5 Ways Parking Lot Maintenance Benefits Your Business

If you own a business that has its own parking lot, you may not have thought much about the need to keep the parking lot in tip-top condition. However, even though
your parking lot may not seem significant in the big scheme of things, your customers will see
the parking lot before they see your business, and they will form impressions.

You should take the time and effort to maintain your parking spaces. Below are five benefits your
 business will gain if you perform regular parking lot cleaning and maintenance.

1. Promote Your Business as Customer-Oriented

One of the benefits of keeping parking spaces well-maintained is the promotion of your business
as customer-oriented. In fact, customers view the parking lot as the place where the welcome
mat is rolled out to the public.

Due to the importance placed on personal vehicles by New Zealand customers, a parking lot
says a lot about your business' commitment to individuals. A clean, well-lit, smooth, and brightly
marked parking lot lets your customers know that you care about providing safe accommodations
for visitors. By extension, you will be viewed as a trustworthy and helpful person in all your
business dealings.

2. Establish Your Business as Competent

A well-maintained parking lot establishes your business as competent. No one wants to work
with an incompetent company or be served by someone who can’t take care of their own
property.

A parking lot that isn't overgrown with weeds or full of rubbish demonstrates that your business
can handle its affairs well. However, if potholes fill the lot and line stripes are faded beyond
recognition, then your business will look as if you don't have the resources or ability to manage
your own affairs as well as the affairs of others.

3. Prevent Liability Claims

A reason why your parking lot should be kept maintained is to prevent possible liability concerns.
A slip, trip, or fall in your business parking lot could lead to an expensive lawsuit for you to
defend against or settle.

On the other hand, however, a well-maintained parking lot that can be easily navigated by
drivers won’t involve you in a lawsuit. Parking lots that are dark and dirty are accidents waiting
to happen, and it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

4. Lengthens the Lifespan of Parking Surfaces

When you maintain your parking lot, you will lengthen the lifespan of the underlying material.
A parking lot may look hard and untouchable, but asphalt can be quickly turned into a thick river
of goop if the outdoor temperatures rise significantly.

However, a maintained parking lot can resist some of the potential damage and needs
renovating much less often than neglected parking surfaces. Maintenance involves preparing
the surface to keep moisture out of the asphalt grains and crevices. In addition, sealing can help
immensely by focusing on problem areas and creating a dry space.

5. Keeps Criminals Away

Many criminals enjoy finding a dark, colorful place to ply their trades, so don't allow your parking
lot to become one. Most criminals are seeking an easy, fast getaway, and an empty parking lot is
a good target. Customers are aren’t likely to visit if they are concerned about their lives and
personal property.

As a result, keep your parking lots well-lit and patrolled by police or security. Don't allow small
problems to grow into bigger ones, but instead fix problems while they are still budding issues.
For example, be sure to replace each bad light bulb as it appears instead of holding off to grab
a few more.

If you have questions about your parking lot or need to clean it, be sure to contact
Wash Rite New Zealand for help. Our team of professionals is ready and willing to assist you.

End of Summer Cleaning List

End of Summer Cleaning List

In New Zealand Autumn is a time of celebration, Rugby and Rugby League has just started a new season, The leafs are changing color. As summer starts to wind down our homes will need a re-freshening. Spring cleaning is all about clearing away the clutter and brightening up our homes in time for summer but autumn cleaning is all about getting your home ready for those cold wet winter days and nights that New Zealand has. Here are a few things that we recommend you get done before autumn is in full swing.

Gutter Cleaning 

Cleaning out your gutters is probably the single most important thing you can do as part of your autumn cleaning. Gutters that are not cleaned out regularly can block up and overflow and can flood back into the roof and wall cavity. Failing to maintain your gutters can become a very costly repair to your home. It's always a good idea to do a thorough gutter cleaning before the leaves begin to fall and another one once all the leaves on all the tree's around you house has fallen off, This will give you the best outcome and the least possible chance of a gutter blocking up and overflowing.

