Fall has arrived, bringing shorter days, vibrant leaves, and college football. The changing of the seasons also means a new list of tasks for the commercial properties you manage.
From parking lot sweeping to landscaping, autumn brings new challenges and opportunities to ensure properties look their best. By tackling the following exterior maintenance tasks, you can maintain professionalism across your portfolio.
Start With the Hard Stuff: Parking Lots and Concrete
Hard surfaces, like asphalt and concrete, need special attention in the fall. Parking lots are often the first space customers and tenants see when they arrive, and these areas set the tone for their entire visit. Refreshing these hard surfaces includes cleaning, repainting, and repairing tasks.
First, schedule regular sweeping to remove leaves, and a thorough pressure wash for parking lots, sidewalks, and entryways. These surfaces collect dirt, oil, and debris over the busy summer months that leave them looking unkempt. Pressure washing deep cleans hard surfaces to improve the appearance of the property and remove slippery residue that can become a hazard during rainy weather.
Next, address pavement markings. Faded parking stripes, curbs, and directional arrows can create confusion for both drivers and pedestrians – leading to an increased risk of accidents. Repainting these markings aids in making parking areas simple to navigate. Fall is also an excellent time to repaint safety features like fire lanes, crosswalks, and accessible spaces to maintain compliance with regulations.
Finally, have a professional concrete team inspect hard surfaces for signs of wear and tear. Small cracks and potholes can worsen significantly with freeze-thaw cycles during winter, which leads to expensive repairs. Addressing these issues early is a proactive step that prevents larger issues from forming and can save money in the long run.
Bring Fall Colors to Life with Fresh Landscaping
The first step in a fall landscaping plan is removing leaves and plants that won’t survive colder temperatures. Replacing withering plants with hearty fall blooms improves the appearance of the building and sets the tone for happy tenants and visitors.
While landscapers are on site, they should also trim perennials, bushes, and trees that grew quickly during the warm months. This greatly improves appearance, while also removing potential hazards – like weak branches that are more likely to break during a winter storm. Grass that looks thin could also benefit from overseeding. This allows new grass to be established before winter begins, and results in a lush, healthy lawn the following spring.
Finally, landscaping teams should inspect the irrigation system to ensure that all lines are working properly and free of costly leaks. During this process, they can prepare for winterization which prevents broken pipes during a freeze.
Finish With a Top-To-Bottom Exterior Clean
The first two sets of tasks focused on the ground, but to complete a fall maintenance checklist, you need to look up. Specifically, focus on awnings and windows.
Awnings collect dirt, mildew, and bird droppings throughout the summer months. A professional awning cleaning removes these unsightly elements to restore color and functionality.
Last, address dirty glass. Window cleaning improves appearance and allows more natural light to enter the building during the shorter days of windows. This simple detail makes a huge difference in the perceived cleanliness of the property.
Fall exterior maintenance tasks are vital to keep a commercial property looking its best and drive tenant satisfaction. These essential tasks can be a headache when you try coordinating them with separate companies, but they’re simple with a comprehensive partner.
Simplify Exterior Maintenance with One Partnership
At Terra CPS, we can handle your fall exterior cleaning needs with one relationship, one dedicated account manager, and simple monthly billing. Our comprehensive suite of services covers the most important aspects of exterior maintenance to save you time and money.
Our pro-wash team provides outstanding pressure washing results every time, and we keep your property clean with regular sweeping, day portering, awning cleaning, and more. We also have specialized teams to handle all your landscaping needs – making us your one-stop-shop for commercial maintenance.
To learn more about our services and get started, contact a member of our team today.