LCS Facility Group

Make The Right Choice

AMK — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:44:56 +0000

Usually the first thing people think of when they are considering a cleaning service is, “who am I going to trust with access to my facility after hours and on the weekends”? It’s a scary thought handing that responsibility over to someone. Today there are dozens of cleaning companies who claim to do it all and do it better than everyone else. Where do you begin and how do you determine which company is right for you? Before hiring anyone, do your homework. Ask and take into consideration the following… Does this company carry proper license requirements for your area? Can they provide a current list of clients? Is the work staff trained? What types of references or backgrounds are done on employees? What is the orientation process for employees? What type of reputation does this company have? Are they connected and plugged into the community? Has the company cleaned similar facilities (size, type) in the past? Cleaning companies with a positive reputation and who are in good standing have many things in common which make them successful – great track records, reliability, lots of work references, proper licensing and insurance, trained and knowledgeable staff. What sets a great company apart from an average company? It’s the end result of the work which is done that makes the difference. Equally important is how the customer felt throughout the process. It is wonderful for businesses to have a good reputation or even a popular reputation but none of it matters if the work was not done correctly, within time frame resulting in the best end results. How do you know who will be best fit for the facility? You can first start by getting the answers to ALL the above questions. The next step is referrals, referrals and more referrals! This is the time when referrals are both necessary and very important. They are worth their weight in gold. Ask other facility owners, business leaders, customers, colleagues and friends whose opinion you value about services they have used. You’ll be amazed at the wealth of information you will receive, the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s only then you can use the knowledge you’ve gained to make the best decision and pick the best company for your facility.

Handyman Services, In Demand

AMK — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:43:19 +0000

Facility managers and building owners will always have a need for light maintenance tasks to be completed – from changing a burned out bulb to patching a hole in the wall, window cleaning and a variety of other tasks. Most managers have a staff member on hand that can take care of those tasks, however when the tasks increase managers find themselves unable to assign existing staff to handle issues that arise without interruption in their day to day operations. Light maintenance work can cause Facility Managers headaches and can turn out to be costly – both in time and money. Light maintenance work can vary greatly from facility to facility. Each building has a different need. Some are basic and some are custom tailored for the specific facility. Duties can include painting and patching of walls. Project work is also very popular whether its assembly or moving furniture. Flood remediation and clean up, stripping or waxing floors may also be categorized as light maintenance jobs. The fact is, these tasks need to be completed and they take time. Hiring a company to handle these types of maintenance tasks allows you to focus on your business without utilizing staff or increasing work hours. If your building, company or facility is interested in finding out more about light maintenance and project work, give us a call and we will be happy to speak with you.

Crabgrass…what a pain!

AMK — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:40:39 +0000

It seems no matter how much time you put into your lawn, crabgrass lurks it’s ugly head whenever it gets the opportunity. It’s one type of grass I can personally do without. Crabgrass is a warm season annual and usually begins to germinate when soil temperatures reach around 60º F for four to five consecutive days. The weed lies flat to the ground. Once it grows it spreads like a disease and can be fast spreading. Crabgrass can be spotted along curbs and sidewalks. During the winter season it appears brown and looks dead. With the passing of winter, now is the prime time for preventing it from growing during the hot summer months. If caught early it can be managed with a pre-emergent application. Areas that are affected can be reseeded 21 days after a pre-emergent has been applied. We recommend two half rate application one/ two weeks apart to help control any new growth. Also, pay attention to the amount of irrigation used on the crabgrass. Watering daily will promote the rooting, instead water deeply and then skip a few days or until your see signs of drought stress. Be sure if you have bald spots in your lawn to over-seed them so the crabgrass will not creep in and take over. Crabgrass does not have to take over your lawn. With these simple steps and some time, crabgrass can be controlled.

Bring Your Kids To Work Day

AMK — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:40:27 +0000

2012 Bring Your Kids To Work Day It was a day filled with fun activities and learning. First, the children learned about hiring and interviewing by sitting through our orientation process. Then they were off to our payroll department where they learned about wages, taxes and retirement. Next they spent time with the marketing department designing a new brochure and creating a new company video. The day ended with a tour of the facility and fleet of trucks. Each participant was awarded a certificate of completion.

