 When you own a commercial property, the condition of the exterior serves as the face of your business. Go look at the outside of your commercial property; what message does it send about your business? The elements and just the natural passage of time can lead to an accumulation of caked-on dirt and residue, leaving your business looking grimy, dingy, or downright dirty. What’s the solution? Pressure washing. Read on as your Fort Myers professionals at Under Pressure explain the benefits of having your commercial property pressure washed.
Don’t Do It Yourself You’ve decided the exterior of your business property needs to be cleaned, now what do you do? Resist the urge to run out to the nearest home improvement store, purchase a piece of equipment you know next to nothing about, and start spraying. Pressure washing can be dangerous to you, your customers, your employees, and your property if you do not have the training to safely and adequately use a pressure washer. And the hazards are real, in fact the Centers for Disease Control even have a page dedicated to the injuries pressure washers can cause, including a few of these:
Trust the Experts for Commercial Pressure Washing As you can see, it is important that you hire a professional to do the job—like the experts at Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services. Not only do we use the highest quality tools for our pressure washing services, but our technicians are trained, experienced, and fully qualified to work with this machinery to meet your needs. In fact, our technicians go through training on an annual basis to be able to give you the highest quality work for your commercial building. And when you get on a maintenance program with us, we will maintain the appearance of your building, saving you from expensive building repairs in the future. Why should you pressure wash your commercial property? Curb appeal: You may have heard of this as a factor in residential real estate but it matters for commercial properties as well. Research shows that having a well-maintained, eye-pleasing exterior to your commercial property can make a big difference in the income it generates. In fact, one study conducted at the University of Washington found that commercial buildings with a well-maintained landscape and aesthetically pleasing exterior had rental rates approximately 7% higher than commercial properties that did not. Plus, the outside of your commercial property represents the first impression of your business. External appearances matter. There’s a reason that successful major companies always operate out of buildings that are shiny and clean. There’s a reason that dilapidated, dirty, graffiti-vandalized properties struggle to draw in clients. All potential consumers or business partners want to look at a business and feel safe and welcome. Hygiene: In our hot and humid climate here in southwest Florida, it’s not uncommon to see moss, algae, sea salt, oil, mildew, mold, and even silt lines on buildings. The accumulation of any of these substances is both unsightly and unhygienic. You, your customers, and your employees could be exposed to lowered air quality and possible biological hazards if your commercial property isn’t regularly cleaned. Allergies, asthma, and those with lowered immune systems are particularly at risk for serious health side effects when dealing with unhygienic conditions. Pressure washing is like giving your business an extremely thorough shower Prevention: You’ve invested your time and money into your commercial property. Maintaining its appearance could have a positive effect on your wallet aside from just generating more business. Between the elements, contaminants, and a variety of other factors, your business' exterior takes a beating every day. Without proper preventive maintenance and care, you will end up shelling out to pay for eventual repairs—repairs that will cost much more than having your property pressure washed by a professional. At Under Pressure, we can perform regular pressure washings of your commercial property, helping to maintain the structural integrity of your commercial property over the long haul. That means no surprises and less costly repairs for the investment that is your commercial property. Efficiency: As we mentioned earlier, your commercial property represents an investment of both time and money. Having your building pressure washed professionally saves you and your staff money; they won’t have to work as hard or as often to clean the exterior of your building. That leaves more time for you and your employees to spend working on other tasks. Your sole focus can remain your business and finding ways to grow it and increase your revenue. Let the professional pressure washing services at Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services open the door for a potentially brighter tomorrow. Commercial Pressure Washing Results You Can’t Deny Your commercial property, from the roof to the sidewalks to the parking lot needs to be professional pressure washed on a regular basis. This kind of preventative maintenance seems like it’s just for visual appeal, but the truth is mold, algae, dirt, and bird droppings are not just visually unappealing. . . they can wear a building down. Bird droppings are very acidic, so a buildup of them can actually weaken your building’s structure. Mold and algae can eat away