Monday, December 2, 2013

Should You Renovate the Office?





There is certainly a lot to consider if you are thinking about renovating your office. There are a lot of difficulties and challenges involved when renovating an office, and you need to think about the advantages and disadvantages before you make any decisions. There are many pros and cons associated with renovating your office, and it’s important to have an informed overview when you are deciding whether or not to go forward with renovations

Updating the Office

One of the main reasons that people opt to renovate the office is because their office just looks old and outdated. They may want a fresh new look that is more attractive for clients and visitors. They may want to create a better work atmosphere for their employers. One of the most beneficial things about office renovation is that it does allow you to start fresh and create a new look in your office that your clients and employees alike are sure to appreciate.

Saving Money

There are many monetary benefits to renovating an office. There are many ways that renovation can be planned to actually increase employee effectiveness and productivity. Renovation will typically increase the overall work experience for your employees as well, which will cause productivity to increase. When your productivity goes up, your costs go down, which is a huge benefit for many managers and business owners considering office renovations.

Go Green

In many cases, office renovations can allow your business to be more environmentally friendly. If you are working with contractors who have the equipment and the ability to implement changes that will help your office to be more green, you can have a positive impact on your environment. Not only can this help you to save money on things like power bills, but it will also give your employers a more positive work experience in general by supporting sustainability in the work place.

Costs and Expenses

The main downside of renovations is that they are going to cost you some money. However, in the majority of cases, this is simply going to be an investment for your business. Having an attractive, up-to-date, and environmentally friendly office can create a positive environment for clients and employees alike, and in the end, you will likely find that your investment is worth it. It is also helpful if you can find facility maintenance and building renovation contractors who understand how to keep costs at a minimum.

Interruptions

Another down side to renovating is that it is likely to interrupt you and your business. However, there are ways around this. Many offices will allow their employees to telecommute when renovations are being done. There are also many facility maintenance and building renovation contractors who can work around your schedule so that the interruptions will be minimal.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to remodeling or renovating your office. It is important that you think about all of the aspects that are involved before you make any changes to your workplace.


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Green Facility Maintenance: Being Friendly to the Environment

Many businesses are taking a look at their facilities and trying to implement more environmentally friendly changes that will help them to be greener. These changes are not only beneficial for the environment, but they also help businesses to become more energy efficient, which can help them to save money. There are also certain incentives to go green including tax breaks.

One great way to go green is to find a facility maintenance company that has a lot of experience when it comes to helping businesses make changes that will make them more environmentally friendly in the long term. A good facility maintenance team will be able to make the changes that you need to maintain your building while also suggesting new changes to improve your building.

Facility Maintenance Services

Whether you are having a bit of preventative maintenance done to your building, a refresh paint job, or disaster restoration, there are always greener ways to go about this process. When you are looking for contractors, you want to make sure that the people you choose to work on your facility understand how to get the job done in the greenest way possible, using environmentally friendly materials, properly disposing of trash left over from the project, and implementing energy efficient changes when possible.

Renovations

When renovating your building, this is the perfect time to make new, energy-efficient changes. The crew that is working on the proper renovations should be able to help you make your building more environmentally friendly, whether you are utilizing carpentry services, painting services, or waterproofing services. Not only will these changes make your facility greener, but your facility will look a lot cleaner and more visually appealing for your customers.

Keeping up with your building is absolutely essential for any business, whether your business is a restaurant, an office, a clothing store, or a bank. There are many changes that you can make so that your business will become a lot more attractive to your customers. It is also important to make sure that you are making changes in the greenest way possible.

Harrison Contracting Company offers a wide range of facility maintenance services—from disaster restoration to painting re-fresh jobs to carpentry—to help you make your facility the best it can be. Harrison Contractors are equipped with the necessary skills and experience to help you implement the environmentally friendly changes you would like to see in your facility.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Proper Facility Maintenance Is Essential For Your Business




If you own a business, part of your responsibilities is to ensure that your property is safe for your employees and your clients or customers. Regular and proper maintenance is the only way to make sure that this is being done. This will also make your business look more professional, and it will ensure that your facility is a pleasant place for people to be. No one wants to work in a building that is not safe. On the other hand, if you own a restaurant or a retail store, no one will want to eat or shop in your building if it does not feel safe or taken care of. This is one of the reasons proper facility maintenance is so important.

