 |
 |
|
|
Articles
...back to articles
SIGNS OF SPRING
When spring finally rolls around, there is a lot to be done
around your stores’ exteriors.
By Kevin Dent
RED LIGHT
Winter gives you and your landscaping
the red light and when spring rolls
around there is much to do. Inspections
are key. This is an ideal time to assess
damage and invest in repairs. Especially
in snowy regions, where there may be
damage to asphalt and other hard surfaces,
aesthetic issues or hazards to safety
created. Spring is also a good time to
look for early signs of pest and/or infestation.
But before anything can be done,
it is best to consult a professional for an
Exterior Assessment Inventory.
LEADING GREEN
In an industry where many facility
managers are responsible for hundreds
of retail stores, it is impossible to know
all the details of the stores’ exteriors. For
instance, the measurements of certain
assets, the location of certain assets, or
even if certain assets exist within the
property. An Exterior Assessment
Inventory can give you the leading
green.
Most companies just look at a few
sites and make a guestimate, which leads
to incorrect and useless information,
quotes, and can result in added costs
later. EAIs are important both for ensuring
quality service, thereby improving
curb appeal, as well as for accurate
quotes. So as you sit waiting for another
spring thaw to uncover your landscaping,
don’t play the guessing game. A professional
EAI should include, at a minimum,
an assessment of:
- Lawn: Definition of lawn type (fine or
rough), type of grass (warm or cool season)
and measurement of square
footage.
- Fence Lines & Retaining Walls:
Identification and measurement in linear
feet.
- Hedge Rows: Plant identification, measurement
in linear feet and pruning specifications.
- Irrigation: Documentation of the number
of irrigation zones, clock location
and manufacturer, and backflow positioning.
- Organic Mulch: Identification of quantity
and type.
- Parking Lot: Measurement of asphalt,
gravel and concrete square footages,
including loading docks areas and current
conditions of all.
- Patios: Dimensions of asphalt and concrete.
- Cart Corrals: Identification and measurement
of square footage.
- Planting Beds: Identification of the
square footage of organic planting beds
and beds with stones.
- Retention Ponds: Measurement and
identification of grass and gravel specification
and retention purpose (holding or
gathering), including the measurement
of any surrounding fencing in linear feet.
- Seasonal Color and Flowers:
Documentation of rotation schedules
and square footage.
- Lot Striping: Measurement of crosshatching,
number of spaces, painted
curbs, lettering, painted pole bases,
speed bumps, stop bars, arrows, bollards,
painted bumper blocks, and current
conditions of all.
- Trees: Documentation of the number
of trees, type (deciduous, evergreen),
species and the number of palm trees on
property.
- Walks: Definition of materials and
square footage for private, municipal
and special walks (ramps and loading
dock stoops).
Photographs are also very helpful if
provided, documenting each asset and
any specific information that can be useful
to you. This is also crucial in developing
an accurate maintenance budget
for your properties.
GREEN LIGHT
Spring is here and it’s time to step on
the gas. Asphalt and other hard surfaces,
such as concrete, can be particularly
affected by winter. The constant expanding
and contracting can leave even a new
parking lot looking cracked and damaged.
If the problem is still small and the
asphalt pavement has begun to crack
and deteriorate, you know that potholes
(and the costly damage they can cause)
are not far off. It is crucial to repair such
areas before it escalates into much larger
problem. Small problems can often be
mended by sawing off the damaged area
and replacing it with new or
recycled/compacted asphalt paving. If
the problem includes potholes and
much larger scale issues, it is likely that
they can be most efficiently restored by
overlaying them, although it is always
best to consult a professional before proceeding
on any jobs.
Concrete damage can include
destruction to your curb and gutter, sidewalks,
as well as aprons and dumpster
pads. By replacing concrete sections
damaged by heavy traffic and winter
weather, you can enhance the functionality
and safety of your site.
Other aesthetic and maintenance program
decisions can be made. Sealcoating your asphalt pavement, for example, can
be used to extend the life of your investment,
protect it from spills, and make it
easier to clean. Line marking, or striping,
accomplishes making your parking lots
look well-defined and newer. A freshly
sealed and marked parking lot does wonders
to enhance your store’s exterior
brand.
Once your hard surfaces are tended
to, there is still replanting, trimming and
a variety of other things to be done. The
trees may be damaged and plant material
may be dead. Broken or aging trees
can be a potential safety hazard and a
parking lot liability if not addressed. For
all of these, an arborist is best to consult
with. They can not only find a solution
to your current concerns but also come
up with a long term plan for their care
and maintenance.
A third step to driving into spring is
pest management. A professional can
inspect all areas for infestations, including
areas made difficult by building
structure. Some examples of these specialty
areas that can increase the variety and number of pests are:
- “Back room” areas (such as storerooms)
are popular entry points for
rodents and insects.
- Buildings with inaccessible areas that
are hard to sanitize (particularly those
with false ceilings and floors) provide
secure hiding places that give infestations
a chance to grow unnoticed.
And, of course, facilities must be carefully
searched for the presence of termites.
Termites can be one of the most
costly pest problems a business faces.
They cause more than $2.5 billion in
damage to homes and commercial facilities
across the United States annually,
and therefore must be found and eliminated
in a timely fashion.
ENGAGE AN EXTERIOR SERVICES
MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Let a professional navigate for you.
They will help you achieve an aesthetic
and functional exterior that will not only
attract your customer but keep them
coming back as well. A high percentage
of customers note that exterior appeal is
often a determining factor in their choice
of businesses to patronize and will also
affect their decision to be a repeat customer.
Ensuring that perception is
achieved is of utmost importance to the
company, as well as those responsible
for facilities.
Not only that, only a professional can
conduct an exterior asset inventory to
quantify and document site boundaries
and specifications, and identify potential
problems or hazards. Understanding the
composition and condition of your exterior
assets could be the deciding factor in
successfully maintaining your property
and the safety of your valued customers
through the season.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