at the structure of the building too. Cleaning them off regularly will prevent serious maintenance problems in the future. The sidewalks in front of your building become filthy over time with gum accumulation, garbage stains, and dirt. Here in Southwest Florida mold, mildew or algae easily builds up on sidewalks due to our high humidity and the incredible amount of rain we get during the summers. When they do, they create a dangerously smooth surface. People can easily slip, fall, and injure themselves on a dirty sidewalk. Pressure washing removes this danger. Clean sidewalks invite customers in. Pressure washing is also one of the most effective ways to remove graffiti. Nothing devalues your business and your building like graffiti. It makes your business look like it is neglected and it makes the area your business is in feel unsafe. Pressure washing is one of the few ways to remove it. Finally, the dirt, grime, and mold on your building can unfortunately hide structural and maintenance problems until they become large enough to cause you to notice. Cleaning your building regularly is a good way to be sure that you catch any cosmetic issues before they become more serious (potentially leading to costly maintenance problems or worse, a failed inspection). When you look at all the ways your commercial property can benefit from professional pressure washing, you can see that this service more than pays for itself. Don’t wait until the appearance of your building is driving away potential customers or tenants. Don’t live with the chance of the exterior becoming damaged, or harmful particles building up to cause a possible health risk. The pros at Under Pressure can help. We can have your commercial property looking fabulous and without any potential damage from the cleaning process itself. That is because we use light sprayers to apply a gentle cleanser, and then rinse the entire exterior of your building. Using high pressure could peel paint or otherwise compromise the exterior. This is also yet another reason why you only should hire professionals to pressure wash your business or commercial property in southwest Florida. Pressure Washing in Fort Myers It’s never too late to create a fantastic first impression for your commercial property. At Under Pressure, our experienced and well-trained professional technicians are here to answer all of your pressure washing questions. All you have to do is give us a call. As a local business in southwest Florida, we can relate to all of your concerns and struggles. Let us help to get your commercial property cleaned and looking great, helping to give your business a fair shot at success while keeping your building safe and healthy and protecting the investment you’ve made in your commercial property. Start the process by giving us a call at (239) 218-5085. For our returning clients, Under Pressure offers regular pressure washing services. We recommend a pressure wash once per year but buildings that are subject to heavy pedestrian or vehicle traffic may need to be cleaned with greater frequency. Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services is proud to serve commercial property owners in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Port Charlotte, Estero, Alva, Bonita Springs, and the surrounding areas of southwest Florida.
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 Just like the average homeowner, you probably look at pressure washing as a way to quickly remove unwanted grime and muck from your residence, patio, and driveway. When you have your residence pressure washed, you do indeed get a quick facelift from its dingy dirty appearance. However, leading industry experts say that pressure washing plays a much more critical role in maintaining the value of your home. Could pressure washing help to keep you safer and healthier, too? Having the exterior of your property cleaned on a regular schedule can make a big difference. At Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services, we are proud to offer eco-friendly pressure washing service to Southwest Florida. Let’s explore the advantages of regularly scheduled pressure washings, which can be set up through an annual maintenance contract with us for your home or business.
The Top Five Benefits of Regularly Scheduled Pressure Washing 1. Preventive Care Every property owner knows that preventive maintenance of your property is the best way to save yourself from a great deal of expenses and work. Pressure cleaning and sealing prevents the growth of destructive molds, mildews, moss, and algae—all of which can deteriorate the exterior of your home or business. Because these destructive agents are alive, they continually eat into your home’s building materials. Everything from wood, to shingles to tiles to concrete, are susceptible to being broken down by mold and algae. Regular pressure washing does not eliminate them. At Under Pressure, our professional technicians use safe and powerful cleaners designed specifically to eradicate those destructive forces that would otherwise lead your home or business to fall into a state of disrepair. Our Biowash system contains enzymes that continue to kill off mildew and algae every time it rains since water activates it. A small measure of prevention like annual Biowashing could save you from big expenses in the long run. 2. Ready for Renovations Planning to have your property remodeled or renovated? Before transforming the exterior of your home or business, we recommend having your home or business pressure cleaned by professionals like the team at Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services. Why? Whether you’re planning a repainting, gutter replacement, or the addition or remodel of a deck, almost any exterior renovation or remodel is going to require some prep work. Pressure washing easily removes peeling paint, surface dirt, and other materials that could prevent proper application of the new materials. This will save you time and money in the long run, whether you’re working with a professional contractor on the project or doing the job yourself. 