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What are the advantages and disadvantages of steel and other materials for metal roofing? We’ll discuss the pros and cons of metal roofs. That way, you can decide if metal roofing is a good choice for your home or facility.

Life Expectancy

If properly installed, a metal roof should last as long as the structure. It will also

• Seal water
• Provide superior protection from the elements
• Survive high winds
• Easily protect your structure from heavy snow and rain

Metal roofs are also fire, mildew, insect, and rot resistant.

Warranties differ, but most companies back their products for 20 to 50 years. Paint finishes typically have a 30-year limited warranty.

Weight

Contrasted with the heaviness of tile at 750 pounds for each square (equivalent to 100 square feet) or solid tile at 900 pounds for every square, metal material is very lightweight.

Speed and Ease of Roofing Installation

An accomplished contractor can install these quickly. If your roof is stripped off and a storm is on the way, shortening the process by a day or two may offer a critical advantage.  Clearly, if you can shorten the duration of roof installation, there are also considerable labor savings.

Fire Resistance

Because metal roofs are noncombustible, they come with a Class A fire rating. Be advised, though, that part of a roof’s fire classification rests on on the materials beneath the surface that could ignite in intense heat.

Protection from Rain and Snow

Metal roofing is virtually invincible to precipitation like rain and snow, because of the way its panels interlock and owing that its surface is hard and naturally slippery. Dark tones of metal also quickly warm the snow that sits atop it, which speeds the melting process.

Project managers deal with significant challenges on a daily basis: staying current on project progress, managing facility resources, and keeping a budget. Doing all this simultaneously requires knowing every facet of a project, planning procedures, maintaining work management systems, and evaluating the project from a big-picture perspective. Read on to learn some tips that can help you succeed in these tasks.

Know the Project Like the Back of Your Hand

Like a well-constructed building, every project requires that its planners build a strong foundation. This involves knowing what the clients and the stakeholders need and an understanding of their individual interests and expectations.

Know Your Project’s Requirements

You must know the ins and outs of your project’s requirements. Project resources are vital factors. After the development process, build a team you know can implement the plan efficiently and effectively.

Experienced Project Manager

If you want the project to succeed, you naturally need a great project manager before you even build your plan. Experience and a long track-record of past project success is a must.

Define and Measure Milestones

To ensure success, you must define the relevant milestones you will be working toward throughout the project. These can include important phases, like:

• Initiation
• Planning
• Execution
• Closure

We advise carrying out an evaluation test after every phase has been completed.

Communication Is the Key

A consistent, effective communication channel must be created between stakeholders and clients so that information about new changes can be quickly communicated to relevant team members. The best thing a project manager can do for the success of the project is to maintain a strong and open line of communication at every level and at every phase.

Although there are many types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), some PPE requires that its wearers be trained in proper use. Read on to learn more about the newest PPE developments.

History of PPE

Personal Protective Equipment is gear (clothing, helmets, goggles, etc.) that is worn to protect the wearer from injury. Before PPE was used in the modern workplace, it was often utilized by the world’s military forces.

PPE’s Most Powerful Trend: Smart Technology

Today, smart PPE technology allows workers to communicate with their PPE through a network of sensors which are placed around a company’s worksite.  These sensors divide a workspace into zones based on varying safety regulations and PPE requirements.

Smart PPE Benefits

Companies that prioritize safety and employee engagement priority will drive this powerful technology forward. The hazard elimination and risk-reduction that comes along with smart PPE helps make companies safer and more productive by providing tools like:

• Real-Time Site Awareness
• Instant safety reminders and notifications
• Hazard Elimination

• Safety Communication
• Real-time team messaging (text, voice and/or video), safety alerts and can alert emergency staff when needed automatically

Personal Protective Equipment’s Real-World Applications

• Facility and safety staff will know when employees enter unsafe areas like freezers, metalworking areas and chemical storage
• Oil industry employees (Pump Operators, Wellhead Pumpers, etc.)  are automatically notified when they are working in an area with higher rates of accidents or injuries.
• Safety reminders can be instantly sent to construction employees when they are in high-risk work zones. Workers are reminded to wear their protective gear at all times.

Want to know more about the advancements of PPE technology? Call MaintenX today!

A top priority for every business should be maintaining and preserving physical infrastructure. When facilities are functioning optimally, the rest of a company’s affairs can flow more smoothly. When facilities fall into disrepair, they drag down efficiency and productivity, while incurring unnecessary expenses.

What is a facilities renewal program?

Put simply, a facilities renewal program is a plan to identify and comprehensively address physical infrastructure needs. Specific targets are likely to be HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical wiring, and roofing. Facilities renewal may involve either replacing these systems in whole or in part, or performing major repairs.

What are the benefits of these programs?

Facilities renewal programs can help your business in structuring and streamlining anticipated maintenance projects.

