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Commercial lighting is often a tricky element of interior design to get right, as the needs for commercial space are completely different from residential buildings. The ceiling height, lighting needs, and unique business operations will determine what sort of lighting you need, as well as the best design to accomplish your goals. While there are about as many different lighting options as there are businesses, these four are the most common for retail, medical, industrial, and restaurant facilities: Low Bay Lighting As the name suggests, low bay lighting is used for commercial facilities with relatively low ceilings (between 12 and 20 feet). They typically have a beam angle of 120 degrees which provides ample, even lighting across an entire building floor. This type of lighting is ideal for retail spaces, boutiques, single-room businesses, and grocery stores where a great amount of lighting is needed for a relatively low cost High Bay Lighting High bay lighting, in contrast, can provide even full light to buildings with high ceilings (more than 20 feet). Hotels, event spaces, warehouses, and other large facilities may use high bay lighting to ensure even coverage throughout their space. Like low bay lighting, this is the most economical and energy-efficient choice for even bright light in a commercial space. Flush Fitting Lights  While bay lights are the most popular and economical choice for retail and warehouse designs, they protrude from the ceiling and can be distracting for smaller shops with low ceilings. For restaurants, small boutiques, and mom-and-pop shops, flush-fitting lights provide the same great qualities with a better aesthetic appearance for low ceilings. Display or directed lights  Some businesses, such as retail stores and restaurants, want to highlight certain areas of their building to draw attention. In retail outlets, highlighting certain products with lighting can make them jump off the display racks and encourage more purchases. In restaurants, directed lighting can be used to highlight tables while keeping the rest of the setting dim and primed for conversation. This type of lighting can also save money on installation and lighting costs if used correctly. MaintenX specializes in electrical maintenance and lighting installation. We can help you choose the best lighting option for your facility, and help you save with energy-efficient options. To learn more about our electrical maintenance and lighting services, contact your local MaintenX today!

College campuses are historic institutions, but their architectural and interior designs don’t have to be. Today’s campuses have classrooms that are inclusive and engaging, and dorms that feel more like second homes than they do campus housing. The campus experience is changing, and so should your interior design structure. Below are some of the hottest trends in campus interior design that you can easily incorporate into your plans for upcoming renovation projects: Home Away From Home Often, the part of college that is most appealing to students is also what causes them the most anxiety – being away from home for the first time. They look forward to the freedom but are also nervous about making new friends and being weaned off the comforts of home such as always having a stocked pantry and people they know just around the corner. In order to make your campus feel like home, create community spaces with home comforts such as cozy seating, 24-hour snacks, and places to easily meet up with new friends. Green Design Gen Z students are much more concerned about environmental sustainability than previous generations. As such, an eco-friendly campus can be a major draw to new students. By designing with solar power, waste reduction, and plenty of greenery incorporated into the built environment, you can show students that you share the same values. Showcasing Student Contributions Classic architectural design may feel timeless and regal to staff, but it can feel static to students when sitting in a classroom. Instead of painting walls in beige, incorporate student art, inventions, and ideas into your interior design. This can help students connect to the college culture and feel more at home rather than being “at school.” Flexible classroom design Today’s classrooms are designed for hands-on learning just as much as they are lectures. Build spaces that can accommodate traditional lectures as well as workshops, collaborative projects, and individual studying so that every student has an equal opportunity to learn the way they do best. MaintenX helps college campuses across the country renovate to transform their buildings into environments where students can thrive. To learn more about renovation projects and maintenance services that can serve your needs, visit our Resouce Center.

Maintenance and construction jobs are some of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. In fact, roofing and construction workers both ranked in the 2021 top 5 most dangerous jobs in the U.S. based on fatal injury rates per 100,000 workers. While protective equipment and safety regulations can prevent some of these injuries, the best form of defense for any line of work is proper training. The Importance of Safety Training Safety training may seem boring to your staff, but it is essential. The right safety measures can save a life, and it can ensure that your maintenance staff have long careers ahead of them without repetitive or stress injuries. Nothing is as important as your maintenance staff’s health and wellbeing, which is why safety training should be the first step in every onboarding process. Safety training doesn’t just save life and limb. It can also be beneficial in these areas of your maintenance department:

• Safety training prevents repetitive and stress injuries that increase worker’s comp claims and decrease a worker’s career abilities
• Safety training reduces the likelihood of onsite accidents that your business can be liable for
• Safety training reduces improper equipment handling that can lead to shorter asset life

Three Steps to Successful Training

• Hands-on demonstrations – The best way to learn is to practice. Hands-on demonstrations can help your maintenance staff see how different protocols impact their work, and how it can save them from traumatic injuries.

