Rocks in Roof Channel
September 22, 2015

We Know Your Pain! Success With Gutter Maintenance & The Service Call

As a property manager, I’m sure you’ve seen an urgent phone or email like this before:
“My building’s gutters are overflowing!”
You want to be a hero for your building, but you need the tools to provide the quick, painless solutions. You have questions: Who will take care of it? Can they come before the next storm? Can they investigate and report back with the result? What will it cost?
Some of you may know (or be on) ServiceMaster’s gutter maintenance program: it is the answer for all those questions. A crew will be dispatched to the problem before escalates further, where we will investigate situation and report back with a solution. You can have the confidence that it will be sorted out quickly, and the best part: the cost is included in the package. Thus you have cost certainty for the next 12 months.
We have revamped our gutter care program for 2015 & 2016 to now include a Standard Gutter Cleaning PLUS six Service Calls included for 12 months after the initial cleaning (A Potential Value $ 900.00). 
WHAT IS A SERVICE CALL? 
WE SEND OUT A CREW TO ATTEND & INVESTIGATE TO PROBLEMATIC AREAS THAT YOU REPORT TO US. GENERALLY LIMITED TO SPECIFIC AREAS, COVERS UP TO 1 HOUR ON SITE.

So what should you look out for when considering a gutter maintenance program? First use a contractor that has the ability & capacity to perform over 12 months, not a seasonal exterior cleaning business. Second, look for a contractor that uses technology in the field to provide real time information: this will help to ensure you get the fastest service possible. Finally you should look for a company who cares about the gutter health of your building and has a vested interest. We do all of those things, and that’s the ServiceMaster difference.

September 22, 2015

How will this year’s weather affect Gutter Cleaning at your buildings?

The weather this year has been unusual to say the least, with a summer drought leading to Stage 3 Water restrictions.  Because of this we are the proud owners of a 3000-gallon water tank that we used to assist with the cleaning we undertook over the summer.
So what does the unusual summer weather mean for gutter cleaning? Simple; we have a lot of very dry trees around the lower mainland, which have been further weakened by the recent storms. It is evident that more leaves and branches will fall this year than in previous years.
Many of our customers have thought that they should wait to clean our gutters until all the leaves have fallen to get the most value for money from their service. In some cases this is true and in most not. It is not because nobody can predict when heavy rains will come and when all the leaves will fall. This is especially true given we are in an El Nino year, which may lead to an warmer, wetter fall and winter. When the gutter system is not ready for the heavy rains, major problems occur: blockages, breakages, interior floods, and foundation problems. However, every building has different needs, which may not be easy to identify. Some gutters can be cleaned once a year and some need to be twice. It all depends on a host of factors, such as the system’s design, its integrity and the amount of foliage in the area.
So what should you do? Ask us. Our team has been cleaning gutters in the lower mainland for over 20 years and possesses deep experience in identifying a building’s requirement. We’ll put together a plan and give you an estimate, which will provide real value for you and the strata members that you represent.
July 19, 2015

Roof Treatment & Cleaning “Foaming Video”

As we discussed in an earlier Etips; having the roof cleaned on any building is an important part of keeping it healthy and effective. Left untreated Moss, mold and mildew growth effectively halves their lives requiring costly repairs or wholesale replacement from Complete Roofing Solutions or a similar roofing company. Winter often a prime time for these growths. The wet, temperate weather, and lack of sunlight, combined with the ample foliage means that all three can grow through most of the year.

So why care about this now? Well its actually the best time for a roof cleaning. The hot dry weather has weakened and, in some cases, killed some roof growth. That doesn’t mean you can forgo any roof cleaning. The dead matter will regrow, or become a home for other, larger plants, which can wreak even worse damage to a roof. Nevertheless in their dried state, the growths are easier to remove effectively than if they are alive and moist.

The dry weather also allows our technicians to operate on a roof more effectively. Fall or winter cleanings often occur in the rain, which complicates matters. In a worse case scenario, this may lead to places being unreachable due to wet conditions. Cleaning now guarantees the best possible outcome.

The cleaning process itself is not as straightforward as one may think, In order to ensure an effective clean, the roof must be treated prior to the cleaning. It is critical that we get off as much of the growth as possible as well as kill potential new areas to get the best outcome. Most of the time we require a follow-up visit to remove any newly dislodged material. Still this does not mean the roof will be spotless. Discolouration is very common and often only cosmetic in nature. Our primary focus is to clean off growths that will damage the roof; cleaning everything would lead to a massive increase in cost that would greatly outstrip the potential value.

So, in this hot weather, spare a thought for your roof and the upcoming winter. You won’t regret it.