A commercial facility is going to be exposed to just as many elements as a residential facility. If you are renting an apartment, you expect your landlord to maintain your residence. Your employees, clients, and customers expect the same of you. They expect the facility in which they are working or doing business to be properly maintained. Over time, there are many aspects of your facility that can become damaged, worn out, or otherwise impaired. Your roof may be damaged by a storm. Your windows may need replacing. Paint may begin to peel. It may seem like a number of little things that add up over time, but these things will make a difference in the overall impression that you give clients, customers, and employees.

The point is that all buildings are in need of maintenance and care. Luckily, there are facility maintenance companies who can help you to ensure that you are taking proper care of your building. These companies can also implement tools that can save you money in the long run. Finding a facility maintenance company that you can trust to perform regular inspections and needed repairs is important. Whether you own a bank, a restaurant, or even an amusement park, you will be in need of dependable facility maintenance.

Having a good working relationship with a facility maintenance company that you can trust will be extremely beneficial to you in the long run. A reliable facility maintenance company will be able to give you advice on your property specifically and how you might better maintain it in the future. This may also help you to save time, money, and effort in the long run.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Roof Reflective Coatings Help Save Money, Energy and Your Roof!



Facility maintenance and engineering managers understand the role roof coatings play in protecting their organizations' investments in roofing systems. For decades, managers have specified an array of coatings — including white, light-colored, and reflective products — to protect roofs from damage caused by weather and ultraviolet light.

But too few managers understand the energy-saving and sustainability benefits of roof coatings. A closer look at key programs related to green buildings and cool roofs reveal opportunities for managers seeking to cut energy use in institutional and commercial facilities as well as enhance sustainability.

  • Reduce your building maintenance expenses
  • Lower your HVAC energy consumption and save money on utility bills
  • Qualify for a rebate from your utility company or from government-sponsored energy rebate programs, which are offered in some areas of the country
  • Reduce your tax burden with a tax-deductible maintenance expense
  • Eliminate the high cost of a roof replacement, including tear-off and disposal

They can reflect up to 88% of the sun's heat and harmful UV radiation and reduce peak level energy consumption of HVAC systems. Reflective roof coatings reduce roof temperatures and heat absorption, resulting in lower interior temperatures, and improved energy effectiveness. They will also limit the severity of temperature changes in your building, resulting in increased comfort for your customers and your employees.

Reflective roof coatings protect your roof from the deterioration caused by the sun's heat and UV radiation – heat absorption, asphalt breakdown, and thermal shock from heating/cooling cycles. Harrison Contractings roof coatings provide a highly reflective, seamless solar barrier, protecting your roof against the corrosive elements that lead to moisture penetration and damaging leaks. If left unattended for too long, roof deterioration will exceed the limits of normal maintenance and lead to a costly roof replacement.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Finding The Right Facility Maintenance Company For Your Business

When it comes to making a great first impression for your future clients and visitors in general, facility maintenance is definitely something that you need to think about. It is absolutely essential that you have the necessary maintenance to any industrial, retail, or commercial buildings that are a part of your business. Not only will this attract more customers and clients, but it will also give your employees a safe, clean, and reliable atmosphere in which to work. This will certainly be a major factor in whether or not your employees feel your business is a nice place to work. Finding the right facility maintenance company requires the consideration of many different aspects of this field.

 
First of all, you need to make sure you are hiring a facility maintenance company who has experience with the type of building that you need to maintain. Make sure this company has experience with your particular field and your particular industry. Whether you are an amusement park, a bank, or a retail organization, you are going to have unique facility maintenance needs that will need to be met. Whenever you are looking for a company to hire for this service, you also need to think about your actual needs and how you would prioritize them. Make sure the company you are looking at can help you with the specific needs that you have, whether you need pressure washing, disaster restoration, or preventive maintenance measures.

 
Make sure you fully understand exactly what you are looking for before you search for the best facility maintenance company. Are you looking for a company that will be available for short-term projects, or are you looking to set up a long-term relationship with a company that will help you to manage to day-to-day upkeep of your facility or facilities? What kind of services are you in need of? Are you looking for a company that can help you with carpeting and upholstery, interior or exterior painting, carpentry, and/or industrial coatings? These are all important things you need to think about.


When you are in the process of finding the best facility maintenance company for your needs, make sure you check out their previous experience. Are there any reviews or testimonials from previous clients on the internet? Do a little research and see what you can find. If a company has had a lot of positive experiences from previous clients, it will definitely be reassuring. If a company has worked on projects in your area, you can even check out some of the facilities in person to see their work up close.

