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Schedule Pressure Washing to Protect Your Exterior Walls

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Anything exposed to the elements will start to develop damage over time. This applies to the metal fixtures on a building’s exterior as much as it does to a car’s body and frame. The same moss growing up the side of the tree in your parking lot will take hold along the side of your building. But regular power or pressure washing can keep your building looking like new. It can even help protect it and minimize expensive repairs. Here’s how:

Schedule Pressure Washing to Protect Your Exterior Walls from Organic Growth

Stop plants from taking root in porous exterior materials.

Concrete, brick, and wood are porous. Even if the wood surface feels smooth, microscopic holes and pores in the surface allow organic growth to hold onto the surface and develop roots or stickers. These small feelers can dig into the surface layer, forming new cracks and making the material crumble. Ivy, moss, and fungus can slowly eat through the surface, weakening the overall material and discoloring it. You can get the walls power or pressure washed, which use heat and pressure respectively, to clear out current buildups of organic growth. The deep clean also removes roots and stickers so the plants are less likely to take hold again.

Prepare the surface for a stain or topcoat.

If your building is in a particularly humid region or is adjacent to a wooded area, then regular pressure washing appointments can help keep the organic material at bay. But if you want to ensure seamless protection against the growth, a nonporous sealant can keep the walls even safer. Get the exterior pressure washed to deep clean and prepare the surface for application. The combination of a tight sealant and regularly scheduled washes offers a stronger defense against organic growth.

Whether you have moss that is discoloring the walls or stubborn ivy that is burrowing into the surface, it has no business being on your building. Go to 214 Pressure Washing to get it removed.

Stop the Broken Window Theory by Pressure Washing Your Parking Lot

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How your commercial building looks matters. It’s one of the first impressions your customers have about your company. It’s where your employees spend the majority of their day. But having a clean building exterior is made up of smaller tasks and maintenance projects. Make sure your building is getting optimal maintenance by counteracting the broken window theory.

Stop the Broken Window Theory by Pressure Washing Your Parking Lot

What is the broken window theory?

This theory was originally created as a concept in criminology. If there’s evidence of one crime happening, it’s easier and more likely for another crime to happen. Negative factors build up on each other based on the impressions people have of an area. But the broken window theory has grown to encapsulate several different ideas about human behavior. If your parking lot is grimy and unkempt, it looks like the property managers or owners don’t care about the appearance. That makes it easier to drop a piece of garbage and just not pick it up. If the parking lot isn’t kept clean, people are more likely to cut across the medians’ landscaping. In fact, landscapers may be less likely to optimize the space, especially if it looks like no one cares. That’s not to say third-party service providers will cut corners or not meet their commitments, but it does mean there is less of a reason to exceed expectations.

The broken window theory applies in reverse, too. The nicer a property looks and the more signs there are of regular maintenance and care, the more visitors and workers will maintain that standard. A freshly cleaned parking lot implicitly encourages people to pick up dropped trash. It means the medians will be better maintained and the more pedestrians will stick to approved areas and paths.

The more you do to make your building look like an orderly place to work, the more that idea will manifest. Start with a deep-cleaned parking lot by going to 214 Pressure Washing here.

Add Power Washing to Your Maintenance Checklist Between Tenants

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Buy and hold real estate investment is all about minimizing downtime. The longer a property sits empty, especially if it’s a commercial property, the more expensive it becomes. Setting strict timelines and workflows for preparing the property for new tenants is essential so you or your management company can start prepping the property the second the former tenant leaves. Power washing the exterior should always have a place on that checklist. Here’s why:

Add Power Washing to Your Maintenance Checklist Between Tenants

Deep cleaning the current exterior is just as good as replacing the finish.

You don’t have to transform your commercial buildings between tenants in order to get new business. But the buildings do need to look well-maintained, clean, and ready for new tenants to start their business immediately. Power washing is the best way to refresh the exterior.

The process removes deep-set environmental stains in everything from brick to concrete. These materials are porous and can pick up airborne chemicals like car exhaust. You can even wash away the yellowing discoloration and smell of cigarette smoke near habitual smoking posts. New tenants are sensitive to signs of dirtiness and smells that could impact their own profitability.

Even better, power washing takes only a fraction of the time that painting, staining, and renovation projects require. Many of these tasks use pressure or power washing as the first step, and removing these extra steps speeds up your timeline.

Clean up the parking lot for extra curb appeal.

If the parking lot is part of your property, make sure that it looks professional and inviting, too. This is especially vital for office buildings, since tenants may be inviting clients onsite. Make sure the parking spots along the front of the building have clean concrete and, as needed, fresh paint demarcating the lines and symbols.

When you are preparing a commercial property between tenants, you shouldn’t have to replace everything. Even the grimiest exteriors can look like new after power washing. Go to 214 Pressure Washing to schedule quick service.

Why Pressure Washing is Great for Your Business

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Owning a commercial property can be a great long-term investment. However, in order for it to continue to be a great investment, you will need to keep it properly maintained. One great maintenance option would be to engage a pressure washing company to clean your property on a regular basis. There are several advantages of pressure washing that are unmatched by other cleaning options.