• Inclusive dialogue – Encourage maintenance staff to ask questions and raise concerns about work conditions when necessary. This can help reduce your liability and ensure everyone is prepared before going to the worksite.

• Regular check-ins with maintenance staff – Ensure what you’re teaching in training is being implemented on the floor with regular check-ins with your maintenance staff. See if they are using proper PPE and following safety protocols. And, ensure you are fostering a work environment where safety is valued over productivity or cutting corners.

MaintenX works with all of our employees to create a safe work environment where communication and precautions are always encouraged. To learn how you can cultivate this type of workplace, visit our Resource Center for more.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the cornerstone of safety protocol for most maintenance departments. HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing repair all involve dangerous work, and the technicians who perform it train for years to ensure they can safely complete repairs. They are well-versed in the types of PPE needed on the job, and as a facility manager, you should be as well. Below are the most common types of PPE needed on job sites, and what you should generally provide to employees when performing routine maintenance tasks: Helmets and hard hats Head protective gear is essential for all construction sites, as well as for any sort of rooftop maintenance. This type of protective gear can prevent serious injuries from falling objects or falls on high surfaces. Eye goggles Welders, electricians, carpenters, and other maintenance techs will occasionally need eye protective equipment to prevent sparks and flying debris from causing eye irritation and injury. This may also be necessary for plumbing services to prevent dangerous substances from coming into contact with the eyes. Ear plugs Hearing damage is one of the most common long-term health issues caused in construction and maintenance jobs. Loud noises from equipment can not only cause loss of hearing but ringing in the ears and even chronic pain. Ear plugs are a simple and effective way to prevent this. Noise meters Decibel readers can also help prevent hearing loss and injuries by ensuring noise does not reach a dangerous level. This is especially important for construction sites or urban areas where excessive noise may cause complaints from neighboring businesses. Face masks Face masks aren’t just used for medical facilities – they are important for respiratory PPE to prevent workers from inhaling chemicals and flying debris on the job site. Respiratory disease is not only very serious, but very common in construction and maintenance work, so it is important that you provide PPE to workers whenever possible. Gloves Work gloves can protect workers from hot surfaces, dangerous chemicals, and excessive vibrations that cause wrist injuries. While not always necessary, it is a good idea for maintenance staff to use gloves on all jobs to protect their hands from cuts and burns even for minor work. Elbow, wrist, and back support Maintenance work is hard on the body, so providing equipment that supports as well as protects can ensure your workers do not develop stress injuries. MaintenX provides all of this PPE to our technicians, but we encourage facilities to keep some on-hand for minor repairs and onsite maintenance staff to use. To learn more about our safety protocols or ways you can make your facility safer, visit our Resource Center.

At MaintenX, we often prioritize interior maintenance as it is the cornerstone of most business operations. However, maintenance service on the exterior of your building is just as important for the functionality and aesthetic value of your building. By performing maintenance on exterior walls, appliances, and landscaping, you ensure your property retains its value in the short and long term.

Curb Appeal 

One of the most essential benefits of exterior maintenance for your facility is improving its aesthetic value. This makes a better impression on clients, and will ensure your business stands out from the street. A business with a run-down parking lot, unkempt landscaping, and visible wear and tear on the exterior of the building will not attract the ideal clientele no matter how great the service is inside.

Employee Morale

Employees want to come to a place where they can be proud to work. Much of this has to do with your working conditions and service, but the visual appeal of the building can make an impact on employee satisfaction as well. If the building is a place where they want to bring their friends and family, it can make an impact on employee retention and performance.

Improved Safety

Taking care of outdoor safety signs, equipment, and ensuring hazards are removed or labeled can prevent onsite accidents that cost your company thousands of dollars. OSHA cites over 40,000 companies per year with safety violations, many of which can be prevented with the right facility maintenance on schedule.

Higher Property Value

Exterior maintenance can increase curb appeal, which is important to customers and potential buyers or renters in the future. If your building is highly attractive from the street, you can sell or rent it for a premium price as compared to if it is functional but run-down.

Reduced Pest and Weed Problems

Landscaping services help to prevent pest problems that work their way inside, costing your business thousands of dollars in potential fines and pest control services. Exterior maintenance can also prevent weed problems and other landscaping issues that will make your facility look unkempt from the outside.