Time For Spring Cleaning

AMK — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:08:59 +0000

It’s that time of year again, time to get your spring cleaning checklist in order. Spring is a season of renewal and there is no better time to tackle all of your spring cleaning tasks than right now. For commercial buildings two things should take top billing – floor care and windows. Commercial flooring takes a beating throughout the winter especial VCT (vinyl commercial tiles). Stripping and waxing and scrubbing and re-coating the flooring will make it look brand new as well as eliminate sand, salt and dirt that have accumulated throughout the winter season. The same goes for carpeting in office areas. Carpeting should have its own cleaning every season but none as important as the spring and fall season which are considered the “transition” seasons. Different types of carpeting can do a good job at hiding dirt but don’t kid yourself, the dirt and build-up are there whether you see it or not. Last but equally important is window cleaning. Generally commercial window cleanings are done twice a year, before and after the winter season. Windows are the accessories of a building and often overlooked. As summer approaches the days become longer and windows are used more often. There is nothing less appealing in the building maintenance world than windows that are streaky, smudged and dirty. Yuck. Make sure you add these tasks to your list if you haven’t already. And of course, we are here to help you with any facility maintenance tasks you may have throughout the year.

Win the war on pesky weeds!

AMK — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:10:06 +0000

Looking back, I have probably written over a dozen articles on weeding over the last couple of years. Who would have thought it was such a fascinating topic? Actually, it’s not so much fascinating as it is frustrating. I hate weeds and I don’t know many people who do. What’s to like about weeds? Just when you think you have pulled or killed the last one, another one pops up with gusto. I’ve spent more time (and money) trying to get rid of weeds than I’d like to admit. After a while it started getting personal and no matter what I did the weeds prevailed. I started to talk to folks in my neighborhood and began to see that each person had their own battle with a weed or two…I felt better. What I learned and what equally surprised me was just how MANY types of weeds there really were. I assumed all weeds were the same and so I treated them all the same. Boy was I wrong. The first step in weed control is being able to properly identify each one. It seems simple enough – you identify the weed and treat it accordingly. Problem solved? Not so fast. While identifying the weed and proper treatment to kill the weed is a great start, it won’t happen overnight. Consistent lawn care is essential to growing a healthy lawn and by taking care of your lawn year round you will eliminate the intrusive weeds over time. There are a few reasons why weeds may appear. A lack of general lawn care is high on the list however even avid lawn caretakers can unwittingly cause damage inviting weeds to intrude. For example, mowing the lawn too short can be detrimental and actually encourage weeds to grow. (Cutting the grass at a higher level, 2 inches is the average, will cut down on weed intrusion.) Once I understood the different types of weeds taking over my yard and began treating them individually instead of as a group, the difference was noticeable. My yard is not perfect but I spend less than half the time I used to on preventative maintenance. If you have a backyard filled with weeds and need help identifying them, ask your neighbors, look them up on your laptop or tablet or call your local landscaper. You’ll be happy you did and you will be one step closer to winning the war on weeds. Stay tuned for more articles about weed breakdown and identification as well as proper treatments in the weeks to come!

Mowing Tips

AMK — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:22:38 +0000

When we asked customers and colleagues what their least favorite property maintenance chore was, it was hands-down mowing the lawn. While there were a few who found mowing the lawn relaxing, the majority were not thrilled at the prospect of spending time with their lawnmower or rider. There are over 30 million lawns across the USA. That’s a lot of mowing! Here are some mowing tips to help during the season. Check your equipment. Make sure your lawnmower blades are sharpened and make sure your tank is filled with oil. If there is gas left over from last year it is a good idea to drain it out and replace it with new gas. Also check your trimmers and garden tools. If they need cleaning, this is the time to do it so you are prepared when peak season arrives. Know when to mow. You don’t want to mow when the grass is wet. By wet I don’t mean morning dew, I mean grass that is saturated with water from recent rainfall. You can try to mow a wet lawn but it will quickly dull your blades and the cuts in your lawn can be uneven. A trim is fine. Cutting your lawn too short does more harm than good. The shorter it is, the more likely it is to scorch with the intense heat of the summer. Determine your grass type and then decide what the best cutting height is. A general average is between 2 ½ – 3 ½ inches high. Get a workout! Depending on the size of your lawn, mowing can be a great overall body workout. Be sure when you mow that each time you mow in a different direction. Doing so causes the blades to grow more erect. Safety First. As always, take precautions. Lawnmowers, Trimmers and Rider comes with their own set of hazards. Wear closed toe shoes, keep pets and kids away while mowing and never mow on pavement. Items can be tossed and hurled at dangerous speeds when in contact with pavement. And never, ever mow the lawn when it is raining or lightening. The Pros. If you find you have no patience to mow the lawn yourself or just simply do not have the time to invest in maintaining your lawn, call a professional to help. A professional is trained and equipped with the right tools.