Finding the perfect facility maintenance company for your business does not have to be a complicated process. Make sure you put the necessary time and effort into checking out a company before you decide to do business with them.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Tips for Selecting the Right Professional Maintenance Company

Painting and Facility Maintenance


In today’s business operations, everyone is looking to save money, especially when it comes to things that can be costly like facility maintenance. The competitive economic environment in the business world has put pressure on facility managers to find savings whenever possible. Oftentimes the switch to a low-cost maintenance provider is made to save money for other important business activities. The low-cost facility maintenance company may actually cost you money in the long run if their service is not up to par. To keep this from happening to you, follow the tips below to ensure that the low-cost facility maintenance company will be able to provide the level of quality service your business needs.

A well-trained staff plays a key role in lowering costs


The efficiency of facility maintenance is not just based on the equipment and products that are used. An efficient facility maintenance company will also have well-trained employees ready to provide top notch service. Make sure your facility maintenance company has well-trained employees that are kept up to date on the proper way to use the newest tools and other changing codes and guidelines.


Some specific questions to ask could be:

·       Do they provide facility specific training or just general knowledge?
·       Is training conducted in a classroom setting or a hands-on environment?
·       Are facility maintenance instructions available in multiple languages? Are they easy to follow?
·       Do they record or document what kind of training their employees receive?

Access to the latest tools for facility maintenance services can mean major savings


One of the best and most logical ways to save money is to improve efficiency. Improving efficiency is the best choice because it does not require any sacrifice in terms of quality. Just like computers have improved the efficiency of technological work, using new equipment can enable a facility maintenance provider to provide more efficient maintenance for your business.  Contracting with a company that uses efficient products and equipment for its facility maintenance services can mean big savings for your bottom line.


Flexibility and variety of services means customized maintenance services for you 


Perhaps the most important aspect of a facility maintenance company is their ability and willingness to adapt to ever changing consumer demands. A facility maintenance provider that is committed to providing world class customer service will take a closer look at your facility to search for areas with problems that may be contributing to unnecessary expenses for your business.



When it comes to the bottom line, your choice of facility maintenance provider can mean big savings - or big expenses. Consider these tips before selecting your facility maintenance provider. These tips could save you from selecting the first and cheapest quote you get and save you money in the long run.


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

How industrial maintenance affects your day to day operations


To understand the true importance of industrial maintenance, you must first know what industrial maintenance means. Industrial maintenance refers to the repair and upkeep of different types of equipment machines used in an industrial setting. Industrial maintenance is important no matter what your line of work. Regular maintenance can ease the cost as well as the strain of your day to day operations all while maintaining the safety of your staff and customers.

Industrial maintenance can include things like industrial paint coatings, media blasting, rust removal, and more. Why are these things important? Read below.

Industrial paint coatings: Whether it’s exposed steel, architecture, or tank coating, fresh and regular coatings are very important to adhere to OSHA requirements and FDA approval.
Rust removal: Rusted steel can be a definite problem area when beginning industrial painting projects. Proper preparation of the area is essential to ensure the best proper results. Maintenance companies will sand, scrape, and even sandblast the rusted area to ensure complete removal.
Media blasting: Media blasting of a surface offers the best in removing corrosion, flaking rust, and previous coatings. Media blast treatments are often done with sand, soda, or bead blasting. Media blasting is a special type of project and special care is needed to protect the environment around the blast area. Be sure to ask questions of your maintenance company to be sure media blasting is the best choice for you.   

When beginning an industrial maintenance project, do your research. Always hire a company that you trust with good credentials and reputation. Usage and application of industrial coating of materials can be cumbersome, so ensure that it is done right the first time by hiring a company with good brand value. 

Regular hotel maintenance can boost your business


Like meeting a person for the first time or going on a job interview, it is important for hotels to make a good first impression on guests. Travelers often form opinions about a hotel within the first 60 seconds of stepping in the lobby. Travelers will often notice parking, décor, carpet, signage, and even the smell. Although each traveler notices something different, the key to ensuring good impressions across the board is facility maintenance. Facility maintenance is the number one way to ensure your guests have a comfortable stay, generate repeat business, build rapport, and earn outstanding guest reviews.

 The first test of maintenance is the guest’s arrival. The nicest hotel can seem unappealing if lights are missing, signage is broken, or the carpets are stained. Some hotels make use of staff daytime walkthroughs to identify problem areas. The issues with staff walkthroughs are that staff rarely notice problems that are the same as the day before, are accustomed to the smells in the hotel, and are oblivious to any issues with signage unless it is emitting sparks.

The second maintenance test begins when guests arrive in the hotel’s lobby. Travelers will often notice smells, stained carpets, leakage, bathroom cleanliness, and overall hotel appeal. If the hotel is lacking in any of these areas, guests may believe it is an indicator that they will have a bad stay.

