Month: May 2024

A building’s exterior takes a beating all year. Rain, road grime, pollution and sun all leave their mark on walls, walkways and entrances. Over time, that buildup does more than look bad. It can speed up wear on the materials themselves. That is where pressure washing comes in.

In fact, it is one of the simplest ways to fight back. Here is how weathering affects your building, where pressure washing helps, and how to do it without causing damage.

How Weathering Affects Your Building

In general, several forces work on a building’s exterior at once:

  • Air pollution and acid deposition. According to the EPA, acidic particles can land on buildings, corrode metal and cause paint and stone to deteriorate more quickly. They also soil building surfaces.
  • Dirt and grime. Road dust, exhaust and organic growth build up on walls, sidewalks and entrances.
  • Sun and temperature swings. Exposure fades paint and coatings over time.
  • Winter residue. Salt and sand collect along entrances, curbs and walkways.

As a result, a building can look tired years before it needs major work.

Where Pressure Washing Helps

Simply put, pressure washing removes the buildup that weathering leaves behind. In particular, it can help in four ways.

  1. Removing contaminants. Rinsing away grime and pollution residue keeps it from sitting on surfaces.
  2. Restoring appearance. Clean walls, walkways and entrances make a better first impression on tenants and visitors.
  3. Preparing for repainting. Clean surfaces help new paint and coatings adhere properly.
  4. Supporting preventive maintenance. Regular cleaning makes it easier to spot cracks, stains and damage early.

Pressure Washing Best Practices

Pressure washing is effective, but it is not one size fits all. In fact, the wrong pressure or nozzle can damage softer materials such as wood, older brick and some coatings. For this reason, the method should match the surface.

  • Match pressure to material. Some surfaces need a gentler approach or a soft wash method.
  • Choose cleaning solutions carefully. Products should suit the surface and the stain.
  • Manage runoff. Water and cleaning solutions should be handled in line with local rules.
  • Plan around people. Schedule work when entrances and walkways are least busy, with clear signage.

When to Schedule Pressure Washing

For example, many buildings benefit from a spring cleaning after winter salt and sand. In addition, high traffic entrances, dumpster areas and parking structures may need attention more often. See our article on spring exterior facility maintenance for a seasonal checklist.

Above all, pressure washing works best as part of a regular exterior maintenance plan, not a once in a while fix.

Make the Exterior Part of the Plan

At WOW! Facility Services, every program starts with a facility assessment. During that visit, we look at your building inside and out, including entrances, walkways and the areas your tenants and visitors see first. Then we build a customized scope of work around what your building needs. For existing WOW! clients, pressure washing can also be added to that program.

Once service begins, account managers complete quality control inspections against that scope. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a building be pressure washed?
Generally, it depends on the surface, the location and the amount of traffic. Many buildings plan a cleaning after winter, while busy entrances and dumpster areas may need attention more often.

Does WOW! offer pressure washing?

Yes. WOW! provides pressure washing to its existing clients as part of their facility program.

Do I have to switch vendors after a facility assessment?
No. WOW! offers facility assessments at no cost and with no obligation. In fact, you can use one simply to benchmark your current program.

Which areas does WOW! serve?
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, Rockland County and New York City.

Book a Facility Assessment

WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Book a facility assessment at no cost and with no obligation, or call 1-866-780-9966. Want a quick benchmark first? Then grade your current service with the Facility Assessment Scorecard.

A burst pipe, a chemical spill or a flooded lobby never happens at a good time. When it does, the first hour matters most. Facilities with a clear emergency cleanup plan respond faster, keep people safer and get back to normal sooner.

So here is how to build emergency cleanup procedures that work, and what to expect from the partner who helps you carry them out.

Why You Need Emergency Cleanup Procedures

Spills and leaks create more than a mess. For example, wet floors raise the risk of slips and falls. Meanwhile, water spreads into walls, carpet and ceilings if nobody stops it, and some spills need special handling.

Without a plan, people improvise. As a result, the response is slower, the damage spreads and the cleanup costs more. A written plan turns a stressful moment into a set of known steps.

Five Parts of an Emergency Cleanup Plan

A strong emergency cleanup plan covers five areas.

  1. Know your risks. List the incidents most likely in your building, such as leaks, floods, spills in labs or kitchens, and storm damage.
  2. Assign roles. Decide who responds first, who makes decisions and who contacts tenants or residents.
  3. Stock the right supplies. Keep spill kits, wet floor signs, absorbents, personal protective equipment and wet vacuums where crews can reach them.
  4. Set up communication. Keep an up to date contact list, including after hours numbers for your cleaning partner, plumber and restoration team.
  5. Train and practice. Go over the plan with your team, then review it after every real incident.

