For many businesses, potential customers receive their first impressions of your business before they step foot into the building. As they pull into your driveway and seek out an open spot, they will notice if your lot is cluttered with debris, glass, or other potentially damaging objects. As such, the proper cleaning and maintenance of your parking lot is an important factor to the overall strength and well-being of your business.

Purpose and Benefits

Seeking out and hiring a parking lot sweeper business Washington state or other areas helps protect your business from a potentially damaging reputation. A dirty parking lot may include broken glass that has fallen from nearby dumpsters, debris from a recent storm, discarded cigarettes and other litter, or other general dirt gathered from everyday usage. When left unchecked, debris can build up and result in damage to cars or injury to staff and visitors who may trip on loose branches or other items. This could result in potential law suits, expensive lawyer fees, and an increase in liability insurance premiums. An investment in parking lot cleaning services helps protect your business in the future.

Additional Services

The most comprehensive parking lot sweepers are those that provide a number of services beyond picking up debris. Many business lots have dumpsters, garbage cans, and cigarette holders in and around the lots, and all of these items have a strong tendency to lose items when cleaned by waste disposal companies. Similarly, loading docks and stairwells are notorious for collecting debris, as are landscape beds and other decorative areas. In addition to safety concerns, debris and litter that is left unchecked provides a negative image to your business from potential customers, so keeping them clean is important. Lastly, regular business hours are usually means your lot will be crowded, so it is best to schedule sweepings during evening or other flexible hours.…

No matter the size of your backyard, you can make the outdoor space fun and inviting. A wonderful way to relax is by kicking up your feet with your loved ones and enjoying the company of each other, perhaps with a cup of coffee at dawn or a nightcap at sunset. With a thoughtful evaluation of your backyard, you can add a few personal touches that not only look good but make you want to spend your time there.

Add a Fire Pit

Spend some quality family time roasting marshmallows together over a new built-in fire pit. A fire pit does not have to be expensive or complex. There are plenty of examples online, so take a look at your backyard to decide on a good shape and size for your family. Make sure to check your local regulations before building and take a few fire safety courses as well.

Create Some Shade

If your backyard has little natural shade from the environment, then it could be time to create some of your own. Hot days can tire you out and make it unpleasant to spend time in your yard. There are a number of beautiful pergola shade systems on the market, which can make summer afternoons much more enjoyable on your patio or deck. If the back of your house receives a lot of direct sun, then installing a good shade system nearby could even help reduce energy costs for cooling your home.

Invest in Landscaping Projects

Say goodbye to ragged weeds and overgrown bushes. Work out a budget and a timeframe for giving your backyard a makeover, which can be as fast or as gradual as you like. Figure out how to do the work yourself or speak with an experienced landscaping company to create the backyard of your dreams.…

The roof is an essential part of your home, but eventually, it needs repair or even replacement. When it’s time to work on your roof, you need a quality contractor. Here are some tips to choosing a quality roofing contractor to work on your home.

Designations

Many roofing contractors St Charles County MO place any manufacturer designations right on their website and other company information. In order to obtain the designation, the contractor passed the factory-certified minimum requirements. Some designations are stricter than others.

Referrals

Referrals are always a good source of information on the type of service and experience you can expect from any contractor. Look into their Better Business Bureau ratings and online testimonials. These tools can help you cross off the list those that don’t meet your expectations.

Warranty

Roofs last for years and poor workmanship may take that long to become noticeable. Often workmanship isn’t covered by your homeowner’s insurance leaving you footing the bill. A company that offers warranties on the workmanship is a good choice for homeowners. Chances are the roof works as promised, but if not, that warranty gives you an opportunity to have it repaired without additional expense.

Insurance

Contractors should not claim to file your insurance paperwork. That falls on your shoulders, unfortunately. Many states don’t allow contractors to deal with your insurance company. Don’t work with any that claim to be specialists in insurance claims. File your own claim, pay your deductible and negotiate with your insurance to avoid potential legal problems down the line.

Licensing

Above all, a quality contractor has the proper licensing requirements for your area. They have insurance in case an error is made and they don’t pressure you. Pushy contractors rarely have your best interests in mind. Keep these in mind when searching for your next roofing contractor. Your roof should last years and with the right contractor, it will.…

Even the tidiest homeowners can struggle with odors and musty smells. Beloved pets, humid areas and older houses can all cause an unpleasant stench that lingers in your home. While essential oils and home fragrances may help, they only cover up the problem and can cause irritation for those with sensitive noses. Even if they provide some relief, they aren’t a long-term solution. If you truly want to combat odor in your home, follow these steps for a fresher smell that lasts.

Have Your Carpets Cleaned

Your floors catch all of the dirt, dust and debris that settles in your home. While regular vacuuming can remove what’s on the surface, the fibers in your carpet and rugs can trap odor-causing moisture and bacteria deep down. Schedule a steam carpet cleaning houston to thoroughly clean these areas and help eliminate one of the biggest sources of musty smells in your house.

Circulate Fresh Air

Stagnant air can make any room smell stale. Opening windows or doors can circulate fresh air without spending any extra energy. Just be sure to open more than one to give the air a clear pathway to move through the room. If it’s too warm or chilly to open a window, using ceiling or pedestal fans can keep things moving without sacrificing a comfortable temperature. You can also use a dehumidifier to pull extra moisture out of the air to help with unpleasant odors.

