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By Admin 17 Jul, 2018
Most people don't think of birds as harmful. However, when a large flock of seagulls and pigeons congregates on your parking lot and begin to nest on your roof, these avian visitors become more than a nuisance — they can cause damage to your property and drastically diminish curb appeal.

Here are some of the ways a bird infestation could affect your business.

Property Damage

Bird droppings can cause permanent damage to property. Bird waste contains potent chemicals that can corrode metal, concrete, roofs, masonry, and other substances. Extensive corrosion can structurally weaken your property and create unforeseen liabilities.

Bird nests can also block gutters, ventilation, and drains, which can trigger a domino effect and affect other systems in your property such as air conditioning, heating, and drainage. The cost of repairing or rehabilitating your property can add up quickly and eat into your profits.

To avoid permanent staining, corrosion, and damage, find a professional commercial washing provider as soon as birds start to infest your property.

Negative Aesthetics

Bird excrement does not just damage property — your business's professional image is at risk as well. Whether on the roofs, parking lot, walls, cars, or other surfaces, accumulated bird droppings diminish your property's aesthetic appeal.

Unsightly business premises is a major turn off for customers. Employees will also not want to work in an area that looks rundown, unappealing, and hazardous.

Accidents

Accumulated bird excrement can cause your business premises to become slippery and increase the risk of slip-and-fall accidents for customers and employees.

As a business owner, you have a duty of care to ensure your premise is reasonably safe. The law may consider you negligent if you allow bird droppings to accumulate on your premises and may result in lawsuits that could put a huge dent in your business.

To avoid costly liabilities, clean your parking lot as frequently as possible and keep your premises neat and safe.

Food Contamination

In addition to slip-and-fall accidents, you may also be liable for breaching federal and state food, safety, and hygiene regulations if you do not take care of a bird infestation.

Foodborne diseases and contamination incidents could cause you to lose customers and, in extreme cases, result in a complete business shutdown.

Disease

Birds can spread many bacteria and parasites. Pigeons, gulls, and starlings, in particular, host mites and lice that can cause over s ixty potentially fatal diseases   including Candidiasis, Salmonellosis, Yellow Mealworms, and West Nile Virus.

The risk of disease can have serious implications for your business in terms of customer perception, staff retention, and medical expenses, all of which will impact your revenue.

Customer Deterrence

Customers expect to feel reasonably safe, and if you cannot provide this, they will move on to your competitors. Many people refer to gulls as thugs of the bird world  due to their tendency to attack and steal food.

Other birds such as starlings and young pigeons can also make customers feel physically threatened, which can have a negative effect on your business revenue.

While the gentle chirping of a graceful bird can be pleasant, a large flock of birds around your business premises can be a noisy and even dangerous nuisance that can put off customers.

Pest birds mark their territory using their own waste and will return to the same spot. Professionals who understand the problem can effectively eliminate excrement and deter birds from infesting your property with a thorough washing.

If you have a bird problem, let the power-cleaning experts at J & A Steam Cleaning  take care of it. Call us today to let us know what your exact needs are and schedule a cleaning.
By Admin 20 Jun, 2018
Every homeowner wants to save money, but not at the cost of the appearance or value of their home. Luckily, pressure washing is an uncomplicated way to potentially boost home value while saving time and money too. Here are five common exterior household problems that pressure washing solves.

Save the Paint

The exterior paint on your house is at nature's mercy. The wind blows dust and debris against the surface, and birds leave behind their own calling cards. Shaded areas are at risk for algae and mold, and cobwebs, wasp nests, and other debris hang from the eaves. Over time, the paint becomes dull due to layers of the mess left behind. 

Handwashing a house is a time-consuming chore. A garden hose only has enough pressure to remove the loosest debris. A pressure washer removes the built-on mess and reveals the true paint color again. If the paint is old and damaged, pressure washing can remove a lot of the paint along with the dirt and leave a smooth surface for a new layer of paint.  

Save the Roof

Many people mistakenly believe the dark patches on their roof shingles are signs of water damage. In most instances, the streaks and stains are a type of algae. Remove the algae by pressure washing rather than replacing the shingles.

Another concern is moss. Unlike algae, which is unattractive but harmless, moss can damage the roof. The material holds moisture and causes the shingles underneath to degrade. Remove the moss to stop the risk of shingles wearing out sooner than expected.  