Clean window's

Having clean windows during the summer is a must, so the majority of homeowners get their windows cleaned in late spring or early summer. But late summer and Autumn might be the last chance to give yourself a clear view for the winter. The days are getting shorter, so to maximize your home’s natural light through the end of the year, give your windows a thorough cleaning. Windows are constantly exposed to the elements of rain, frost, temperature change and wind. Glass is a porous, sponge-like surface that will develop a buildup of dust, dirt and various minerals over time. When these penetrate, it can cause staining and permanent damage. Replacing your windows is extremely expensive and completely avoidable.

Many homeowners are able to tackle the tasks inside their home, but how many are able to get on a ladder and completely clean their own windows, gutters or stain their own deck? How many homeowners are comfortable doing that, and furthermore, have the tools and supplies to do so? Reaching out for help in some areas may be worth considering. Do yourself a favor and research quality local house washing company's.

Roof Cleaning

Autumn is the best time to have your roof treated for moss and mould. A simple and cost effective moss and mould roof treatment might set you back $200 or less but it will save you much much more on roof repairs and replacement cost's. As most roof treatment 's require the wind and the rain to wash away the dead moss and mould on the roof once its been treated the winter rains will help speed up the removal of the dead material. 

Contact your local roof wash contractor and get them out to provide a quote, Always make sure you see there insurance before any work is carried out on your property.

10 Steps to Systematizing Your Business

10 Steps to Systematizing
Your Business for Success

by Troy Hillard Director  Wash Rite Limited

Most errors made within any business large or small are not caused by staff not taking there job seriously or intentionally damaging product it's cause by those staff not having a clear and defined policy and procedure on how to carry out that task there required to do.. Here are 10 steps i believe will help you to create policy's, procedures and systems that will ensure your business more successful in the future.

Clarity is one of the key point's in effective business structure design, along with people and industry specific technology. Yet with the haphazard process management common in many businesses, it is little wonder that employees struggle to do a good job. So, although mapping your business processes is relatively simple to do and involves no financial outlay, it pays huge dividends in business efficiency and employee commitment. If you are thinking about systematizing your business, here are ten key pointers to keep in mind.

I see many businesses, both large and small, continue to communicate sections of important policies and processes to employees through one-time emails and the like. This could include a new purchase authorization policy or a new data entry procedure. Expecting employees to forage through past emails and other transitory type documents only leads to wasted time and exasperation.

1. Involve employees who actually do the work in the mapping

Employees who do the actual work are in the best position to know the detailed steps in each process. They are also most familiar with the common roadblocks and bottlenecks and the key contacts in the organization to get things done. Involve your employees up front by inviting them to join process-mapping teams. Keep managers and supervisors out of the process-mapping sessions, as they have a tendency to dominate the sessions with their own "expertise."

2. Identify process start and end activities

For each process, clearly identify the start and end. If the team neglects this important step at the start of each mapping session, in the team's enthusiasm, extra activities will quickly creep into the picture until the process becomes unmanageable. Think of one activity that triggers the process, such as an invoice appearing in an in tray. This is the start. Then think of the last activity performed. It may be, for example, posting an item to the General Ledger.

3. Identify process objective and inputs and outputs

This is where work starts to take on new meaning for employees. The team leader should ask employees why each process is performed and what are the expected results of each process. Not only does this help to focus attention on removing non-value add activities, but it also gives employees a sense of purpose in their working life.

Asking the teams to identify the inputs to the process and the expected outputs will serve to clarify what the process needs before it can begin and what customers of the next process will get before they can begin. For example, agreeing that widget assembly cannot begin until the joining screws are supplied will eliminate a lot of idle work in progress.

4. Identify Customer and Supplier requirements

Next, each team needs to work out who the suppliers and customers of the process are. This step is critical as it identifies who the team needs to work with collaboratively to maximize business results. If a process does not have a customer, then eliminate it as it has no useful purpose. Every employee working in a process should serve either an internal customer or an external customer or both. Each team should then ask of their customers what it is they want from the process, in terms of quality, turn around time, and so on. For example, the internal customers of the purchasing team may require orders to be fulfilled within two days unless placed on back order.

Conversely, the team needs to clarify what it is they need of their suppliers, both internal and external, to perform their process effectively and efficiently. A purchasing team may require other departments, for example, to fill in all fields of the Purchase Order prior to submission.