July 19, 2015

Dealing With Stage 2 Water Restrictions

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Our office has been bombarded (I am sure you have been as well) with calls regarding the GVWD Water Shortage Response Plan.

Here is what we are doing and some clarification on how Stage 2 effects exterior cleaning surfaces.

We have purchased 200 gallon water tanks and sourced recycled water so we can continue with our exterior cleaning services.

To Summarize here is what is allowed and what we are doing to comply with the current Stage 2 Plan.

  1. WE CAN pressure wash any INTERIOR surface (Parkades etc……) these areas have drains to collect the water.  The current restriction only apply to OUTDOOR areas.
  2. WE CAN pressure clean the exterior surfaces of buildings.  This meets the requirement under preparing the building for painting or similar treatment.  (We apply a foaming solution to treat for mold & moss abatement, and also can use our water tanks as well where necessary)
  3. Window Cleaning, hand window cleaning (Squeegee) is ALLOWED, continuous water fed poles (Tucker Pole) is not allowed. This is where we will use our water tanks.  
  4. Outdoor areas walkways etc….CANNOT be pressure washed, these areas will have to wait until Stage 2 is lifted.  We can’t use our water tanks here since this service uses too much water.

All of our equipment is being outfitted with automatic shut off valves.

We are complying with all the restrictions and going forward we will be putting measures in place to reduce our water usage during exterior cleaning services.

Attached is copy (Long Form) of GVWD Water Shortage Response Plan for your review. Water_Shortage_Response_Plan_Feb2011

If you have any questions please contact me directly.

Have a great night,

David Benoit

General Manager

Cell 604 561 2903

June 22, 2015

Window Cleaning Re-Service Guideline

1: Please clean the inside surface of the window before reporting.  (You would be surprised how often this is the case, now that the outside is allowing more light in you can see the inside) 
2 If your screens were not removed (For Buildings with screens)  during the scheduled dates,  we cannot return to service it after the job is complete.  (You can tell since the one side of the window will be clean and the other side will be soiled)
3. When reviewing concerns we will need:
a. Low Rise – A photo of the window (So we can see what the concern is) 
b. High Rise  – A photo of the window and we will need access to the suite (Some times we can touch up the window from inside your unit instead of setting up a rope access drop) 
4: Please ensure the window you’re concerned with are actually part of the scope. Accessible deck windows are not part of the scope of work.  (If you are unsure about the scope please ask us) 
5. When we return please identify the window(s) from the interior with a piece of paper.  (This way we can make sure we get the right window) 
June 10, 2015

Building Facade Cleaning (BFC)

Building Facade cleaning.

BFC as we often shorten it to, is a major area of work that we offer. Its vitally necessary too. Our high moisture weather patterns, particularly in the spring, are ideal  growing conditions for a number of surface growth. This can include algae, moss, lichen and mold. However buildings can also be affected by oils, greases and soils, which present their own problems. All of these issues can start to become apparent in under two years.

At first, dirtied surfaces are only a cosmetic issue: it can give a prematurely aged look that drives down property values and potential rental income. Left over time, growth and soiling can leave lasting damage to the building.This can take many forms. Some forms of algae and molds release chemicals that can bleach a surface and cause weathering. At its worse, it can be a source of serious damage. Algae and molds can weaken vinyl siding, concrete and mortar, leaving them brittle and easy to damage. Wood siding is equally effected, as molds and mosses feed of their surface and accelerate rotting. Left untreated, any of these issues could become a serious problem, leading to costly repairs and major inconveniences for residents.

We employ a number of techniques to clean these surfaces effectively. Perhaps one the one that is most familiar to people is pressure washing. However its limited in what it can clean. The high pressure spray can damage wood, old vinyl and even certain types of brick. For these areas, we use the tried and tested brush scrub. This is a gentler approach, but it takes significantly more time. For particular tough areas we also apply a specialized cleaning solution that breaks down hardened grime that can’t be removed by regular soap and water. These can be applied separately, or as part of an in-line spray system.

In general, late spring and summer are the best times of year to undertake facade cleaning. The hot drier weather aids in two ways. The first is that most biological growth are weakest in these months due to a lack of water and are easier to remove. Second, the weather allows for quicker drying, which prevents streaks from forming and prevents any further growth from coming back.

Is your building showing some growth, or looking dirty? Call us today to get a quote.
April 23, 2015

ROPE ACCESS IN ACTION ! “The signature Woodwards 43 tower” The Cleaning Of An Historic Giant!

In the past week, ServiceMaster Clean Vancouver has been cleaning the Iconic Woodwards Building in the downtown core. While this is a phenomenal opportunity, it also presents quite a few technical challenges for our technicians. First, the building incorporates a number of different architectural styles, which emulates its different history. However many of its features vastly increase the difficulty of cleaning the building. It is really a fantastic example of the advantages of rope access system employed by ServiceMaster Clean.