Protect the Porch

Even pressure-treated wood is at risk to the elements. Mold and algae will work their way into the grain of the wood even if it is pressure-treated. The lumber begins to rot once these spores are in the grain. If you use harsh products like bleach to clean your porch, this causes the wood to dry out and crack. If painted to cover the stains, the mold will continue to spread and be visible through the paint.

Pressure washing your porch will clear built-up debris without causing damage. Make sure that you know the right pressure washing setting so you won't cause the wood to splinter under too much stress.

Wash the Driveway

Many driveways have oil spots from leaky cars, and these stains are some of the first things people see when they come to your home. Pressure washing removes the stains for a clean, fresh look to the pavement. Pressure washing is also important before you reseal a driveway because the sealant needs a clean surface.

Consider cleaning any brick pavers on a patio or paved walkway at the same time as the driveway. Mold and algae often cover these walking surfaces and can make them slippery especially during wet weather.  

Prepare the Pool

Pressure wash if a pool's algae buildup continues to return despite repeated treatments. The algae may have settled into the grooves of the concrete and will multiply quickly in the sunlight and turn the water green again. Drain the pool and pressure wash all of the concrete to reduce the number of chemical treatments needed later and to keep the water sparkling clean all year.  

Hire an expert to pressure wash your home to prevent damage to the house or other areas. If not used correctly, a pressure washer can remove paint, dent siding, and cut grooves in the wood. If you hit a pane glass directly with the blast of water, you can break your windows.
At J & A Steam Cleaning , we can help to boost the curb appeal of your home with a simple, fast cleaning service. Our eco-friendly methods and products will not harm flowers or grass, and we practice water recovery to prevent waste. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a cleaning service today.
By Admin 21 May, 2018
You take great pride in your business and keep the curbside appeal of your building pristine for your clientele. Your parking lot is just as important as the rest of your facility, and an unkempt, dirty parking area can give potential customers the wrong impression of how you operate your business.

Power washing your business's parking lot periodically provides many benefits, which are described in this guide. You will also learn how often you should have your parking area professionally cleaned to maintain its beauty.

1. Power Washing Protects Your Parking Area's Surface

Over time, debris collects on your parking lot that can damage the material's surface. Salt, engine oil, and harsh chemicals get embedded in your parking lot's asphalt.

Oil, in particular, can be very damaging. When oil spills from vehicles are left uncleaned, the stains will cause the dirtied areas to become soft. The soft asphalt will eventually peel away, leaving potentially dangerous potholes as a result.

Hire a professional power washing company to use a mixture of chemicals to gently remove all surface stains from your parking lot. Not only will your parking area look cleaner as a result but also the asphalt will be protected against chemical and oil damage. With proper asphalt care, your parking lot should last up to 25 years .

2. Power Washing Makes Your Parking Lot More Attractive

The more use your parking lot gets, the dirtier the surface of the material will become. Dirt and other debris will cover parking space lines, gum and other litter will ruin your parking lot's appearance, and weeds and other plant growth will make customer parking spaces look unkempt and neglected.

You don't want your business's reputation to be ruined because of a dirty parking lot. Professional power washing services will remove all the surface stains on your asphalt parking lot, making painted parking lines easier to see, and the asphalt blacker and newer-looking.

3. Power Washing Is Effective

One reason to use a power washer to clean your asphalt parking lot instead of other cleaning measures is that power washing involves using high-pressure water (hot or cold, depending on the severity of your parking lot's cleaning needs) and gentle chemicals, which makes this cleaning method very effective.

Common household detergents, and even cat litter, can be used to clean your asphalt parking lot, but these remedies often leave behind a residue of their own. Do not use bleach and other cleaning chemicals to manage the stains on your parking lot; refer to a power-washing specialist for assistance.

Schedule an Appointment With a Power-Washing Specialist

Schedule to have your parking lot power washed once a year to maintain your business's curb appeal. Your   power-washing specialist  will give you specific instructions to keep your business's parking lot clean in between power washing sessions, and may recommend doing the following:
  • Hosing oil spills and stains as they occur
  • Sealing your asphalt for further protection
  • Removing garbage, weeds, and other debris daily
The best way to keep your parking lot clean is to regularly patrol the area and call your power-washing specialist right away if you notice antifreeze, large oil spots, or other chemical spills on your property.