What to Do in the First Hour

Every incident is different. Still, most emergency cleanup follows the same basic order.

  • Make the area safe. Block off the space, post signs and keep people away.
  • Stop the source. Shut off water or contain the spill if it is safe to do so.
  • Call for help. Bring in the right people for the type of incident.
  • Document the scene. Take photos before and during cleanup for your records and any insurance claim.
  • Remove water and debris. The sooner you start, the less damage spreads.

After the Emergency Cleanup

Once the immediate problem is handled, the work is not over. Floors, carpet and walls may need drying, deep cleaning or restoration. In addition, it is worth asking what you would do differently next time. Equally important, update the plan with what you learned.

How WOW! Can Help

WOW! Facility Services programs include floor care and deep cleaning that support recovery after an incident. Because our teams already know the buildings we serve, they can help you plan before anything goes wrong.

Every program starts with a facility assessment. Then we build a customized scope of work around your building. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a spill kit include?
It depends on the risks in your building. However, common items include absorbents, gloves and other protective equipment, disposal bags and wet floor signs.

Do I have to switch vendors after a facility assessment?
No. WOW! offers facility assessments at no cost and with no obligation. In fact, you can use one simply to benchmark your current program.

Which areas does WOW! serve?
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, Rockland County and New York City.

Plan Before You Need It

WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Book a facility assessment at no cost and with no obligation, or call 1-866-780-9966. Want a quick benchmark first? Then grade your current service with the Facility Assessment Scorecard.

In many buildings, cleaning schedules are built on assumptions. For example, restrooms get checked every few hours, and conference rooms get cleaned every night, whether anyone used them or not. Smart building sensors offer another way: clean based on how people actually use the building.

Here is how sensor data can help, and what to keep in mind before you invest.

What Smart Building Sensors Measure

Smart building sensors collect data about a space. For example, occupancy sensors count people or detect movement. Similarly, people counters at entrances and restrooms track traffic. Other sensors measure conditions such as temperature, humidity or carbon dioxide. In some buildings, dispensers can even report when supplies run low.

How Smart Building Sensors Can Guide Cleaning

  • Clean where people are. Traffic data shows which restrooms, lobbies and break rooms need more attention.
  • Skip unused rooms. Empty rooms may not need a full clean every night.
  • Restock before supplies run out. Usage counts help crews plan restroom checks.
  • Adjust over time. Trends help you right size staffing and frequencies.

As a result, effort goes where it matters most.

Supporting Healthier Spaces

In addition, some sensors track indoor conditions. For instance, rising carbon dioxide levels can suggest that a room needs more ventilation. Cleaning crews cannot fix ventilation themselves. However, they can work with the building team when data points to a problem. For more, read about air quality and productivity.

What Smart Building Sensors Cannot Do

Of course, sensors tell you how people use a space, but they do not clean it. In addition, data only helps if someone reviews it and changes the plan. Therefore, the value depends on the process behind the technology. Above all, trained people still need to notice the leak, the stain or the broken dispenser that no sensor reports.

Questions to Ask Before You Invest

  1. What problem are you trying to solve, such as complaints, costs or staffing?
  2. Who will review the data, and how often?
  3. How will the cleaning scope change based on what you learn?
  4. How will you measure whether it worked?

To learn more about where technology helps, read our articles on AI in janitorial services and cleaning technology.

How WOW! Uses Data

At WOW! Facility Services, data supports our people rather than replacing them. Every program starts with a facility assessment. Then we build a customized scope of work around your building. Once service begins, account managers complete quality control inspections against that scope. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections. As a result, you can see what our team inspected and how it resolved issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do smart building sensors replace cleaning staff?
No. Sensors show how people use spaces. However, trained people still do the cleaning and catch the problems sensors cannot see.

What is the main benefit of using sensor data for cleaning?
It helps match cleaning to real use, so busy areas get more attention and unused spaces do not take time away from them.

Do I have to switch vendors after a facility assessment?
No. WOW! offers facility assessments at no cost and with no obligation. In fact, you can use one simply to benchmark your current program.

Which areas does WOW! serve?
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, Rockland County and New York City.

Clean Based on How People Use Your Building

WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Book a facility assessment at no cost and with no obligation, or call 1-866-780-9966. Want a quick benchmark first? Then grade your current service with the Facility Assessment Scorecard.