If you own a physical storefront, you know that appearances are everything. When you first moved your Chicago business into the building, you might have noticed how pristine the exterior appeared. However, over the following years, the exterior surfaces gradually gathered dirt and organic debris.
External cleaning services can remedy the issue while enhancing other aspects. JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Chicago explores why local businesses should add exterior cleaning to their building maintenance plans below.
To request a quote for commercial cleaning in Illinois from certified franchisees, contact JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Chicago.
When Did You Last Invest in External Cleaning?
You are probably fully aware of the importance of regular business cleaning and desk sanitization in offices. However, you might neglect to maintain outdoor areas. After all, most visitors don’t spend much time out there.
Plus, organic debris is bound to build up anyway. Are exterior cleaning services genuinely worth the investment?
Once you explore the advantages, you might think so! If you can’t remember the last external cleaning session for your business, consider seeking an estimate from nearby franchisees with JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Chicago.
What Exterior Cleaning Services Involve
Commercial exterior cleaning services touch on most outdoor surfaces and spaces. Business owners with designated outdoor social areas find them particularly useful in creating an inviting atmosphere. For example, playgrounds, restaurants with outdoor seating, and cafes may attract new customers looking to converse with friends during fair weather.
However, the pros of external tidying apply to any business with a physical storefront. When you regularly schedule these services, you help your entire brand put its best foot forward. Check out what these efforts typically involve below.
Washing the Siding
Building siding comes in numerous materials, from concrete and brick to vinyl or wood. Some materials have tiny pores, while others are smooth. Regardless of their composition, all exterior sidings need occasional washes and rinses.
Mold, lichens, and algae thrive in sheltered crevices and spread to other areas, staining the material. Not only do these growths look unsightly, but they can trigger allergic reactions in customers and staff members if they make their way indoors. Soft-washing the siding removes current colonies and deters future ones.
Cleaning the Windows
Windows are an often-forgotten surface despite their architectural and atmospheric importance. The film of dirt and dust gathers so gradually that the changes easily stay under your radar. However, customers and your workforce might also notice since the film obscures their view.
Regular window cleaning services make the panes sparkle and shine again. Sunlight can also filter through the glass more efficiently, improving energy efficiency during cold weather.
Pressure-Washing Pavements
Many Chicago storefronts feature concrete or asphalt sidewalks, parking lots, and entryways. Over time, these structures become dappled with flattened gum, oil drippings, and other filth. This collection of unsightly materials can age your commercial property, making it appear neglected.
When you pressure wash these surfaces, you essentially roll out the red carpet for your customers. Professional pressure washing brightens these surfaces, making them look freshly paved and safe.
Removing Debris
It’s easy for business owners to underestimate the amount of debris that gathers in corners, beneath sheltered areas, and around low-traffic spaces. Look around your commercial property, and you might discover collections of dead leaves, fallen branches littering pathways, and bug nests hanging from awnings and doorways.
External cleaning independent contractors gather and dispose of this debris, making the building look well-groomed and perfectly manicured from every angle. Your customers will almost certainly notice the difference. You can earn points with your higher-ups.
Alerts About Potential Maintenance Needs
Dirt and debris can mask pertinent maintenance issues. For example, a cluster of leaves wedged precariously in a lower corner could hide structural cracks that allow water to seep into the foundation. Your consultant might discover some openings that permit drafts to infiltrate your building.
Building maintenance is essential to cost-effective, sustainable business ownership. However, small repair needs may not be visible if debris hides them.
The Perks of Commercial Exterior Cleaning Services
External cleaning efforts almost always return the initial investment. They have long-term advantages that you’ll notice year after year. What improvements might you expect?
Enhanced Curb Appeal
Curb appeal refers to the attractiveness and perceived value of a property. What comes to mind when you look at a building for the first time from the outside? You might perceive a lower market value if it seems splotchy, neglected, and unkempt.
But you might change your opinion if you see a property with a perfectly manicured landscape, no litter, and spotless outdoor surfaces. Curb appeal is your commercial property’s first impression.
Improved Safety and Hygiene
Professionalism involves more than how you conduct yourself in a work setting. It carries over into what a business owner does to protect customers and staff. An unkempt commercial property may have countless hidden dangers, such as:
- Wasp nests, ant hills, and spider webs housing bugs with medically significant venom
- Fallen limbs and potholes that pose tripping hazards
- Mold growth that triggers allergic reactions
- Environments that facilitate bacterial growth
Venomous insects, mold spores, and bacteria can and will find their way indoors.
When you ensure a safe, hygienic environment, you build an image that emphasizes trustworthiness and care. However, those efforts should focus on both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Increased Material Longevity
Dirty surfaces often break down faster than tidy ones. While exterior structures are built with relentless external elements in mind, they also perform better with consistent cleaning efforts. Prolonged exposure to excessive debris can cause:
- Moisture retention: Concrete, wood, and similar materials break down faster when exposed to too much moisture. They absorb water and cannot efficiently release it.
- Lichens, algae, and fungi: Some species of organic growths feed off building materials, causing premature wear and tear.
- Destructive insect proliferation: Carpenter bees and termites gravitate toward wooden structures where they can primarily go unnoticed.
Better Energy Efficiency
You might wonder how exterior upkeep can affect your building’s energy efficiency. After all, most modern properties rely on efficient HVAC systems and insulation. However, outdoor maintenance can significantly impact your energy usage by:
- Revealing siding cracks and openings: Hidden openings allow outdoor air to infiltrate indoor environments. When you know where they are, you can fill them in and reduce air exchange.
- Improving outdoor airflow: Debris buildup prevents air and sunlight from reaching critical parts of your building structure. Removing the buildup enables air to follow as the original structure design intended.
- Enhancing reflectivity: Builders design most commercial properties with sunlight in mind. The exterior material and color reflect sunlight to help maintain indoor temperatures. Grime discolors the surfaces, reducing reflectivity.
Plus, your outdoor drainage system will work more effectively without pounds of debris inhibiting water flow, reducing the chances of flooding.
Elevated Brand Image
Finally, maintaining a tidy outdoor area is ultimately part of your marketing efforts. Business owners can showcase their brand’s capabilities on digital platforms to entice new customer visits. However, when a customer arrives at a neglected, unkempt building, they may second-guess their decision as a consumer.
A positive customer perception is essential to securing current and future success. With a cleaning service provider’s help, you can make your commercial building reflect your quality products and services.
Certified Franchisees With JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Chicago Can Make Your Building Sparkle!
Combine external cleaning and interior janitorial services for a well-rounded approach to commercial property maintenance. JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Chicago makes it easy with a network of certified franchisees ready to tackle your to-dos in Chicago, Illinois, and surrounding communities. Contact us at 630-468-1920 for a free service estimate today.