Keep in mind that your business's sidewalks should be periodically power washed in addition to your parking lot. Discuss the many ways power washing can benefit your business with your power-washing specialist.

Keeping your business clean on the outside is just as important as keeping the interior pristine and inviting. The right power-washing specialist will be able to address all your business's exterior cleaning needs.

Schedule an appointment with our skilled power washing experts at J & A Steam Cleaning today. We will help you keep your parking lot in beautiful condition.
By Admin 19 Apr, 2018
Your restaurant's reputation is only as strong as the image your establishment creates. This image is portrayed in the food you serve, the efficiency and kindness of your staff, and perhaps most important, your restaurant's appearance.

A clean restaurant is not only desirable; it's a necessity. Unclean areas will attract bugs and rodents and will make your establishment undesirable and unhealthy for your guests. While you have your crew do side work to keep the interior of your restaurant clean, there is more that you can do for your eatery's cleanliness.

Dumpster Cleaning
Your restaurant's dumpsters may not be attached to your building and may be out of sight of customers, but these units need to be professionally cleaned regularly anyhow. Bacteria that can harm your employees and cause unsavory odors will build up inside unwashed dumpster bins, permeating the air.

Hire a professional cleaning company to use pressure and power washers, along with anti-bacterial chemicals, to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of your restaurant's dumpsters. Line dumpsters with commercial bags to prevent seepage from leaking into the bins themselves for future dumpster maintenance.

Exterior Cleaning
Smoke, oil, and other residue from your kitchen's ovens, grills, and exhaust systems gets released into the outside air so your guests and staff are not bothered inside. The residue that escapes your building creates stains and unattractive black marks on the sides and back of your building where vents and chimneys are located.

People passing by your restaurant from a side or rear view won't get a proper representation of your eatery if they see grease stains and smoke residue on your restaurant's exterior. A professional cleaning crew  will use a power washer to gently and effectively clean the exterior of your building, removing sticky residue while restoring your restaurant's building to a beautiful allure.

Ask your cleaning specialist how often your restaurant's exterior should be cleaned. With regular maintenance of your building, you can keep the exterior as clean and pristine as the inside of your building.

Sidewalk Cleaning
Whether you serve diners outside on a sidewalk or patio during warmer days or not, keeping your sidewalks clean is important to customer safety. Spills can leave your sidewalks dirty and slippery, which can cause customers to fall outside your building. Dirty sidewalks also provide an unwanted attraction that you your restaurant doesn't need.

Concrete is porous, so stains left untreated on your restaurant's sidewalks will quickly make the entry leading to your establishment dingy and ill-kept. Spray your sidewalks with a hose regularly as part of your regular employee side work.

Your cleaning specialist will also power wash your restaurant's sidewalks to remove grime, stains, sticky residue, and even mold and mildew buildup. After spraying down your concrete, have the surface of your sidewalks professionally sealed to make future cleaning much easier.
Your cleaning specialist can also provide interior services for your restaurant, including pressure washing your kitchen walls behind your stove and washing areas. A clean kitchen creates a more pleasant atmosphere for your employees to work in.

There are many ways you can improve the reputation of your restaurant by keeping your eatery cleaner and more organized. Your cleaning specialist will recommend a cleaning schedule that works best for your restaurant's maintenance budget, size of your eatery, and how busy your restaurant is during certain times of year.

Have your cleaning specialist attend to your power and pressure washing needs during the least-busy times of day, or make arrangements to have your restaurant cleaned outside of business hours. For all your professional cleaning needs, rely on our experts at J & A Steam Cleaning. Call us to make an appointment today.
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By Admin 17 Jul, 2018
Most people don't think of birds as harmful. However, when a large flock of seagulls and pigeons congregates on your parking lot and begin to nest on your roof, these avian visitors become more than a nuisance — they can cause damage to your property and drastically diminish curb appeal.

Here are some of the ways a bird infestation could affect your business.

Property Damage

Bird droppings can cause permanent damage to property. Bird waste contains potent chemicals that can corrode metal, concrete, roofs, masonry, and other substances. Extensive corrosion can structurally weaken your property and create unforeseen liabilities.