3. The Value of Curb Appeal If you’re considering selling your home, you want to get the most value possible. Increasing the value of your home doesn’t mean you have to make major changes or undertake an expensive remodeling project. Something as simple as a pressure washing performed by professionals can boost your home's value. Not only does this increase the curb appeal of your property, but for potential buyers, a professional pressure washing shows that you take pride in your home and its upkeep. Don’t just take our word for it; the National Association of Realtors shows that having your home pressure cleaned by professionals can add thousands of dollars of value to the sale of your property. 4. Health and Hygiene When you choose a professional company like Under Pressure to pressure clean your property, the end result will be an exterior that is more aesthetically pleasing, adds curb appeal and, most importantly, is cleaner. When your home or business in Fort Myers is professionally pressure washed, you’re protecting yourself and those around you from the allergens, molds, and dust that can cause a variety of health issues. The build-up of these substances isn’t just an eyesore; it also can be a health hazard for your property and the people that live and work there. Mold exposure can lead to a host of health issues, especially for those who already suffer from seasonal allergies or other respiratory conditions such as asthma. Our Biowash process removes these pollutants which affect your home’s air quality, without introducing harsh chemicals into your immediate environment. Our Biowash is eco-friendly and won’t irritate anyone’s sensitive nose. Irritants that trigger allergies and other health issues are as good as gone once the job has been done by our professional staff at Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services. 5. You Don’t Have to Do It Yourself You’re sold on pressure washing and its benefits. You’re also a do-it-yourselfer. Before you go and bust out the old pressure washer from your shed, consider that there might be a reason that pressure washing your home or business hasn’t been on the top of your to-do list. Pressure washing is a physically demanding task. It requires that you spend a lot of time extending, lifting, and aiming a heavy machine that pumps water. If you’re unsure of how to handle the pressure washer, doing the job yourself can lead to injury or even property damage. We’ve all seen the driveways and sidewalks of do-it-yourselfers who have pressure washed their own property. How do we know they did it themselves? Just look for the uneven appearance of their concrete, the etching in it, the parts of it that are clean and the parts that have lines of dirt. For these reasons, we recommend you hire experts like our team at Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services to do the job. With us doing the work, it allows you to take comfort in knowing the entire exterior of your property will be deep cleaned: including your driveway, siding, brick, gutters, porches, decks, windows, and doors. You can knock dozens of chores off of your cleaning list all while knowing your property is cleaner and healthier. By signing up for an annual maintenance contract, you will have this work done every six months to help the exterior of your home or business looking great. Our use of BioWash helps prolong the results of your professional pressure washing. When first applied, the BioWash product removes mold, mildew, algae, dirt, pollen, oils, and other build-up of bacteria. This is an eco-friendly product that is biodegradable and safe for your property, people, and pets. Moreover, the unique combination of natural enzymes is reactivated every time it rains, preventing additional damage or build-up of dirt, oil, and potentially harmful microorganisms. Pressure Washing in Southwest Florida At Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services, we are proud to provide our services to homes and businesses throughout the communities of Southwest Florida. Get your property free and clear of air quality pollutants, increase its value, while keeping your property healthy and looking great. You can accomplish it all with one simple call to (239) 218-5085 to set up your maintenance contract for pressure washing today.  Here at Under Pressure, we love when our snowbird clients flock here to their second homes in Southwest Florida. November and December are typically the months when we get the bulk of our snowbirds back. Here are some of the reasons you should contact us to make sure everything is ready on your property before you even get on the road for the trip back here.