MaintenX offers a variety of exterior maintenance services, from paint touchups to outdoor HVAC repair, landscaping, and more. We can help you create a better business with better facility repair. Contact us today to learn more!

Your building’s parking lot is a major contributor to the curb appeal and first impression your business makes. If properly maintained, it can welcome customers and make them feel safe and secure. However, if your parking lot is dimly lit and full of potholes, you are sending a message to customers that you don’t take pride in your work.

Why Potholes Occur in Parking Lots

Most commercial parking lots are made of asphalt, which is incredibly susceptible to water damage. Rain and melting snow can penetrate the asphalt and cause it to expand, and eventually crack. This is even more likely in cold climates where melting snow can freeze and expand, causing even larger cracks when it melts again.

Potholes are dangerous to your patrons. When driving over them, they can cause damage to the vehicle frame or wheels. They are also an eyesore to customers and present an uncaring appearance to visitors. Therefore, it is essential that you prevent them throughout the year for your own sake as well as for your customers.

Pothole prevention can help save you money and improve curb appeal no matter what kind of business you operate. Follow these three steps to prevent potholes in your parking lot easily:

• Schedule regular inspections – Inspect your parking lot every month or quarterly to ensure you catch cracks and other imperfections before they become bigger. This first step will help you save on extensive and expensive asphalt repairs.
• Use a seal coating to prevent water and ice damage – When the snow melts and refreezes into ice, it’ll expand and make potholes worse. If you are in a cold climate, you can prevent this by using a seal coat to stop water from soaking into the asphalt. This prevents the ice from cracking the parking lot surface and causing potholes in the spring.
• Invest in repair and maintenance – Preventative maintenance and minor repairs to the asphalt can prevent you from requiring major repairs to the parking lot in the future. Road construction is a hassle regardless of how large your parking lot is, especially if you’re operating a multi-tenant building. Invest in preventative sealing and repair before it becomes a bigger problem.

MaintenX can help you create an easy-to-follow parking lot maintenance plan for your business. We offer preventative care services and exterior repairs to ensure your storefront always looks its best. To learn more about asphalt repair and maintenance, contact us today.

Most businesses don’t think twice about their parking lot’s appearance or functionality. Unless there is a major pothole or ice that needs to be cleared, parking lots can seem like an indestructible asset. However, neglecting parking lot maintenance can cause issues in the integrity of the space as well as lower the value of your building.

Parking lot maintenance may seem like the last priority for your maintenance schedule, but there are several reasons why you should invest in your parking lot throughout the year:

• It’s an integral part of your customer experience
• Parking lot maintenance reduces your liability for onsite accidents (especially if it snows in your area)
• Parking lot maintenance can improve curb appeal
• It can facilitate easy access for loading areas

Parking lot maintenance doesn’t have the be difficult. If you follow these four steps, you can maintain the look and function of your parking lot with ease:

• Regular sweeping – Sweeping your parking lot for trash and dirt can significantly improve the look of your parking lot to enhance its curb appeal.
• Pothole repair – Potholes are not only an inconvenience but can lead to further asphalt damage if not treated before winter. If snow melts and turns into ice, it can widen the cracks and make the pothole worse by springtime. Treat them as soon as they occur to prevent more expensive and extensive repairs in the future.
• Day porter service – If you manage a large retail outlet or multi-tenant building, a day porter service to clean front entrances, trash cans, and other exterior elements can improve the curb appeal and function of your property.
• Improve parking lot lighting – Lighting in parking lots helps customers to feel safe shopping at night. If your parking lot lights are dim or not working, you may deter customers from shopping with you at night. Make sure to schedule maintenance on dim or faulty parking lot lighting as soon as you notice it.

MaintenX can help you with parking lot repairs and electrical service in lighting at an affordable price. To learn more about our preventative care services, contact your local MaintenX team today!

Flat roofing is most common in commercial buildings because it is sturdy, affordable, and ideal for roofing options like concrete. The larger the building, the more likely it is to have a flat top roof. While these roofing systems are ideal for most conditions, they retain water much more easily than a sloped roof. With no place for rain to runoff, your roofing may begin to pond which can lead to structural water damage. 

Options to Fix Ponding ASAP

If you are struggling with ponding on your flat-top roof, you have two options to fix it: 

• Leveling your roof – There are products you can use to level your flat roof and prevent ponding in low/sloped areas. These leveling products are great options for DIYers looking for a simple solution to a small slope on their rooftop. 
• Installing drains – Drain systems are ideal for flat roofs because they prevent ponding every single time it rains. These act similarly to the way a gutter does on a sloped roof and will ensure any low spots on the roof don’t develop ponding. 

