December 2012 – Specialist Techniques to Specific Standards – As featured in Cleaning Matters December 2012
Ensure you appoint a company that will go above and beyond for your cleaning requirements says ServiceMasterClean.
whether you run a retail outlet, restaurant, care home, factory, or office building, investing in the cleanliness of your surroundings makes economic and environmental sense. Not only is it pivotal in the initial perception your clients and prospects make, but appropriate cleaning and treatment will also lengthen the serviceable life of your floor coverings and upholstery and help to reduce the amount of products thrown away.
During winter, there is an increased likelihood that the cleanliness of your premises and commercial flooring and upholstery is likely to be affected by dirt and markings caused by poor weather conditions from the outside, like mud, sludge and snow.
Too often, individuals without any specialist training are given the task of cleaning floor coverings and upholstery which, given the scale of financial investment and reliance on the appearance of these items, is an alarming thought.
Subject to requirements
Different floor covering surfaces and fabrics have varied cleaning requirements and, if appropriate processes are not followed, this can do more harm than good when it comes to cleaning. Some vinyl floor surfaces may require deep scrubbing using a rotary machine and a suitable brush head to properly clean the floor. Other floors may benefit from removing damaged seals and applying fresh coatings.
In addition, harsh weather conditions make buildings more vulnerable to damage. Freezing temperatures increase the risk of burst pipes at Christmas time and building structures can be damaged by heavy snow or rain, ice or fallen trees.
Acting fast to restore flooring and upholstery is crucial, to minimise the damage avoid business disruption and continue to create the right impression.
No matter how well buildings are maintained, even the newest o businesses can experience a serious incident at some stage that can prevent them from continuing operations. Buildings can be damage by anything from escape of water, to ice and snow, to heavy rain soaking through the roof, fallen trees, fire or even malicious damage.
Businesses affected by serious disasters should request that professionally qualified contractors who are trained in specialist restoration techniques are used for damage management work.
Dance company took the right steps
After water damage at its premises, International Dance Supplies called in its local ServiceMaster Clean in Devon which, as part of its range of professional cleaning services, has a team of qualified contractors, trained in specialist restoration techniques to British Damage Management Association standards.
Specialist drying equipment was used as an initial containment measure, followed by the installation of a more advanced drying system involving tenting the affected areas for concentrated drying.
Prior to installing the advanced system, all the affected carpets were uplifted for restoration, exposing the concrete beneath. A thick layer of adhesive was discovered on top of the concrete, which was removed so that it did not hinder the drying time, allowing the moisture to be released from the concrete.
For health and safety reasons, temporary traffic lanes were set up throughout the offices with warning signs so that the premises could remain open and business could continue as usual. Temporary entrance matting was laid until the restoration work was complete.
‘After major water damage at our premises, ServiceMaster Clean was outstanding in dealing with the situation,’ says Allison Glanville, business administration manager at International Dance Supplies. ‘They were very mindful of our business needs, caring and very professional throughout the whole drying out process. I would not hesitate to call them again, should the need arise and I would certainly recommend them to others.’