5. Identify a Process Owner for each process

For each process, specify one Process Owner. Identifying one person who is responsible for the process end to end is critical to ensuring process efficiency. Where processes flow through departments, as all major processes do, the Process Owner will need to have sufficient authority and credibility to make decisions spanning these departments. There is no more effective way that I know to dismantle quickly and effectively the silo walls that get built separating departments.

6. Manage the level of detail

The magic of process maps lay in their seemingly simple visual presentation of complex ideas. One picture can tell a thousand words. Each process map should take up no more than one page, with its definition taking up just one other. If a map takes up more than one page, identify sub-processes within each process and show each sub-process on a separate page. Use clear referencing to link each sub-process with its associated macro process. I have seen process maps that flow on page after page after page. These do little more than confuse employees.

Do not try to document everything that goes on in your organization. Decide on the priority processes and concentrate on these. Processes from which you can gain quick wins are those that interface with external customers and suppliers and those that are currently providing you with your biggest headaches.

7. Use standardized mapping conventions

What you want is for anyone in the organization to be able to pick up a process map and understand instantly what it is they are seeing.

Standardize on mapping conventions and formatting of the maps. Mapping symbols, flow direction, page layout, fonts, titling and so on, should be the same from one map to another. Keep the number of flow chart symbols to a minimum. You should need no more than six to keep the maps easy to read.

8. Get agreement on the process

The most beautifully documented process will mean naught if there is little commitment from the major actors to follow them. Crunch time will come in those tough times of impending deadlines and snappy stakeholders.

I find what works well is getting formal sign-off from the process-mapping team leader, the Process Owner and the managers of the interfacing processes (both supplier and customer). This may seem overkill and you may get some resistance, however, getting formal agreement now will save you much heartache later when people start to come up with excuses as to why the seemingly agreed process does not apply in this or that case.

9. Document the process

The most important thing that team leaders can do after the team agrees on the process definition and steps is to write it down. What works well is brainstorming all the process activities first, writing each process step on a Post-it note and then having a team member place the Post-it notes in order on flip chart paper. The next hour or so is then devoted to arguing about the activities and order of steps. Post-it notes can easily be moved around during this debating process. Only when there is full agreement are the lines and arrows drawn in to signify the process flows. Get the process formally drawn up and make sure that they are made easily accessible to all who need them. Fix them to operator machines, post them on the corporate intranet or place them in a loose-leaf binder on each officer's desk. Put them where people do their work and make sure that they are accurate, concise and easily understandable.

10. Convey management commitment and train your teams

Although mapping business processes will not cost you much in capital expenditure, it does require concerted effort. Get the management team to show visible support and commitment to the project. Activities here include holding regular project progress meetings and rewarding the most productive teams. Teams will loose faith and energy quickly if management support is seen as piecemeal or being given grudgingly. Team leaders will need to be able to organize effectively and manage their time, along with possessing the necessary interpersonal and analytical thinking skills.

Each team will also need a mix of abilities; people who can think creatively, bond the team and follow through on tasks, to name just a few.

Where these skills are lacking, they will need to be learned. Do not skimp on training the teams and their team leaders. This is a very wise commitment, as such teams have proved to be a fertile ground for developing the next line of leaders.

Use as a basis for further improvement

The primary objective of mapping business processes is to form a common understanding from which process improvements can be achieved. If this is the first time that your organization is setting out to map its processes, be ready to receive a bonus. The initial act of defining processes brings new clarity of roles, objectives and activities. For every team that I have worked with, this new shared understanding has uncovered many areas for improvement during the initial mapping process.

Once your teams have completed mapping their key processes, turn them into continuous improvement teams. Not only do the documented maps serve as the agreed baseline for ongoing process improvement, they also make for excellent induction and training resources. Now sit back and watch your business soar.

I hope this information helps you build your business as it has helped me build my business Wash Rite House Washing.

Benefits Of Washing Your House

Benefits of Washing Your House??