Some of the same reasons that snowbirds seek out Florida for the winter—such as the climate—also can affect the appearance of your home. The heat and humidity encourage the accumulation of algae, mold and mildew, which can form on the exterior of your home or in your driveway. Once mildew is allowed to gain a foothold, it can be hard to remove. Mildew also can lead to slips, trips, and falls if it forms on concrete or pavers. That’s why pressure washing in Fort Myers and throughout Southwest Florida is recommended, especially for snowbird homes that have been dormant for several months. The Advantages of Pressure Washing You should consider having your home pressure washed before arriving for snowbird season, for the following reasons: It saves money – Maintaining two homes is expensive. You want to find ways to cut costs any way you can. Having your home pressure washed by professionals will save you money in the long run. Proper cleaning prevents the accumulation of mold and mildew on your home’s exterior which, if allowed to go unchecked, will ruin the paint job on your home and eventually lead to dry rot. Repainting and replacing materials on the outside of your home in Southwest Florida will have a much higher price tag than paying for a pressure wash. It keeps you healthy – Mold and mildew can be carriers of allergens. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website explains, mold and mildew can trigger an allergic reaction people who already suffer from seasonal allergies, causing symptoms including nasal congestion, and itchy skin or eyes. If you have asthma, mold and mildew can worsen your condition. Anyone with a suppressed immune system, or some other chronic respiratory ailment is at the greatest risk of health problems associated with mold and mildew exposure. Pressure washing eliminates these threats. It protects the value of your home – You worked hard, scrimped, and saved to have the luxury of being able to come to Florida for the winter, and spend part of your “golden years” enjoying life in a sub-tropical climate. Having a clean, well-maintained exterior of your home enhances its “curb appeal” and, with it, maintains property value when the day comes that you may decide to sell. Regular pressure washings help preserve your paint job and siding, too. The Advantages of Using Under Pressure The best course of action is to add pressure washing to your regular schedule of maintenance on your snowbird home. Just like your body, your clothes, and your teeth, you need to have your home cleaned regularly, especially given the environmental factors of living in Southwest Florida. The frequency might fluctuate due to the amount of annual rainfall, but a good general rule of thumb is to have your home pressure washed once each year. Thanks to the pros at Under Pressure, you can have this completed at your snowbird home before you’ve even returned to Florida. At Under Pressure, we use our innovative soft wash technique, which entails lightly spraying the exterior, driveway, and walkways with a gentle cleanser and then rinsing it off by using a light spray. We avoid using any high pressure on the wash or rinse to avoid damaging your paint job or any other elements of your home’s exterior. Our surface cleaner is used on driveways, preventing any missed spots or “tiger striped” look. For homes with pavers, we can even re-sand them, making sure they remain solid and stable to mitigate any potential tripping hazards. You’ve invested in your snowbird home. Keep it looking great and minimize your risk of mold exposure by letting the team at Under Pressure perform a pressure washing even before you arrive. Schedule your appointment today by calling (239) 218-5085. Under Pressure proudly serves Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, and other communities in Southwest Florida.  You’ve got a home in an gated community because you love the amenities that community has, and you love that your home will hold it’s real estate value. One of the reasons those types of communities hold their value is the rules set forth by the Home Owner Association (HOA), which keeps certain standards that add to your curb appeal. Whether or not you are an HOA board member, if you are a good community member, you’ll pay close attention to be sure that community is kept up properly. Because no matter how much time you spend making your own home look beautiful, when you live in a gated community, it’s the community as a whole that any potential buyer is buying into.
Take a good look at your community’s common areas. Are the club house, pool and gardens, benches and sidewalks being kept clean and tidy? Or is the roof of the club-house black with mold streaks and the pavers on the pool deck looking faded and tired? Because, if the common areas look dingy, the curb appeal will be gone for the potential buyer. Here in Southwest Florida, it only takes a few months of rain and heat and humidity before roofs, pavers, sidewalks and other concrete hardscapes get covered in mold and algae and mildew. Aside from looking unsightly, these living organisms eat away at whatever they are growing on, weakening roof tiles and staining concrete. This can cause costly repairs, and decrease property values when not taken care of. Algae and mold is also slippery when wet, so if you’ve got it growing in parking lots, driveways or pavers around the community pool, it also becomes a slip and fall hazard for community residents. HOAs are important, not only for keeping the value of your home as high as possible, but also to keep your community safe. Residential communities that feature common areas need regular maintenance to keep these areas safe and clean. Slippery sidewalk algae needs to be removed as quickly as possible to keep the community safe. Maintaining safe public spaces can help avoid potential legal action so no one gets injured due to the neglected maintenance of common areas. Signing a maintenance contract with Under Pressure to pressure wash community