Why Pressure Washing is Great for Your Business

Effective Cleaning Source

One of the main advantages of hiring a professional for pressure washing for your commercial property is that it can be a very effective cleaning solution. Pressure washing is a great option to clean off a variety of items including dirt, mildew, salt stains, and rust off of a variety of different materials. After a quick power washing process, you will see a dramatic difference in the appearance of your property.

Great for Parking Lot

Another advantage of engaging a pressure-washing provider for your commercial property is that it can be great for a parking lot. A parking lot is a major investment that needs to be properly taken care. While a parking lot can withstand the weight of enormous trucks, small pieces of sale, oil, and other debris can do a lot of damage when they get caught into the parking lot cracks. A power washing service will be able to clean the parking lot thoroughly and have all of this debris removed. Doing this regularly can greatly extend the useful life of your parking lot.

Environmentally Friendly

Finally, pressure washing is very good for the environment. As opposed to using heavy chemicals in commercial cleaning products, pressure washing uses a far more natural solution that poses no risk to the environment.

If you are interested in pressure washing services, you should contact us immediately to learn more about the benefits that it provides as well as the services that we can provide to you.

2 Ways to Get Your Business’s Exterior Ready for the Summer

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Summer is on its way, and that means more shoppers congregating in downtown areas and recreational shopping centers. Make sure your business is one of the most popular destinations this summer by making your building’s exterior fresh and inviting. Here is how to do it:

2 Ways to Get Your Business's Exterior Ready for the Summer

Pressure Wash Building Exteriors

Building exterior surfaces attract dirt, mold, mildew and environmental fallout. If you leave your surfaces soiled for extended times, the damage can require extensive repair. We can pressure wash stucco, cast stone, brick, stone, metal siding and other surfaces on exteriors of buildings around town. If your building needs a professional wash then give us a call. We use low pressure with high flow in most cases to protect delicate surfaces. We can also power wash multilevel structures requiring a boom lift.

Clean the front concrete pathways.

Concrete gets a bit dingy during winter and spring. Water runoff from snow and storms falls down your building’s downspouts and the dirt can seep into the surrounding concrete. Early blooms and decaying leaves from last year form deep-set stains, even if your landscaping service quickly removes the plant debris. Make your store look more welcoming by having a freshly cleaned walkway. Shoppers are more likely to visit new shops that look clean and inviting, and that impression starts with your store’s exterior.

Power washing doesn’t just scour off the top layers of dirt on your building’s exterior. It removes deep-set stains and can get the surfaces ready for new paint, stain, and renovations. Go to 214 Pressure Wash to start your appointment and be ready for summer.

Is Gum Buildup Tarnishing Your Business’s Beauty?

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When you leased your commercial space, you may have loved all the decorative details. Prioritizing attractiveness is an excellent way to get people to look at your business. So, you may have invested a lot into making sure that you furnished and decorated the storefront beautifully.

Is Gum Buildup Tarnishing Your Business’s Beauty? Get Bubble Gum Removal

Making sure that your entire business is clean is essential to impress customers. But, even though you may not have a difficult time with cleaning most features, you may have complications with gum buildup. Hiring a pressure washing company for bubble gum removal is an ideal solution.

Storefront

The first place that you will want to pay attention to is the storefront. This means cleaning up the areas around the windows as well as the door that customers use to get inside. Whether people are walking by, admiring the displays, or going inside, you want them to feel as if the space is clean. Aside from checking out your website, this will be a part of a customer’s first impression.

Parking Lot                                                           

Another area where you want to remove all the bubble gum is in the parking lot. You do not want any customers parking their vehicle, stepping outside, and seeing gum next to them on the pavement. Although you cannot keep gum from getting on the ground, you can rely on routine pressure washing service to remove gum before it builds up enough to become a problem.

Dumpster Area

One of the messiest areas of your business is likely by the dumpster. All it takes is a trash bag ripping or a trash truck spilling some trash on the ground for gum to get on the surface. If the gum is fresh and sticky, one of your employees may end up stepping on it while throwing trash away. This can further embed the gum into the surface, but pressure washing will remove it all.

If you want to schedule an appointment for bubble gum removal, contact us any time.

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Handle Graffiti Removal Yourself

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If you have small children, most likely you have had to remove crayon or marker from a surface inside your home. While it took a good scrubbing, you were probably able to remove it easily and in a short amount of time. Removing graffiti on your business is another matter. Here are three reasons why you should let 214 Pressure Washing handle graffiti removal instead of doing it yourself:

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Handle Graffiti Removal Yourself

1)  Graffiti is toxic. 

Most vandals use spray paint which contains numerous substances harmful to skin, eyes, and the environment. If you attempt to remove graffiti vandalism from your business, you may risk your own health in doing so. Removal can cause toxic substances to splash on to skin, into eyes, and release noxious fumes. And if you don’t collect the water you use in the removal correctly, you can also harm the environment by allowing toxic water and debris to seep into the earth or flow into storm drains which lead to the ocean. 214 Pressure Washing has the equipment, materials, and training to remove graffiti safely and in an environmentally-friendly manner.