As the owner of a house washing and roof washing business i get asked all the time, other than the cosmetic value what are the benefits of washing my house regularly ?  The answer is always a multi prong answer, With the first point that i make that a house that is cleaned on a yearly basis will have a much better lifespan on its house's exterior material, weather its brick, weatherboard, vinyl siding or concrete render. What a lot of home owners don't know is that moss and mold damages paint and shortens its life span, Regardless what your house is made out of you are safe to say in most cases there is a paint coating on that material which will help keep it water tight and stop water absorption, and if you don't clean your house from the moss and mold the paint will wear prematurely and your exterior cladding material can and will start to absorb water and start to break down.

Another key factor why you should keep your house clean is that if your house is covered in dirt and mold than there is a chance it could be covering up a more serious issues such as termite damage, infestation of pest's, Dry root, As a professional house washing company is washing your house they should be inspecting your house to ensure it is spotless but this also gives them the opportunity to spot any structural issues or condition issues and they should notify you of any issues they see and this will give you the chance to have the fixed or get a professional in that field to do an inspection before the problem gets worst.

Another key reason and benefit of getting your houses washed on a regular basis is the fact that your house in probably your biggest asset and you want to not only keep the purchased value of that asset but you want the capital value to grow over the years and a house that has been well looked after and properly maintained will not only keep its value but grow in value. Everyone has that one house in the street that for years has looking like a bomb site, If that house come up for sale would you recommend that house to friends and family?? I think not and you want your neighbors to recommend your house to anyone and everyone if and when your houses comes up for sale.

A big reason to wash your house that a lot of people don't think about straight away is that you wash away all the spiders webs, spiders eggs and nest and the bugs they eat, By giving your house a good wash you will be able to remove all spiders webs, Once you have done this its the perfect time to ask your house wash company to do an exterior pest and spider spray so the spiders just don't return the next day to lay new webs, which they will do.

Your family's health has to be a considering factor, If you let your house washing go undone for too long, then the exposure to mildew, mold, dirt and algae can effect your family members health, The longer it sites the more potential life threatening it is for your family and more so for the younger and older members of the family. Its also a good idea not to forget to get your driveway, decks, porch, patios and roof washed regularly as well.

And what i believe is one of the most important reasons to have your house washed on a regular basis is the fact that when your house is clean you become more house proud and you tend to take care of your house, You will also sit back and smile when you look at your house and its clean and sparkles in the sun, There is nothing more satisfying when your see the fruits of your labor.

If you want a free quote to have your house washed please call Wash Rite on 0800101216 or if you wish to wash your own house and you need some advise feel free to call us as well and we will be happy to give some free advise.

HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD BE WASHING YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD Be WASHING YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY in new zealand.

Contrary to popular belief, making a great first impression does not start with a smile and warm welcome when a visitor walks through the door. It begins with the first thing they see—the outside of your property. A well-maintained exterior demonstrates pride in your business. When a customer sees that you made the effort to care for your commercial property, they’ll conclude that you will do as good of a job handling their business. By including commercial property pressure washing in your building’s maintenance program, you’ll ensure that your facility’s appearance communicates the right message.

WASHING BENEFITS FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

• Boost your curb appeal: Even if you don’t intend to sell your property, keeping the exterior in top shape will make it look newer and more appealing. Each time you wash the property, you give it an instant facelift.
• Moss, mold, algae and mildew removal: Damp, shady areas of a building are the perfect environment for moss, algae, mold and mildew. Washing removes the unsightly growths and helps prevent the damage they cause.
• Make the environment safer: Oil, moss, mold, mud, bacteria and other contaminants increase the risk of falls throughout your commercial property. Furthermore, employees and customers might track them inside the building, making it appear dirty and reducing the quality of indoor air. When you keep the exterior of your commercial property clean, you reduce the number of potentially toxic safety threats that enter it.
• Prevent repairs: Bird droppings, mildew, moss, algae, exhaust residue, gum and dirt not only look unattractive, they could also lead to corrosion, rot, or decay. Commercial washing reduces these risks and helps save on future maintenance and repair costs.
• Remove graffiti: You don’t have to use toxic paint thinners to clean spray paint. In the right hands, a pressure washer is just as effective and safer.
• Improve employee morale: Employees want to take pride in their place of work. When a building looks clean and well maintained, productivity and customer service improve. When you hire a commercial property pressure washing contractor to do the job, your workers can focus on what they do best.

