percent, and use your findings to estimate the condition of all windows. Make certain the sample includes all types of windows installed and all exposures.
• Look for water stains, rot and other indications that moisture has been reaching the interior.
• Check the fit of windows. Frames and sashes are subject to changes in size with use and exposure to temperature cycles. As a result, a gap can form between window components, increasing both air and water infiltration.
• Examine the caulking between the frame and the building wall. Many window designs use a flexible seal between components. With time and exposure to ultraviolet light, moisture, and temperature extremes, the seals can lose flexibility and fail. Examine all seals over their entire length for proper fit and sealing.
• Inspect the finish on the exterior of the window for defects.

Marble and Metal

• The easiest and least expensive way to maintain a marble floor is through daily housekeeping.
• Catch dirt, water, and ice-melting salts at the door by placing large mats with waterproof backings at all entrances; salt dissolves and pits marble.
• Keep the floor clean of superficial dirt by using a minimum amount of plain water (warm is best) and a cotton string mop.
• Frequent mopping will help prevent soil from penetrating the surface. Whenever possible, quickly blot spills, especially oil and grease, to minimize their absorption into the stone.
• Periodic honing and polishing by a floor maintenance contractor will maintain the lustre and more importantly, significantly inhibit resoiling and deterioration. Mechanical honing with fine screens creates a smooth surface, followed by buffing to a polished finish with slightly abrasive putty and synthetic felt or wool pads. 
• Daily in-house maintenance is crucial to the durability of the polished finish and saves money by reducing deterioration and the need for more extensive professional treatment.
• If a marble floor is scratched, deeply soiled, or has a build-up of yellowed wax or discolored sealers, the lustre and natural color can be restored by wet sanding and chemical stripping. This messy, noisy process requires protection of workers with proper gear and temporary protection of adjacent surfaces, such as pews, doors, base moldings, and floor-mounted fixtures.
• Sanding is followed by honing and polishing. Repeated heavy sanding can noticeably wear down a floor, producing visible depressions; thus it is best to avoid the need (and the expense) of this procedure by maintaining the polished finish.