Why Sweep?
Benefits to Sweeping
The numerous benefits of sweeping include the collection and removal of paper, leaves, trash and other visible debris. A less evident but equally important benefit is the removal of the unseen particles and hazardous waste products left by passing vehicles. Power sweeping is the most cost- effective efficient method of removing both large and small pollutants that accumulate on parking lots.
Foot traffic brings the dirt and dust from the outside parking area of the building inside. Reducing the amount of dirt, dust, and debris with routine parking lot sweeping will effectively keep the inside of your buildings much cleaner.
Without regular power sweeping, sand, dirt and other trash are abrasive, and will shorten the useful life of pavement, as well as the length of service time of any sealant, coating, & striping. The replacement cost for pavement far exceeds the routine expense of sweeping.
Keep litter picked- up with regular parking lot power sweeping and maintenance. This will reduce the chance of slip and fall injuries & thus, lower the risk of lawsuits.
A regular sweeping routine is a vital component to the overall look of your property. Power sweeping will complement the work of your landscaping company. The sweeping service cannot effectively be replaced by a landscaping company. Most landscaping companies do not have the equipment that is necessary to effectively sweep a parking lot.
Think about the shopping centers and businesses you patronize. Chances are the places you choose to shop at are clean and well maintained. The parking area of a business is where a customer will acquire their first impression and where your tenants expect their customers to derive a positive ‘first impression.’ If the parking area is poorly maintained, then a customer may assume that the internal cleanliness and other affairs of the business is also poorly run.
Problems With Not Sweeping
Let’s examine the business need for routine parking lot power sweeping on your commercial property.
Problems you will experience if you do not invest in a routine parking lot sweeping service.
FACT: Traffic, activity and the weather cause loose gravel, grit, dirt, trash, and debris to accumulate on the surface of your parking lot.
Left untreated, this will eventually lead to:
An increase in shedding, pot holes and an overall quicker erosion of your parking lot
The life of your pavement, striping, and seal coating on your parking lot’s surface will be greatly diminished by the abrasive qualities of gravel, grit, & dirt that will accumulate on the surface of the asphalt due to foot and vehicle traffic. Other materials such as broken glass, paper, and loose leaves will chemically react with surface water and aid in the breakdown of your parking lot’s surface.
In addition, the materials stated above will create both safety issues and environmental hazards that could lead to injury.
Your tenants and their customers are likely to feel intimidated by a filthy parking lot and may think twice about patronizing a business with a poorly maintained parking area.
Other Reasons to Sweep
According to National Association of Power Sweepers, studies have shown that parking lot cleanliness ranks as a top factor in determining where people shop, and external cleanliness is seen by many as equally important as that of the interior of the building.
Below are some major reasons for power sweeping your commercial property on a regular basis:
- People like to patronize the successful. Clearly, all businesses would choose to have a clean parking lot area, all other considerations aside. The unwillingness or inability to keep a particular area cleaned projects an image of not being caring for the clientele. Regular sweeping avoids this.
- Shopping centers are finding maintenance of market share to be an increasingly competitive proposition. It’s virtually impossible to develop or retain the desired competitive edge if the grounds on the exterior of the business are unkempt.