SPOT THE TRUCK ON FRIDAY!

AMK — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:42:33 +0000

Guess the correct location (town and location) of our truck and win a prize. E-Mail your guesses to: Marketing@lcsfacilitygroup or post your guess on our Facebook page or here on our blog.

And so another landscaping season is upon us..

AMK — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:17:33 +0000

Surely I am not the only one who feels like they want to get their hands dirty and start all of their landscaping projects sooner rather than later. I suppose that is what happens when warm weather arrives, it brings out the carpenter, handyman and landscaper in us all. As I went for a stroll around my neighborhood this weekend I saw many of my neighbors digging in the dirt, cleaning out their garages and washing their vehicles. And so begins another landscaping season. If you are anything like me, you start the season off with grand ideas of how this year will be the year you will tackle the garden, you will win the war over weeds and your backyard will be a well-manicured area that you can come home to and luxuriate in after work. Clearly, I need a reality check. As I watch my neighbors getting a jump on their landscaping I look at my property and realize just how much work I have ahead of me. Let’s see…I have mulch beds to change out, bushes that are out of control (some dead) and need trimming and my lawn looks like a mud pit with small patches of green. Not good. A person can get overwhelmed very easily. A healthy, beautiful landscape takes time to achieve. It’s unrealistic to expect your lawn to go from mud pit to beautiful green in a season unless you have professional help. As with most projects you won’t be able to yield good results without first having a good plan. When folks hear the words “professional” and “landscaping” together they immediately think big budget. That is not always the case. A professional landscaper can be a huge asset by determining not only what can be done with your property but also how to tackle each project step by step. They can create a plan for you based on budget, need and timeline. Landscaping is one of those trades which everyone thinks they can do themselves. Many of us are more than capable of planting a garden or planting some flowers but when you begin to fight weeds, try to establish a lawn or start any type of landscape construction it can easily get out of hand and you can find yourself in a world of trouble. Take it from me. I’m the girl who watches a do-it-yourself home show and immediately afterwards thinks I can start digging in my backyard and somehow resurrect a retaining wall with gorgeous colorful plantings in a day. What I’ve learned from working in the landscaping industry is this – before starting any project (even if you think you know better) you need professional guidance, so bite the bullet and call for a consultation. It’s free, it can give you some direction and at the end of the day you will have a realistic plan that will ultimately get you that manicured backyard you’ve always dreamed of. As for my mud pit, I’ll keep you posted after I have my consultation. Happy landscaping!

Do you smell that?

AMK — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:25:58 +0000

I recently read an article in a janitorial magazine that spoke about the power of smell and how it applies to the janitorial industry. It made me think about what I perceive clean to smell like. I’m sure many of you can recall a time when you walked into a room and it smelled “clean.” Whether it was the smell of Pine Sol or a familiar cleaning agent, whatever the product may be, there are certain smells which can be associated with a clean room. For me, clean smells like lemons. Why? Because my Mom used to scrub our kitchen sink with a lemon halve every night. To this day I still use lemons every night to wipe down my kitchen sink after the dishes are done. Old habit I guess. The point is the power of smell can conjure up many feelings within us and we can make a quick determination as to whether a room or facility is clean just by the scent in the air. Research has shown people prefer a fresh scent when cleaning. Most interesting, the majority did not feel a room was clean with the absence of fragrance or scent. What does that tell us? It tells us that the link between our sense of smell and cleaning are closely intertwined and if you separate them the results are not the same. As Stanley Quentin Hulin states in the article “…clean is a term that represents removal of soil and has no odor at all…” Even today, with allergens attacking our nasal passageways, mold and other irritants (I could be here all day listing them) and the movement against chemicals and added fragrance, the majority of the general population ties the term “clean” with a specific scent. The good news? There are more all-natural (great smelling) products on the market today than ever before so you really can get the best of both worlds. And when all else fails, you can still use that lemon halve.