Bird nests can also block gutters, ventilation, and drains, which can trigger a domino effect and affect other systems in your property such as air conditioning, heating, and drainage. The cost of repairing or rehabilitating your property can add up quickly and eat into your profits.

To avoid permanent staining, corrosion, and damage, find a professional commercial washing provider as soon as birds start to infest your property.

Negative Aesthetics

Bird excrement does not just damage property — your business's professional image is at risk as well. Whether on the roofs, parking lot, walls, cars, or other surfaces, accumulated bird droppings diminish your property's aesthetic appeal.

Unsightly business premises is a major turn off for customers. Employees will also not want to work in an area that looks rundown, unappealing, and hazardous.

Accidents

Accumulated bird excrement can cause your business premises to become slippery and increase the risk of slip-and-fall accidents for customers and employees.

As a business owner, you have a duty of care to ensure your premise is reasonably safe. The law may consider you negligent if you allow bird droppings to accumulate on your premises and may result in lawsuits that could put a huge dent in your business.

To avoid costly liabilities, clean your parking lot as frequently as possible and keep your premises neat and safe.

Food Contamination

In addition to slip-and-fall accidents, you may also be liable for breaching federal and state food, safety, and hygiene regulations if you do not take care of a bird infestation.

Foodborne diseases and contamination incidents could cause you to lose customers and, in extreme cases, result in a complete business shutdown.

Disease

Birds can spread many bacteria and parasites. Pigeons, gulls, and starlings, in particular, host mites and lice that can cause over s ixty potentially fatal diseases   including Candidiasis, Salmonellosis, Yellow Mealworms, and West Nile Virus.

The risk of disease can have serious implications for your business in terms of customer perception, staff retention, and medical expenses, all of which will impact your revenue.

Customer Deterrence

Customers expect to feel reasonably safe, and if you cannot provide this, they will move on to your competitors. Many people refer to gulls as thugs of the bird world  due to their tendency to attack and steal food.

Other birds such as starlings and young pigeons can also make customers feel physically threatened, which can have a negative effect on your business revenue.

While the gentle chirping of a graceful bird can be pleasant, a large flock of birds around your business premises can be a noisy and even dangerous nuisance that can put off customers.

Pest birds mark their territory using their own waste and will return to the same spot. Professionals who understand the problem can effectively eliminate excrement and deter birds from infesting your property with a thorough washing.

If you have a bird problem, let the power-cleaning experts at J & A Steam Cleaning  take care of it. Call us today to let us know what your exact needs are and schedule a cleaning.
By Admin 20 Jun, 2018
Every homeowner wants to save money, but not at the cost of the appearance or value of their home. Luckily, pressure washing is an uncomplicated way to potentially boost home value while saving time and money too. Here are five common exterior household problems that pressure washing solves.

Save the Paint

The exterior paint on your house is at nature's mercy. The wind blows dust and debris against the surface, and birds leave behind their own calling cards. Shaded areas are at risk for algae and mold, and cobwebs, wasp nests, and other debris hang from the eaves. Over time, the paint becomes dull due to layers of the mess left behind. 

Handwashing a house is a time-consuming chore. A garden hose only has enough pressure to remove the loosest debris. A pressure washer removes the built-on mess and reveals the true paint color again. If the paint is old and damaged, pressure washing can remove a lot of the paint along with the dirt and leave a smooth surface for a new layer of paint.  

Save the Roof

Many people mistakenly believe the dark patches on their roof shingles are signs of water damage. In most instances, the streaks and stains are a type of algae. Remove the algae by pressure washing rather than replacing the shingles.

Another concern is moss. Unlike algae, which is unattractive but harmless, moss can damage the roof. The material holds moisture and causes the shingles underneath to degrade. Remove the moss to stop the risk of shingles wearing out sooner than expected.  

Protect the Porch

Even pressure-treated wood is at risk to the elements. Mold and algae will work their way into the grain of the wood even if it is pressure-treated. The lumber begins to rot once these spores are in the grain. If you use harsh products like bleach to clean your porch, this causes the wood to dry out and crack. If painted to cover the stains, the mold will continue to spread and be visible through the paint.

Pressure washing your porch will clear built-up debris without causing damage. Make sure that you know the right pressure washing setting so you won't cause the wood to splinter under too much stress.