areas and amenities every few months is one of the most effective way to keep these areas safe and clean. Pressure washing combats oil buildup, graffiti, mildew, algae, grime, and rust while restoring the hard surfaces on parking lots, boat docks, and sidewalks. Regular commercial pressure washing is a small investment that can help the bottom line of your community in many positive ways. Having a clean, welcoming community will attract new residents, and keep current residents safe and happy. At Under Pressure, we understand that large-scale community cleanings require even more attention to detail, and our techs are on top of that. We are available for one-time cleanings, but we highly recommend a maintenance contract that provides periodic scheduled cleanings. Once we have agreed on a time interval for your community’s cleanings, Under Pressure will take care of the rest. Our pressure washing treatments are sure to get your sidewalks, gutters, exterior buildings, pool decks or patios, guard houses and playgrounds clean and looking like new. We are all about offering you quality service at reasonable prices. Give us a call today for a free estimate on our large community cleanings. Call UnderPressure at 239-218-5085!  It’s finally a lovely temperature for enjoying the outdoors here in Southwest Florida, but if you’re hanging out in your lanai for the first time in a while, you may have noticed that your pool enclosure screens and struts have a greenish or blackish tinge to them or outright fuzzy growth on them. All that rain and heat and humidity means they’ve gotten some algae, mildew and mold growth on them. The problem is, not only does it look awful, it’s also really bad for your cage and screen. Mold, mildew and algae are living organisms, and they are corrosive and detrimental the to long term wear and tear of your pool enclosure. And it’s expensive to replace a pool enclosure, or any parts of it. The other thing making your screens look grungy is all the pollen we have here. If you’ve come here from Northern climates you are used to certain seasons when pollen is heavy, such as spring and fall. But here in SWFL, pollen season is year round and over time, pollen can accumulate on the structure’s surfaces, forming a disgusting film that makes your enclosure look old or dirty. The key to preserving the life of your screens and frame is keeping them clean. Right about now you may be thinking that $100 pressure washer at your local big box hardware store is looking pretty good. But buyer-beware, screens are very delicate and it takes nothing for pressurized water to blow a hole or slice through your screening. After all, many an amateur power washer has etched concrete sidewalks while trying to clean them. That’s why we never pressure wash screened in pool enclosures at Under Pressure. Screening is a delicate surface and should never be exposed to high pressure washing technology. We use a soft wash system that cleans your lanai enclosure without the possibility of torn screens. Our softwash is safe for pets, your plants, and people, but it does a number on algae, mildew and mold. We protect your lanai, while enhancing its appearance. Our soft wash has a special low-pressure nozzle, which we use on the end of our pressure-washing wand. It removes the biological elements (mold, algae, pollen, dirt, moss) and other stains without damaging surfaces on your lanai. It breaks down dirt buildup, to deliver a deep clean. We recommend having us softwash your lanai twice a year to keep it looking great. Give us a call at Under Pressure 239-218-5085!   Here’s comes the rain! The summer of 2020 here in Southwest Florida has not really been as rainy as normal . . . but if you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ll see we are finally getting storm warnings and a lot more rain. That’s awesome for your garden and lawn, but not such great news for your paver driveway, walkway or lanai.
Pavers are so popular here in Florida because they really give your home a fantastic curb appeal, and they are good for our environment as well, because they allow rainwater to seep into the ground between the pavers, rather than run off down the driveway and into the sewer system. And with a little effort, they will stay looking beautiful. Pavers are pretty durable, but are you aware of how much weather affects the look and stability of your pavers? You can’t just leave them alone and expect them to stay pretty, because both the sun and the rain here are very harsh. Most days the sun beats down unrelentingly all day until around 4 p.m. and then the rain pounds down for about an hour. Both of these forces of nature work to make your pavers look terrible. So let’s look at some of the reasons pavers need to be pressure washed at least twice a year. Why Pressure Wash Your Pavers Depending on where they are located, pavers get stained by any number of things. Your paver driveway can be stained by oil dripping out of your car, and tar or paint that could be on your tires. How about dirt, paint, and grease from all of the do it yourself projects you use your driveway for? In your lanai, grease from your barbeque, spilled food, chlorinated water from the pool, and rust from the pool cage can all stain the pavers. Even worse, due to our aforementioned weather, what you’ll deal with most often is moss and algae growth on and in between the pavers. This can be slippery when it rains and become a real walking hazard if it is not handled properly. This is why you want your pavers to be professionally pressure washed. Should you do pressure wash them yourself? We are well aware that pressure washers can be bought at the big box stores, but we don’t really recommend you attempt to do it yourself. Consumer level pressure washers actually use a tremendous amount of water pressure, and it is much more than most people are ready for. Using excessive water pressure can remove some of the paver surface. You can also permanently scar the surface of pavers with streaks