HOW OFTEN TO PERFORM COMMERCIAL Exterior WASHING

The frequency in which you should wash your property depends on your operation. If the property primarily has office buildings, washing it seasonally, or once a quarter, is a great way to keep it looking attractive. Facilities that receive more foot or vehicle traffic, or those in which sanitation is vital (i.e., health care offices, restaurants and farms), might need more frequent washing's. The same is also true for properties near construction sites that generate a lot of dust, as well as those that generate dust of their own, such as factories. A Exterior washing specialist can recommend how often you should clean your property based on your operations and needs.

HOW TO STAY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WHILE WASHING your building

Many municipalities throughout New Zealand have laws that prohibit allowing wastewater from washing to enter storm drains because of the negative impacts to drinking water and local waterway's. To avoid receiving fines, you must collect wastewater and dispose of it properly. Rather than spend money on the equipment necessary to collect wastewater, save it by hiring Wash Rite. Our trained, certified technicians use high-quality, environmentally friendly detergent that decrease and clean surfaces as well as their traditional counterparts do. They also take extra measures to protect landscaping vegetation and use special equipment to capture wastewater, which the specialists dispose of properly, clean or take to a treatment facility.

From factories to multifamily properties to office buildings, Wash Rite provides commercial exterior washing services when it’s most convenient for your workers and customers. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about our discount program.

Wash Rite's tips for removing stains from exterior cladding

keeping your home in great condition requires regular maintenance. This is especially true when it comes to your house's exterior cladding. Stains and mark's occur when dirt or other contaminants come into contact with the house during high wind, or when large bodies of water run down a particular wall. The more exposed a wall is to the elements, the more exterior cladding stains are likely to occur. Stains can also be common in areas where homes are located near factories, quarries, or production facilities or busy road's.

In this article Wash Rite offer's some home maintenance tips on removing exterior cladding stains , depending on the type of cladding your home has:

REMOVING STAINS FROM BRICK

Brick and block exteriors are common across New Zealand. Brick and Block is considered a “low maintenance” option for cladding, as it doesn’t usually require repainting, like weatherboards. But brick does attract stains, and you have to be careful when cleaning it. Many brick surfaces can be easily damaged by harsh cleaning methods.

Stains can be removed by scrubbing with a solution of warm water and dish washing liquid. muriatic acid and Naphtha soap can also work well, and for certain stains ammonia will work, too. Refer to your brick manufacturer’s care instructions for the best products to use.

REMOVING STAINS FROM FIBRE CEMENT

Fibre cement is another common cladding method in New Zealand. These boards are porous, so they retain water and can be susceptible to the growth of algae, moss, mould, and lichen, all of which can produce staining.

To clean, most people use a detergent nozzle on their hose. Look for mild detergents that won’t damage your product or run off into your garden. This will remove most dust, mud, salt, bird, and insect droppings. You can also purchase specialised products for removing and protecting against mould and algae. A simple and easy method is to mix a 10% house hold bleach to water mix up and use that to wash down the walls, Ensure you rinse the soap off the house after washing.

REMOVING STAINS FROM CEDAR AND OTHER WOOD WEATHERBOARDS

Many homes utilize untreated cedar or other wood weatherboards. Wood contains tannins, which will be brought to the surface as untreated timber is frequently exposed to rain. This will cause brown stains on the wood surface, and may also affect brick, concrete or painted wooden surfaces that abut against the cedar.

Tannin stains can be easily removed with warm water, although on harder surfaces like brick they may require vigorous rubbing with soapy water. Don’t use an abrasive cloth, or you may ruin the finish on your weatherboards.

Staining or painting weatherboards will dramatically decrease the instances of tannin stains.

Wood weatherboards are also prone to iron staining where they come into contact with steel or iron (such as nails, strapping, roof or window frames.) These blue-black stains are tough to remove. Prevention is the best cure – by ensuring timber that’s continuously wet with runoff from an iron surface is treated with a stain-resistant finish. Diluted household bleach or oxalic acid (2% solution) can work to remove iron stains on some woods. Otherwise, stains can usually be sanded out.