Too often, renewals and repairs are performed on individual systems or subsystems as they break down. This means that important decisions about the health of your facilities are being made in moments of desperation, rather than proactively and with a clear head.

These are a few of the benefits of a facilities renewal program:

• More efficient spending. If you’ve been spending too much on repairs lately, you’re probably not getting the best value from your facilities. It might mean that you’re not looking at the big picture. With a facilities renewal program, you can design a budget as well as a timeline for major repair projects, based on the goals and priorities of your business.
• No more putting off maintenance. If certain maintenance needs have been neglected or deferred too many times, a facility renewal program is your chance to address them. Not only can you plan short-term changes, but you can set a timeline for future maintenance projects as well.
• Newer and better facilities. By reallocating resources to make them align with your company’s current needs and goals, you’ll breathe new life into old facilities and systems. Problems you didn’t know were there will be fixed before they become crises.

Don’t let a backlog of maintenance projects keep you from getting the most out of your facilities. Consider a facilities renewal program to help address both the short-term needs of your business and its goals for the future.

Your roof is essential to your structure, keeping the elements out and everything beneath it safe. That’s why it’s vital to make sure your roof is always in great condition. Because the stakes are so high, don’t attempt repairs yourself unless you’re sure of your ability. If there’s any doubt, hire a professional.

Benefits of Hiring a Roofing Consultant

Hiring a roofing consultant gives you some significant benefits:

Cost Savings in the Long-Term

Using a roofing consultant can streamline the whole roofing process. Roofing consultants employ forensic analysis, which uses tools like:

• Infrared scanning
• Moisture metering
• Test cuts
• Uplift pressurization analysis
• Humidity readings
• Finding hidden wall destruction
• Identifying possible metal edge destruction
• Roof deck analysis
• Existing roofing material testing

Partnerships

Consultants are involved with many professional organizations, including RCI, Inc., an internationally recognized association comprised of professional roofing consultants, architects, and engineers who specialize in roofing and waterproofing, among other disciplines.

They offer an assortment of services, like finding the best moisture surveying method specific to a given roof, climate, etc. This is an important part of the process because consultants can find problems others don’t have the tools to identify. Once the problem is detected, the proper steps can then be taken. This can save you time, money, and property loss over the life of your home or facility.

In conclusion, engaging the professional knowhow and experience of a professional consultant for your roof’s design and unique building structure can give you a huge return on your investment while conforming to industry standards and complying with state, county, and city building codes. More times than not, it’s worth your time and money to hire a roofing consultant.

You don’t have to gut your existing setup to modernize your old-fashioned bathroom. Property owners now have many options to consider.

Lighting

With the huge number of bathroom lighting styles out there, you are sure to find one that fits your budget and style. Replace your antiquated lights with sleek, modern-style lighting.

Declutter

One extremely inexpensive way to modernize a bathroom is to declutter your countertops and storage areas. Many options combine style and storage; add some stylish shelves that match your décor. If you decide to have doorless shelving, you’ll want to make sure everything is organized and neat. This will enhance the overall look and feel of the room.

Update your Bathtub

If your bathtub is old, dingy, chipped or stained, you’ve got plenty of options to update its look without a costly replacement of the whole tub.

While there are hundreds of restoration methods for bathtubs, they all essentially do the same thing: prepare the tub’s surface, coat it with a bonding chemical, then apply a strong acrylic finish. You have thousands of options when it comes to color, texture, material, and durability.

Tub finishes that can be professionally restored include porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, and cultured marble.

You can save yourself a lot of money by making this a DIY project by following these steps:

First, clean the entire bathtub using an abrasive scouring pad. Then, clean the surface twice, making sure to carefully rinse the surface after each cleaning. After that, use a 300 or 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper to sand the entire surface of the tub. Rinse, thoroughly dry it with towels, then let it dry for 3-4 hours. Finally, apply a bathtub or tile enamel to the surface with a sponge brush. After 3 days of curing, your tub will be good as new!

Although technology has changed almost every aspect of our lives, its effect on the construction industry has been profound. Tech is always developing new practices, while construction methods have changed comparatively little over the years.

If a company subcontracts its construction management, it’s important to select a construction company that utilizes the latest technologies and methods to ensure good organization and project precision.

Here are a few tips on how to streamline your next construction project:

Information Management Systems

Managing all the work of building designers, service providers and subcontractors without disturbing facility operations is no easy task. Luckily, computer software has allowed construction companies to help facility managers stay in the loop.

These programs produce real-time data on project expenses and milestone completion, which can be used to save you time and money while streamlining projects substantially.

Electronic Processes

Advances in technology have created a variety of software systems which make the entire bidding process digital. Long meetings with contractors and expensive red tape are no longer necessary.

Use the Latest Tools

There have been many tech advances in the construction industry in recent years. One example of this is Building Information Modeling, which creates 3D images of a building site. This can aid in determining possible construction snags.