and lines. Pressure washing also tends to wash away the sand holding the pavers in place, and if you don’t know how to replace that sand properly, your pavers will be uneven, leaving the possibility for people to trip or twist an ankle as they walk over pavers that are lifted up or sunken due to being sanded improperly. At Under Pressure we use a special device called a Surface Cleaner to clean pavers and driveways. Our technicians go through training every year to be able to use this tool properly. It enables us to wash the surface with a consistent amount of spray throughout the driveway. Therefore we do not leave any "tiger stripes" or any other kind of etching, and we also don’t leave any missed areas on the driveway. We are able to remove most stains on concrete and paver driveways with the Surface Cleaner. When we are done pressure washing, we do something that very few contractors do, which is re-sand the pavers. When pavers are washed under pressure, the stabilizing sand between the bricks can sometimes be washed away, leaving the individual pavers unstable and loose. We are experts in replacing this sand and making sure the pavers are all even and looking beautiful again, so it is worth it for you to hire us for this additional service. This enhanced process is essential to maintaining the quality and structure of a brick paver driveway, pathway or lanai. Once the pavers are completely clean, they should be sealed to maintain their look, keep them stain free and protect the surface of them from eroding. The fact is, if you have brick pavers, you need to get them professionally sealed as well. Our sealer protects the surface of your pavers from the weathering caused by those high-powered UV rays we get here in the South. While the concrete pavers themselves are highly durable, the colored pigments in the pavers can slowly fade over time, due to the UV ray exposure. Sealing the pavers helps to keep the paver’s colors vibrant even in bright sunlight. Your paver driveway can last you more than 30 years, but only if you take great care of it! By letting Under Pressure deep clean regularly, and seal your paver driveway every two years, your driveway will better resist dirt and oil, keep weeds from growing and prevent cracks from forming, providing your home with a gorgeous looking driveway, pathways and lanai area! Give us a call at UnderPressure at 239-218-5085!  Here comes the rain! Finally we are getting the rain we normally get during our summer months here in Southwest Florida! Your plants are happy and your lawn is green again.
But how happy is your roof? Quite often during the summer months, people start to see those green or black stains on their roof brought about by the rain and high humidity of our summers here. The algae, moss, mold and other organisms that thrive during this time period make themselves known and they look awful. What’s worse, they ARE awful for your roofing materials, as they use them as food. But if you hire us to clean your roof with our softwash BioWash product, you could be having the rain work for you, instead of against you. We’ve written a bit in the past about why you want us to BioWash your roof instead of pressure washing it, but we thought we’d tell you a little bit about how it works this time. The BioWash product we use to clean roofs works to remove mold, mildew, algae and bacteria through the use of natural enzymes. So it removes these microorganisms and their stains safely, environmentally, and it is also not dangerous for many different types of roofing materials from tiles to shingles. Our technicians have been specially trained in the process of using this powerful cleaning product to sanitize and protect your roof without pressure washing or standing on the tiles. BioWash is completely benign for your landscaping plants and grass because it’s biodegradable. The solution is a formulation of living enzymes as active ingredients that eat away at lichens, moss, algae and bacteria. These enzymes also break down contaminants such as dirt, pollen, spider webs and oils, as well as the effects of acid rain. Rather than blasting off a top layer of dirt and grime, as well as the granules of your shingles with a power washer, the BioWash enzymes get into the nooks and crannies of your roof, killing bacteria and algae on the microscopic level. It does not damage tiles over time, and instead it returns them to their original color. Here’s the best part, the enzymes in BioWash are re-activated by rain! So every time it rains your roof is getting deeply cleaned, preventing staining and damage done by the microorganisms that eat roofing materials. BioWash is also a great solution to keeping your brand new roof, on your brand new home, from ever getting those black streaks to begin with. So if you’ve moved into a new construction home, even though the roof is not dirty yet, you should consider having us BioWash it right now, and get on a twice-a-year maintenance plan. You will literally never see a dirty roof, and your roofing materials will last longer by never letting the microorganisms that cause damage to take root. Not only that, did you know that many insurance companies require that homeowners maintain a clean roof as part of house maintenance in general? So as a new homeowner, maintenance can go a long way toward saving you money when it comes to insurance. Best of all, our regular maintenance plan helps to sustain the longevity of your roof. We hope you’ll call us today to clean your roof with this environmentally and roof friendly product. If you’re interested in having the black stains on your roof removed safely and with long-lasting results, give us a call at Under Pressure at 239-218-5085!  Summertime, and the living’s easy. . . well, perhaps not if you are a paver stone here in Southwest Florida. Our summer weather here is harsh! The sun beats down unrelentingly until around 4 p.m. and then the rain pounds down for about an hour. Our tropical plants love it, but our pavers really don’t.