Here, a technician wears a safety harness that is connected to a rope via a mechanical descender. While this may seem more risky, rope access is much safer than other systems. It is also more efficient: technicians can move up and down, have more ability to move side to side than any other method. It is the preferred method to clean very high-rise buildings outside North America, such as the world’s tallest building, the Burj Kalifa in Dubai.

The signature Woodwards 43 tower exemplifies the advantages of the rope access system. It has large cornices (the lip at the top of the building), which limits a lot of the options for cleaning. For example the Bosun chair cannot be used with this feature, because they cannot get under the overhang.

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But, as you can see in this photo, our technicians are able to re-route their lines under the cornice, which brings them much closer to the building. This represents perhaps the biggest disadvantage of Bosun chairs: they are really only a descent system, with very limited mobility options for a suspended worker. Individuals cannot attach themselves to different lines, go up, or even conduct a self-rescue, if part of their equipment fails. Another example of chair’s limitations is the presence of large exterior metal girders on each floor of the W43 tower.

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Since these are not balconies and there is no place to latch onto, the girders all but rules out the chair as a viable cleaning method. Rope’s flexibility allows workers to latch onto different ropes in order to provide a safe, effective work environment at height, as this before and after photo makes clear.

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In January Worksafe BC introduced a series of new regulations for rope access work, that required all technicians and supervisors to have specific levels of training appropriate to their role. This will mean that some companies will need to invest in training to bring their staff up to the minimum standards, and will result in some higher costs being passed along to the customer. This is not the case with ServiceMaster Clean Vancouver, as we are already broadly compliant with the regulations. All of our rope access technicians were required to obtain a recognized rope access qualification before they took their first step off of a building; we considered this a matter of basic safety.

Bosun Chairs did not face any new regulations. This was not because the method is superior to rope access; rather it is because it is less. Workplace BC acknowledges that chairs cannot be used in a wide variety of situations, so its current regulations are sufficient for its limited use. Even so, unless a tower is an unremarkable box, Bosun Chairs are slower, and more cumbersome to use than rope access. The only difference is that the training standards are far lower, so the labor costs are lower.

So when you’re considering exterior cleaning of high-rise towers, it is really important to understand these considerations and make your decision accordingly.

April 23, 2015

Carpet Maintenance Programs – We Didn’t Design Them, The Manufacturers Did

Warrantees are often the determining factor behind purchasing something. Some car manufacturers make it a key selling point; like a certain company’s 10-year powertrain warranty. However, all of them come with conditions and requirements, otherwise people would be driving their cars with reckless abandon, or, in the case of carpets, quickly letting them fall in disrepair until they need to be replaced.

Our carpet cleaning programs are designed based on manufacturers’ warranty requirements, which are necessary to maintain them in optimal condition. This is not based on a single personal opinion or experience, but on the research, testing and results of numerous companies over decades of carpet manufacturing and use.

WHAT DO THE MANUFACTURERS SAY?

The main focus of carpet warrantees are high traffic areas. This is key – we’re not talking about the carpet on the bottom of your living room closet, or the spare room where Auntie Frieda and Uncle George go once per year but is otherwise unused, we’re talking about the carpet that gets walked on every day by multiple pairs of dirty feet. This is the lobby areas of buildings, the stairwells, the hallways. They take a beating, and need to be cared for in order to ensure the best lifespan of the product.

Most warranty requirements have 5 mandatory elements:

1) Entrance Mats: must be placed in order to reduce the amount of dirt tracked in. They are very effective at reducing the amount of debris brought into carpets.

2) Regular Vacuuming: to remove abrasive debris before it cuts and scrapes the carpet fibers under the grinding action of footsteps.

3) Spot Cleaning is essential to get marks out before they set permanently! That requires the right product, applied at the right time with the right method.

4) Interim Maintenance: this can take several forms, but is a required step for high traffic areas in carpet – lighter than a hot water extraction clean, but heavier than vacuuming.

5) Hot Water Extraction: this is the most recognized form of carpet cleaning, also known as steam cleaning or restorative cleaning. It is a necessary step, but not the only step – look at all the other steps that come before it.

Keep your warranty valid. Maintain your investment. Keep your strata clean. That’s the goal and we’re on your side to achieve that result. Don’t let the situation get extremely bad, then try to tidy it up a year later with a hot water extraction clean, expecting that it can and will every time be able to correct a cumulative year’s worth of neglect. That approach doesn’t work. It’s proven not to work. If it did, that’s what would be outlined in your warranty. But it’s not.

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