Wash the Driveway

Many driveways have oil spots from leaky cars, and these stains are some of the first things people see when they come to your home. Pressure washing removes the stains for a clean, fresh look to the pavement. Pressure washing is also important before you reseal a driveway because the sealant needs a clean surface.

Consider cleaning any brick pavers on a patio or paved walkway at the same time as the driveway. Mold and algae often cover these walking surfaces and can make them slippery especially during wet weather.  

Prepare the Pool

Pressure wash if a pool's algae buildup continues to return despite repeated treatments. The algae may have settled into the grooves of the concrete and will multiply quickly in the sunlight and turn the water green again. Drain the pool and pressure wash all of the concrete to reduce the number of chemical treatments needed later and to keep the water sparkling clean all year.  

Hire an expert to pressure wash your home to prevent damage to the house or other areas. If not used correctly, a pressure washer can remove paint, dent siding, and cut grooves in the wood. If you hit a pane glass directly with the blast of water, you can break your windows.
At J & A Steam Cleaning , we can help to boost the curb appeal of your home with a simple, fast cleaning service. Our eco-friendly methods and products will not harm flowers or grass, and we practice water recovery to prevent waste. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a cleaning service today.
By Admin 21 May, 2018
You take great pride in your business and keep the curbside appeal of your building pristine for your clientele. Your parking lot is just as important as the rest of your facility, and an unkempt, dirty parking area can give potential customers the wrong impression of how you operate your business.

Power washing your business's parking lot periodically provides many benefits, which are described in this guide. You will also learn how often you should have your parking area professionally cleaned to maintain its beauty.

1. Power Washing Protects Your Parking Area's Surface

Over time, debris collects on your parking lot that can damage the material's surface. Salt, engine oil, and harsh chemicals get embedded in your parking lot's asphalt.

Oil, in particular, can be very damaging. When oil spills from vehicles are left uncleaned, the stains will cause the dirtied areas to become soft. The soft asphalt will eventually peel away, leaving potentially dangerous potholes as a result.

Hire a professional power washing company to use a mixture of chemicals to gently remove all surface stains from your parking lot. Not only will your parking area look cleaner as a result but also the asphalt will be protected against chemical and oil damage. With proper asphalt care, your parking lot should last up to 25 years .

2. Power Washing Makes Your Parking Lot More Attractive

The more use your parking lot gets, the dirtier the surface of the material will become. Dirt and other debris will cover parking space lines, gum and other litter will ruin your parking lot's appearance, and weeds and other plant growth will make customer parking spaces look unkempt and neglected.

You don't want your business's reputation to be ruined because of a dirty parking lot. Professional power washing services will remove all the surface stains on your asphalt parking lot, making painted parking lines easier to see, and the asphalt blacker and newer-looking.

3. Power Washing Is Effective

One reason to use a power washer to clean your asphalt parking lot instead of other cleaning measures is that power washing involves using high-pressure water (hot or cold, depending on the severity of your parking lot's cleaning needs) and gentle chemicals, which makes this cleaning method very effective.

Common household detergents, and even cat litter, can be used to clean your asphalt parking lot, but these remedies often leave behind a residue of their own. Do not use bleach and other cleaning chemicals to manage the stains on your parking lot; refer to a power-washing specialist for assistance.

Schedule an Appointment With a Power-Washing Specialist

Schedule to have your parking lot power washed once a year to maintain your business's curb appeal. Your   power-washing specialist  will give you specific instructions to keep your business's parking lot clean in between power washing sessions, and may recommend doing the following:
  • Hosing oil spills and stains as they occur
  • Sealing your asphalt for further protection
  • Removing garbage, weeds, and other debris daily
The best way to keep your parking lot clean is to regularly patrol the area and call your power-washing specialist right away if you notice antifreeze, large oil spots, or other chemical spills on your property.

Keep in mind that your business's sidewalks should be periodically power washed in addition to your parking lot. Discuss the many ways power washing can benefit your business with your power-washing specialist.

Keeping your business clean on the outside is just as important as keeping the interior pristine and inviting. The right power-washing specialist will be able to address all your business's exterior cleaning needs.

Schedule an appointment with our skilled power washing experts at J & A Steam Cleaning today. We will help you keep your parking lot in beautiful condition.
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