Pavers are pretty durable, but are you aware of how much weather affects the look and stability of your pavers? Weather’s a strong force to battle, and with time, constant exposure to the elements does wear down your paver surface. Let’s talk about some of the issues weather causes for an unsealed paver. Erosion and Corrosion Erosion is the type of weathering where the paver material is broken down due to wind and water. Even though your pavers are made of hard stone or concrete, rain elements still break it down. One of the reasons for this is due to pollution, which makes our rain acidic enough to cause your pavers to erode or corrode just like lemon juice or white vinegar would. All pavers are also prone to corrosion, which is slightly different from erosion. Corrosion happens when there is metal nearby, and it’s another process that naturally eats away at the paver surface. Water is corrosive to metal and pavers as it oxidizes metal (which is seen when it rusts). Paver stones can naturally have metal elements within them, which rusts with the weather. UV Rays We are not called the Sunshine State for nothing, and the sun here in the summertime is brutal. Most of us know to wear good sun protection when we are outside during the day. But if your pavers have no sealant on them, they have no sunscreen to protect them. If the sun can bleach out stains when clothes are put out on the line, what do you think it is doing to your pavers? UV degradation causes many materials to break down from extended exposure to the sun. While the concrete pavers themselves are highly durable, the colored pigments in the pavers can slowly fade over time, due to the UV ray exposure. Pounding rain Florida must be the place where they coined the term, “When it rains it pours.” We’ve all had the occasion when we had to pull over to the side of the road due to rain pouring down so hard we can’t see through the windshield even with the wipers on high. That pounding rain also pours down on your pavers, chipping away at the naturally porous materials they are made from. Wet, unsealed pavers are prone to mold and mildew, which not only looks unsightly, but is also dangerous to walk on and can cause slip and falls. Sealing Solution Having us seal your pavers will help them to become weather-resistant, erosion-resistant and mold resistant. When we seal the pavers, we are creating a weather-resistant layer that will work hard to reduce water damage and sun damage. It will result in a paver surface which offers higher levels of stability without ruining the beauty of the paver’s color. Here are a few other reasons to have us seal your pavers:
We, at Under Pressure, go the extra mile when it comes to sealing paver surfaces. We feel that applying a high-quality product on your paver hardscape is necessary to provide the gorgeous finished product our clients demand. We are proud to offer the Seal 'n Lock Super Wet sealant, which is a water-based urethane modified acrylic sealer that penetrates the pavers and provides a protective barrier, wet looking surface and excellent joint stabilization. This system is also the first “all-in-one-day” process that eliminates the cloudy white look pavers can get from the trapped moisture other sealers cause. This product is also consistent with our dedication to being responsible with the environment. Our product is not harmful to any vegetation, and does not produce any toxic odor. The sealing of paver driveways with this system not only protects the brick pavers, but it also ensures structural performance while inhibiting insect and weed infestation. Under Pressure's use of this system definitely provides the highest quality product with the best application process. That’s why our employees at Under Pressure go through training once a year with the Seal n Lock company. Your paver driveway can last you more than 30 years, but only if you take great care of it! By letting Under Pressure deep clean and seal your paver driveway every two years, your driveway will better resist dirt and oil, keep weeds from growing and prevent cracks from forming, providing your home with a gorgeous looking driveway, pathways and lanai area! Give us a call at UnderPressure at 239-218-5085!  If you’ve moved down here to SWFL from the North, you may run into something you never had to deal with in your originating state. . . being part of an Home Owners Association or HOA. Many of the towns in older communities up North were developed one house at a time over a period of time, as opposed to the many planned and developed communities here in Lee and Collier counties. As such, they do not have rules and regulations beyond county and town zoning laws. However, our beautifully developed planned communities here have a lot of wonderful shared amenities such as beautifully landscaped common areas, elevators, swimming pools, clubhouses, parking garages, fitness rooms, and security gates. As such an HOA is necessary to ensure that residents of the community are all equally responsible for maintaining common areas, as well as keeping their own homes, townhouses or condominiums maintained to the satisfaction of the entire community.