REMOVING STAINS FROM UPVC WEATHERBOARDS

uPVC weatherboards are extremely low maintenance. A wet cloth and warm soapy water will remove most stains. Hydro-chlorite or chlorine-based cleaners can also be use. DO NOT use solvents or abrasive cleaners on uPVC weatherboards – they can strip away the protective coatings on the product.

For more information on maintaining and cleaning your homes exterior contact Wash Rite House Wash  on 0800101216 or visit www.washrite.co.nz and we will be happy to help .

Why is Gutter Cleaning So Important?

A debris-clogged gutter can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home.

Gutters are an integral piece of your home’s well being. They serve to control the flow of rainwater to protect your roof, walls, foundation and landscape.

But when neglected, experts say gutters can turn from a necessity to a nightmare. A gutter clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home. Contractors say gunked-up gutters also make nice homes for pests, rodents, mold and honeycombs from bee infestations.

“If you let gutter cleaning go by the wayside, it can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars," says Troy Hillard, a Director with Wash Rite in Hamilton New Zealand.

“Gutters are a potential bomb above your head full of insects and critters, if you let them stay out of sight, out of mind,” Hillard added.

How often should they be cleaned?

It depends largely on where you live and, most importantly, how many trees are in your yard. Tim Beale, owner of Wash Rite Wellington Frachise in Wellington New Zealand recommends having gutters maintained in the spring and Autumn.

“I recommend people calling me in the Autumn when all of their leaves are down or almost down, Beale says. “In the springtime, maple trees get those little helicopters that go everywhere, including into your gutter.”

Hillard says it’s important to have a professional clean the downspouts as well because a clogged downspout "makes it hard for the rain to go down and that causes them to back up and overflow the gutter, which can cause damage to your home.”

You can judge how often to clean your gutters based on how often leaves in your area fall and the types of leaves, Hillard says.

“It should be on everyone’s to-do list about every four months, depending on the tree climate,” he says. “In a high-yield environment, leaves fall all year-round. You can’t wait until the last leaf falls.”

Guttercleaning.jpg

Cleaning your gutters of leaves and other debris once or twice a year will protect your home from water damage.

Gutter covers reduce debris

Leaf guards significantly decrease the need for gutter maintenance, but they don’t eliminate the need completely, Hillard says.

Instead of every four to six months, you may only need to maintenance gutters with covers or screens every one to two years. The frequency of maintenance will depend on the quality of the cover and the type and quantity of trees in the yard, he says.

Even if you do have gutter covers, it's still a good idea to do a visual check each year, says Troy Hillard, owner of Wash Rite  in Hamilton New Zealand

Hillard says a guard will not keep all the debris out, adding: “Up to 15 to 20 percent can still get in, and you still have to remove the guard. Sometimes you need a professional to do so.”

It’s important to purchase quality covers and screens if you want to effectively limit the need for gutter maintenance, says John Burns, Manager of Wash Rite Hamilton in Hamilton.

“You need to look for one that’s strong enough to hold up and suits your type of trees,” he says.

A gutter cover costs on average between $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the size of the home and length of gutters, John says.

Do the job yourself or hire?

Although cleaning gutters is a task most homeowners can do themselves, it can be dangerous work. According to the Accident compensation corporation , falls from ladders sent more than 24,000 New Zealanders to hospital emergency rooms in 2015 (the most recent year available).

Before climbing a ladder, be sure it's sturdy and all the steps are in good condition. Climb the first two steps to determine if the ground is level. For soft soil, place plywood under the legs of the ladder. You should also make sure not to rest the ladder on the gutters themselves because the additional weight can cause them to collapse.

“I had a customer once that smashed both hips from falling off a ladder and received permanent injuries from it,” Hillard says. “That's one of the biggest things; safety. The second thing is a professional knows what they're looking at and can stop the problem before it gets worse. Gutter prevention is measured in pennies, and repairs are measured in dollars.”

During a cleaning, a professional should remove of all debris from the roof, gutters and downspouts, while checking and repairing any loose gutter spikes. The cost of gutter cleaning ranges from $75 to $225 for an average home, depending on the length of gutters, height of the home and scope of work. Most companies charge a flat fee, but the cost can go up depending on the complexity of the work.

Before hiring someone to clean your gutters, check that they carry liability insurance.