Integrated Systems

In the construction world, clients need to be in-the-know at every step of the process. From planning and execution to completion, you want to have complete information available. Integrated project management systems allow their users to share relevant construction information instantly. These powerful tools can be utilized by project managers, contractors and clients so that all parties stay current on reports, progress photos, change orders, order requests, and more.

Want to know more about construction streamlining? Call MaintenX today!

To run a successful company, there are few financial terms you need to know. CapEx and OpEx are two such terms. Read on to learn more about them.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures (CapEx) are the monies used to buy important physical assets or services that will be used for at least one year.

Capital expenditures can include things like:

• Facility equipment acquisition
• Expansion and/or improvement to a facility
• Hardware purchases

A business’s sector can change the types of capital expenditures it makes.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are the expenses incurred from a business’ regular day-to-day operations. These can include things like

• Rent
• Utility bills
• Salaries and pension plan contributions
• Expenditure related to sales and administrative expenses
• Research & development
• Property taxes
• Business travel
• Licensing payments
• Advertising expenses
• Legal and/or attorney fees
• Insurance costs
• Property management expenses
• Property taxation payments
• Vehicle fuel, service and repair expenses
• Leasing contract costs
• Employees’ salary and wages
• Raw materials and supplies costs

Because a company’s largest expense is usually operations, administrators usually try to find ways to cut operating expenses without producing a serious impact on a company’s overall output. Unlike capital expenses, operating expenses are entirely tax-deductible for the tax year in which they were incurred.

It’s easy to see how operational expenses and capital expenses make up a big part of a business’s annual budget. When attempting to lower expenses and boost profits, it’s a good idea to properly balance your CapEx and OpEx. When handling an enormous CapEx project while simultaneously dealing with balancing your CapEx and OpEx, it is very important to keep your company’s established expenditure approval procedures updated, clear and transparent.

Want to know more about OpEx and CapEx and how they can help your business succeed? Call MaintenX today!

Total cost of ownership (TCO) assigns a dollar value to a facility asset over its useful life. This value includes each level of an asset’s life cycle.

Total Cost of Ownership Differs by Industry

The expense added to determine the TCO often varies by industry:

Information Technology

TCO is often used for IT hardware, and includes factors like:

• Cost for out-of-warranty repairs
• Cost of annual service agreements
• Prorated cost of any necessary supplementary hardware or software

Financial Sector

Mutual funds and related financial products often charge regular management fees. These secondary expenses need to be included to find the true cost of a product.

The True Value of Facility Assets

The value of each element of the TCO can vary widely depending on each particular asset. Some of these elements include:

• An item’s worth
• Asset content
• Physical characteristics
• Method of delivery
• Individual asset lifecycle
• Order processing costs
• Program management expenses
• Opportunity costs

True total cost can also take incremental revenue changes into account. The variation in cash flow is what lowers TCO.

Real TCO analysis is vital in the decision-making process for businesses of any size. Calculating TCO correctly calls for both a thorough understanding of each facility asset and its potential financial impacts over time.

Although TCO can seem daunting, it is necessary to create an accurate financial picture of any business or organization. Make sure you think through all your options while keeping your company’s long-term bottom line interests top of mind.

Want to know more about how to accurately calculate Total Cost of Ownership and why it’s important to do it correctly? Call MaintenX today!

The real estate market is constantly changing, and new issues—and disasters—pop up all the time. It can be difficult to navigate the unsteady waters of real estate. That being said, a lot of the big challenges facing real estate are trackable trends that can be anticipated. Below we will outline just a few of the challenges facing real estate in 2018 and the ones it will likely face in 2019.

Generational Changes

You might have heard that the millennial generation is the largest generation in history by population. The average first-time homebuyer is currently in their early 30s. Real estate agents and mortgage brokers will be flooded with more and more buyers in coming years, which will likely cause as many challenges as it does opportunities.

Empty Buildings

Empty properties invite vandalism and theft, and can serve as backdrops for other criminal activities from illegal dumping to robberies, assaults, and drug dealing. Vacant malls aren’t the only hazard; the trend of young urbanites exploring abandoned buildings and taking photographs or painting murals in them leads to liability concerns for the property owner should those explorers die or be injured.

The Changing Tide of Technology

Technology will also be a big factor in the coming years. As companies continue to create and innovate more efficient ways of doing almost everything, office space needs shift. Telecommuting has become more viable, including in sectors where it was previously impossible, with many employees opting to work from home instead of going to an office. The result? Companies need less workspace.

Climate Change

In addition to ecosystems, property has also become a casualty of natural disasters. A record number of floods, earthquakes and wildfires have ravaged communities, public infrastructure, and both business and residential property. Natural disasters like the giant wildfires currently roaring through California are prime examples of the heightened risk. This makes property owners, buyers, renters, brokers and insurance companies adapt to a much different landscape.