An HOA is a legal entity that governs a community of homes, including subdivisions, condominiums, townhomes, or planned community. HOAs operate within state statutes to enforce regulations and collect assessments from homeowners, while also taking care of maintenance repairs of common areas. Their main purpose is to maintain the quality of life for all of the community’s residents and protect the property values for all of the owners in the community. To fulfill that purpose HOAs set out certain rules that all residents must follow called covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs). The bylaws and CC&Rs commonly also include procedures the HOA must follow when taking any action to enforce the rules. HOA’s will also govern how well you maintain your residence and will often enforce how well you maintain your property, which can include everything from lawn maintenance to keeping your roof clear of mildew and your driveway and lanai clean as well. While none of us likes to be told what to do with our own property, keep in mind that you moved into an HOA community because the property values often higher for HOA communities for a reason, and that’s because they always look great. And because of that, the residents of a community will keep a weather eye on whether or not you are keeping your own property looking nice. If you are in violation of any of the HOA covenants, you will receive a written notice, and told how much time you’ve got to correct the problem. Florida law allows HOAs to impose fines against members, tenants, guests and invitees who violate the community’s CC&Rs, articles of incorporation, bylaws or any rules adopted by the association. Fines may not exceed $100 per violation, and the fines may be imposed for each day that the violation continues, with a statutory cap that the fines cannot exceed $1,000 per violation. The HOA must provide written notice to an owner of any alleged violation, and allow the owner time to fix the violation, before fining or suing that person. At UnderPressure, we call that notice a “nastygram,” and we are here to help you avoid a fine if the issue is a dirty roof, driveway, walkway in front of your house, moldy lanai enclosure or filthy pavers. If you do receive a violation, take the time to read it and understand what it’s for, keep your cool – as long as you’re not a repeat offender, it’s probably not a big deal. Then give us a call at UnderPressure and we will take the cleaning steps necessary to get your property looking fantastic quickly, have you avoid paying a fine, and keep you out of getting in hot water with your HOA. Give us a call at UnderPressure at 239-218-5085!  Recently we’ve been hearing the words clean, sanitize and disinfect a lot. In fact, the terms have been used in a way that makes them sound interchangeable, however it’s important for you to know that they are not. A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (reported April 2, 2020, data has been changing rapidly, so this was the newest information at the time I was writing this blog post), examined how long COVID-19 can live on certain surfaces. The study looked at how long the virus can live on plastic, copper, stainless steel and cardboard. According to the study, viable virus cells were detected for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces. This is why cleaning and disinfecting has become so important to our health. First I’ll give you the Centers for Disease Control’s (DCD) explanation of why it’s important for you to know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, and then I’ll tell you how we are helping our community stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CDC defines cleaning as “removing dirt and impurities from surfaces and objects by using soap, detergent or another cleaning product and physically scrubbing the surface. Cleaning removes visible dirt, it does not necessarily kill germs, mold or fungi. (We are talking about hard surfaces here, plastics and metals, not your hands by the way, washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds does indeed kill the coronavirus.) Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on a surface by using a proper sanitizing solution and leaving it on the surface for at least 30 seconds before washing it off. Disinfecting kills the germs on the surfaces by using a stronger sanitizing solution, and a leaving it on the surface for a longer period of time. Disinfecting is the process that is needed right now to lower the risk of spreading the coronavirus. According to the CDC website a simple mix of 1/3 cup bleach to 1 gallon of cold water works for disinfecting the coronavirus, as long as you leave it on the surface for at least one minute to five minutes before washing it off with clean water. At UnderPressure we’ve been helping keep our SWFL community clean and disinfected for a long time. Our BioWash solution is a medical grade biodisinfectant, so whenever we’ve used it on roofs, houses, driveways, lanais or other hardscapes, it is not just cleaning, but also disinfecting those surfaces. If you are a customer, you may already know we clean those areas we just listed, but you may not know that we also clean lots of different types of spaces, places and hardscapes. And during this time period when people cannot congregate in certain spaces, we are disinfecting HOA community playground equipment, park benches, handrails, and pool furniture. We are using the CDC’s bleach disinfectant solution and leaving it on the equipment for at least five minutes before powerwashing it off to be sure everything is germ free. If you are a property manager or president of your community HOA, give us a call, we’d love to help you keep your community safe and disinfected. And we are still cleaning other surfaces too! Give us a call at UnderPressure at 239-218-5085! |
AuthorPeter LeBlanc Under Pressure Cleaning & Sealing Services LLC
Peter LeBlanc - Owner/Operator 239-218-5085 • peter@underpressurehomewashing.com Proudly Serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs, Port Charlotte, Alva © 2021 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. No Unauthorized use of materials on this site is permitted by law. Website maintained by Visitivity Inc.
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