When To Call A Professional For Help

Ponding can lead to structural issues such as ceiling staining, mold and mildew growth, and long-term water damage that can compromise the health and safety of your building. If this has happened as a result of ponding, you need to contact your MaintenX roofing contractor immediately. 

The MaintenX team can help you repair the water damage and renovate your roof to prevent future ponding issues. We also offer preventative maintenance services for roofing to ensure you don’t experience any issues due to water damage. 

If you’re interested in investing more in your roofing care, contact your local MaintenX today! We are happy to go over preventative care options tailored to your business needs. 

When renovating a commercial or residential roof, you have more than one option depending on what is being used to replace your existing roof. Most property owners assume you must remove the roof entirely before adding new shingles or tiles, but this is not always the case. In many instances you can overlay, or “re-roof” your building without taking off the existing shingles, saving both time and money. 

Meet with your contractor to discuss the pros and cons of re-roofing vs. tearing off the existing roof before you begin your remodel: 

Reroofing is considerably less expensive. 

The labor cost of tearing off the existing roof will be comparable to installing the new shingles, so a simple overlay can cut your remodeling bill almost in half if you go this route. 

Reroofing reduces waste.

If you decide not to tear off the existing roof, there is considerably less cleanup and waste sent to the landfill afterward. The old roofing can also provide additional insulation, making it a practical “upcycle” for roofing that is no longer aesthetically pleasing or fully effective. 

Reroofing won’t last as long. 

While it is cheaper to overlay in the beginning, it may be more expensive long-term because the new roofing won’t last as long. The first layer of shingles may last 20 to 25 years, but the second layer will only last 15-20 even with proper care. 

Reroofing makes inspections and later renovations more difficult.

Repairs and inspections become much more difficult when you’re dealing with two layers of shingles instead of one. And, because the overlay won’t last as long the second time when the roof needs to be remodeled again, it will be significantly more expensive to take off both layers of shingles and start over. 

Reroofing is safer during the summer.

Reroofing makes it easier to cope with summer storms because your building won’t be exposed while the original roof is being torn off. During a tear-off installation, the flashing and interior may be at risk of water damage.

Weight and wind may be a problem with overlays. 

An overlay may be simpler, but the added weight can cause stress on the underlying structure. The additional layers of shingles may also be more likely to come up during high winds than a roof that is directly installed on the foundation. 

Not all roofing can be overlaid. 

Tile, slate, and wood shakes require tear-off installations, as will any shingle roof that has significant damage. Before you count on an overlay installation, ask your contractor about your available options. 

MaintenX can help you make the most of your roofing remodeling project and future maintenance needs! To learn more about our roofing services, contact your local MaintenX roofing team today. 

At MaintenX we talk a lot about preventative maintenance (PM) planning, but many of our clients confuse this for the list of manufacturer recommendations for their assets. While manufacturer recommendations are a great guide, they do not comprise even half of what is necessary for an effective PM strategy. 

Below are the five elements you need in order to have an effective PM program for your electrical, plumbing, roofing, and HVAC systems: 

A schedule for cleaning and inspections

Your manufacturer recommendations will likely help you with the bulk of this schedule. Skipping cleaning or tune-ups on major appliances can affect your system performance, so be sure to make a plan and stick to it. 

A CMMS software

A computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) is essential for keeping track of maintenance history, service requests, technician notes, and more. If you’re still relying on a simple paper trail for all of your maintenance history, you’ll never be able to improve your processes over time. Digitalizing the process makes for a more efficient maintenance scheduling process. 

A long-term plan

Your cleaning and inspection schedule comprises your short-term plan, but how do you plan to adjust for building aging, changes in maintenance technologies, and performance changes as your equipment becomes outdated? By planning for maintenance five and ten years down the road, you can better shape your building for long-term efficiency. 

A budget for renovations and upgrades

You don’t want to wait until a major system fails to start thinking about an upgrade. Set aside a budget for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing upgrades so that when the opportunity arises to replace equipment, you’re ready and can invest in the best options on the market. 

A sustainability plan

The world and its resources are changing rapidly, with energy becoming more expensive and environmental sustainability becoming a more common concern in building design. As your facility equipment ages, you’ll want to plan for renovations that include environmentally-sustainable design. 

These five elements create a PM program that takes your building’s future and performance into account far beyond simple appliance repair. To learn more about how you can plan for your building’s future through maintenance planning, visit our Resource Center.