2) Graffiti needs to be removed quickly or it spreads.

As a business owner, you have a lot to do. You would love to remove graffiti as soon as it pops up, but is that really your top priority when you have customers to serve and orders to fill? Unfortunately, the longer the graffiti stays up, the more vandalism you risk at your business because graffiti is like a virus, it spreads. So while you may not have the time to get that graffiti down right away, we do. Give us a call and we’ll remove it quickly and affordably so you minimize the risk of future vandalism.

3) Removing your own graffiti can be dangerous.

Did you know you may be putting yourself in harm’s way by removing graffiti? Graffiti is often used by gangs to claim their territory, promote themselves, or send messages to other gang members. You have probably seen the stories on the news of gang members threatening and harming people they found removing their graffiti. Please allow us to handle your graffiti removal. We have the experience and training to remove it safely and effectively.

Don’t take graffiti into your own hands. Trust 214 Pressure Washing to do the job safely and quickly.  Contact us for a quote today!

Medical and Economical Dangers of Green Algae

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Green algae can accumulate anywhere with the proper conditions. Moist humidity – something Texas has plenty of – can provide the perfect environment for the growth of mold and algae.

Not only can this mossy, slippery, green carpet be unsightly, it can also cause numerous health problems to humans, animals and the environment ranging from toxicity to slips and falls.

Medical and Economical Dangers of Green Algae

Additionally, green algae breaks down cement, resulting in future expenses if not properly maintained.

Green algae can also be a catalyst for other contaminants such as moss, mold, or mildew. 

There are numerous applications available to remove green algae from concrete and other surfaces, but many of these processes involve harsh or harmful chemicals which can be a turn-off to potential customers who walk past your business and smell or see them.

While bleach can certainly remove the stains and smells, it can also serve to further toxify the soil and landscape around your building which can kill existing vegetation as well as destroy microorganisms in the soil that are necessary for new, future growth of desired plants.

A more economical, effective – and less toxic – way to rid your property of this unappealing blanket of green, is through proper and regular pressure washing from people who know how to eradicate the problem.

In addition to initial removal of the stains created by algae, mold, moss, and mildew, a professional pressure washer can provide tips and tricks for ways to help prevent the build-up of this messy health hazard.

Contact us today to see how we can make your location look clean and inviting.

Is Rust Costing You Customers?

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Chances are, you’ve invested a lot of time, money and heart into your business and you do all you can to keep it running. We all know the adage, “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” With a whopping 95 percent of consumers citing the appearance of a building as part of their decision to visit, could you benefit from some rust removal?

Is Rust Costing You Customers?

Even with the best efforts, there are ways that your building could be falling apart, without you even knowing it or, worse, you could be losing business just because of a natural, chemical reaction. 

If you can see rust forming around your building, this can create expensive – even dangerous – problems for you in the future. Not only is this orange dust unsightly for your customers, but it can spread and create structural problems.

Rust is formed when metal is exposed to moisture and oxygen, resulting in oxidation. From there, it can grow and continue to deteriorate metal and surrounding elements (such as rebar within concrete forms). 

There are many home remedies one can try to remove rust – from sanding the rust away to vinegar and water – but most of these techniques are not only time-consuming, but ineffective in the long run.

Using our pressure washing service, much more area can be cleared of rust, while also reaching into cracks and crevices that are not accessible by hand. This technique removes rust much more quickly, effectively and deeply. 

Additionally, regular maintenance of these areas – inside or out – can prevent further corrosion which ends up being a costly repair or replacement.

If you want to make sure your business is clean and free of rust and corrosion, contact us today so we can discuss ways to make sure your location is squeaky clean.

Why You Should Pressure Wash Your Commercial Parking Lot

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The parking lot of any commercial building is a very important component as it provides a safe place for tenants and customers to park. Due to the importance of keeping a commercial parking lot clean and in good condition is very important. One of the best ways to do this is to take advantage of professional power washing services as they can provide a number of different benefits.

Why You Should Pressure Wash Your Commercial Parking Lot

Remove Difficult Materials

One of the main benefits of using a pressure washing service on your parking lot is that it can help to remove some of the more difficult materials that can become prevalent in a parking lot. Parking lot owners will find that it is almost impossible to remove bubble gum, excessive tar, oil stains, and other challenging items. However, when engaging a pressure washing service provider, it can be much easier to have these items efficiently cleaned and removed.  This can help your lot continue to look good for years to come. 

Extend Useful Life

Another reason why you should have pressure washing done on your parking lot is that it can greatly extend the useful life of the parking lot and delay the need for overlays and other major repairs. Parking lots can break down over time due to the buildup of salt, oil, and other common chemicals that can get into the parking lot service. When you have a pressure washing service done, all of these materials will be removed. This can prevent cracks and other parking lot issues from occurring.

If you have a parking lot, contact us to learn more about the benefits of having it pressure washed.