It’s summertime. Time for office maintenance.
Last week summer seemed to come and go in a flash – almost literally – as flash floods returned to parts of the UK after a hot and steamy few days.
And not to put too much of a dampener on summer spirits, it is the ideal time to prepare for winter.
Following last week’s look at Security & Safety, John Thornley from Fairhurst Estates gives a guide to how businesses can keep on top of building and office maintenance.
Interior Cleans
In the summer, it’s reasonably easy to keep on top of interior maintenance. Winter brings a new set of challenges. On top of the added heating bills and lighting coverage, we also need to plan for cleaning and other issues.
Plan to have your carpets cleaned and flea treated regularly, and put an extra clean in place for the winter months. Focus on areas around doorways, and in high-traffic areas where grime can become indelibly embedded in fibres.
Before winter comes, hard floors can be recoated much more easily than they can in the cold weather. Carpets dry faster, and planning for ice and snow is less problematic. The sooner you get a plan in place, the easier it will be to manage any surprises that the weather has in store through autumn and winter.
Maintenance Visits
This is essential if you’re to avoid problems with heating, burst pipes and boilers, and can ease the amount of emergency callouts you’ll have to budget for.
Flat roofs are a particular problem area, since a tiny pinprick hole can harbour considerable damp problems if left undetected. Get roofs checked, repaired and replaced before torrential rain hits, and enlist a contractor to check seals, drainage and flashing.
If you take the right steps now, you will be well prepared for whatever the winter months bring!