Room maintenance can completely make or break a guest’s stay, impressions, and review of your hotel. Room maintenance factors include bedspread, security, smell, bathroom/shower area, and carpet. Although hotel cleaning staff may be responsible for the actual cleaning of the room, the maintenance falls on everyone. Are the AC units free of rust and leaks? Are they in working order? The same goes for any gaming units, television sets, and alarm clocks or iPod docking stations. Hotel rooms with amenities that do not work will leave a bad impression.

The last of the major maintenance tests are the facilities overall. While these are not often seen by guests, they are seen by the inspectors that keep your hotel in business or shut you down completely. Hotel facilities include things like elevators, pools, spas, business or fitness centers, common areas, boiler rooms, and safety equipment. Loose railings, broken fixtures, visible water damage, and rust rings make for more than just a negative image; they can also be liability issues. 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The importance of bank facility maintenance


While facility maintenance is important no matter what the facility, the importance of bank maintenance is especially important because of the nature of the facility’s business. When visiting a bank, customers are put at ease when the facility is well-kept and it is obvious that pride is taken in the facility. Regular bank maintenance can both promote safety and security of employees and customers while also growing your potential customer base. Visitors of your financial institution will often judge whether they want to do business with you based on the upkeep of your facilities. Oftentimes, customers will mistake an unkempt bank as untrustworthy and take their business elsewhere. Cracked paint, poor signage, and a leaky roof are just some maintenance concerns that might keep you from generating repeat business. For tips on how to keep these maintenance problems from becoming an issue for you, read the tips below.

Work order maintenance can help with things from bathroom partitions to exterior bollards. Work order maintenance is the perfect service to help with day-to-day maintenance tasks. There are a variety of work order maintenance packages offered so that they are fully customizable for your business needs.
Color imaging can be a great way to get visualization on how your building will look with a fresh coat of paint before even applying the first drop. Color imaging can also help you get your colors right the first time therefore maximizing the efficiency of the maintenance process. This service utilizes real-time pictures and computer enhanced images to allow you to get the full effect of your bank’s new look.
Re-fresh painting can be done during “off peak” times to maximize customer and employee convenience and safety and minimize any potential problems. By performing maintenance at off-peak times, customers are not inconvenienced with traffic, closed areas, or parking and that sales and foot traffic are not lost.
Signage really brands your company and is often the first thing that people see. Don’t let façade or faded signage be the breaking point of your business. Many customers are thrown off by incorrect or broken signage.

Other things to remember when hiring a professional maintenance company are:
Always hire a maintenance company whose services you trust. Ask to ensure that employees are background checked.
Make sure that the maintenance company has a documented training program.
Ensure company is ISSA CIMS GB certified. 

Why spring and summer may be the best time to paint your home.


When painting the exterior of your home, it is important to choose the right time of year to achieve the most durable and protective results. The best results occur when weather is not too hot or too cold, which is why late spring and early summer are the best times for exterior home painting.

In addition to the climate, here are four other reasons why your home could use a fresh coat of paint this summer:

  1. Your home is as stressed from the winter as you are- The dry winter air causes skin to dry and peel and the exterior of your home is the same way. Precipitation of all forms-snow, rain, ice, frost, and even high humidity can damage your home’s exterior causing wood to dry and crack. Moisture of any kind can cause wood to swell and soften, which allows growth for mildew, cracking, blistering, and flaking.
  2. Repair is needed- Although many homeowners are unaware of the small things going wrong on their home’s exterior, the prep work for a paint job reveals what is in need of repair. If your home’s current paint job is coming to the end of its warranty, try not to postpone a new one. It is almost always cheaper to repair than replace.
  3. Improve your home’s curb appeal- Have an awesome new landscape this summer? Why not get a fresh paint job to go with it? If you are in the market to sell your home, this tip is especially imperative. Potential buyers will often drive past your home and whether or not to go in based on the exterior. A fresh paint job is the easiest thing you can do to spruce up your home’s curb appeal.
  4. Increase value to your home- Even if you aren’t trying to sell your home, a fresh paint job can protect the investment you have in your home. The increase in the value to your home is typically much greater than the cost of a professional paint job.

Some other elements to consider include appropriate temperature ranges for exterior painting. If possible, schedule professional painters for days when the forecasted temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees. Also remember to discuss any concerns you have about the exterior of your home with the professional painters. With their guidance, you will be able to choose the products for your perfect home exterior.