Use Products That Absorb Odors

While some products only mask strong smells, others are designed to absorb them. Reusable charcoal bags are a natural and energy efficient way to pull unwanted smells from your home. They usually make a noticeable difference in less than 48 hours and last for months. When they start to lose their effectiveness, simply set them in the hot sun for a few hours to recharge them.

Eliminating the residue, bacteria and moisture that cause odors in your home can give you a fresh-smelling environment for you and your family to enjoy. These small and simple actions can make a big difference in fighting odors in your home.…

In late fall, in all of winter, and in early spring, there is nothing quite like the sight, sound, and smell of an indoor fire. Fireplaces do more than create ambience in your home. They can dramatically cut energy costs, and they can provide necessary warmth and flame for emergency heat and cooking.

How To Maintain Your Chimney

Unfortunately, the Chimney Safety Institute of America estimates that there are nearly 25,000 chimney fires in the United States per year. The main culprit in these incidents is the buildup of creosote, a highly flammable combination of wood-burning byproducts. Preventative maintenance and chimney cleaning in MD can be crucial in eliminating the threat of creosote, and your first step should be to have your chimney annually inspected and cleaned by a qualified professional. A proper inspection determines whether your chimney needs to be swept, and whether it needs necessary metal or masonry repair.

When To Schedule Service

A lot of people assume that late summer is the prime time to have an inspection completed. Never assume! Spring is often best, as the harshness of winter weather has just subsided and because chimney service providers are least likely to be booked during this time.

How To Find a Cleaner

If you elect to use the internet to search for chimney cleaning in Washington DC, or in any other specific area, you can use sites such as Angie’s List, Yelp, and Home Advisor to help you identify certain chimney professionals in your region. Once you identify and browse through a few potential professionals, plug each individually into the Google search bar for instant reviews and ratings from other locals who have used that particular professional for their chimney needs. For the best service, make sure that that the professional you choose is licensed and insured, and that the business has reputable reviews.

Fireplaces are a delight, but they can also be a threat to the safety of your home. Make an annual chimney cleaning a priority, and enjoy the benefits of indoor fire for years to come.…

In the event of inclement weather, one of your jobs as a business owner is to make sure that your building remains as safe as possible. The roof of your building can accumulate dangerous amounts of snow, ice and water when a severe storm hits, and this buildup can significantly damage your entire building if left unattended. In order to protect your building and keep your business running, take the following tips into account before the next storm attacks your property.

1. Use a Monitoring System

The best way to prepare for incoming snow or ice is to monitor it. A roof load monitoring system is an accurate and effective tool for keeping track of the condition of your commercial roof before and after a storm hits. By using deflection methods, a monitoring system can measure the weight of snow on your roof so that you are prepared to assess the damage during and after the storm. The assistance of roof snow removal plans can also reduce the amount of shoveling you have to do and help to prevent your roof from collapsing.

2. Clean Out Gutters

Another key aspect of protecting your roof from storm damage is maintaining clean gutters. If you fail to clear out your gutters before a severe weather event, you may invite water into them, where it can eventually reach your roof and cause its materials to rot. Keeping your gutters consistently clean is not only a crucial part of maintaining your roof’s appearance, but it is also necessary for preventing water damage during a storm.

3. Trim Branches

Clearing out loose debris such as branches, tree limbs and loose roofing materials can reduce the risk of storm damage to your roof. Be sure to keep branches trimmed and remove any other obtrusive forms of debris before a storm in order to reduce water flow and keep your building safe. Keep an eye on leaves and moss as well, as these items can keep moisture trapped on your roof and increase water damage.…

When you think of home defense, your first thought might be a shotgun or revolver. Guns tend to be the focus of discussions on personal protection, yet their fundamental purpose is not defense at all. When you think of a shield, you likely picture a knight in shining armor, holding a sword. You might feel shields are archaic, but having a thick hunk of material between you and the guy trying to harm you has probably never been a terrible circumstance. Modern ballistic shields look quite different from what you’ll find at a Renaissance Festival or live-action role-playing game.

Can You Even Own One of These?

Tactical ballistic shield ownership is not limited to law enforcement officers. You can indeed buy your own. Guns may have a plethora of restrictions, but shields don’t seem to. You may want to check your local laws for any odd holdovers from colonial times, but you are likely completely clear to purchase and own a ballistic shield.

Why a Ballistic Shield?

Perhaps you already own a gun or Kevlar, or perhaps you don’t for one reason or another. Either way, a shield has certain logistic advantages over a firearm or bulletproof vest. For one thing, it doesn’t need to be loaded. If you have small children in the house, you don’t need to hide the shield somewhere they cannot reach it. Grabbing your shield during a home invasion will take considerably less time than digging out your gun or putting on your body armor. As an additional bonus, a huge shield makes a great bashing weapon! You might not put the trespasser out of commission, but even a small person could topple an assailant with a good shield bash.

If someone threatens your home, odds are good you won’t regret having a shield around. It could be complimenting your current arsenal or taking its place as your primary defense, but it certainly can save your life either way.…