Posts

Damage Control

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HOME HAZARDS: Preventing Damage Exploited by Services.

Damage Control is defined as: Action taken to limit the damaging effects of an accident or error. In this context, we are referencing the control of potential damage by the homeowner. Of what kind of hazards should the homeowner be aware? And how can damage be avoided altogether?

HOME HAZARDS:

ROOF:

  • Loose Shingles and Roof Damage. Cleaning a roof in disrepair can lead to Roof Rot, as well as interior mildew and mold growth.
  • Non-functioning (full, broken, unsecure) Gutters. Roof solution leaks lead to damaged landscaping. Grime Fighters reclaims ALL of our roof solution. Damaged gutters inhibit or prevent this process.

SIDING:

  • Gaps. Where siding is not properly overlapped, Powerwash solution can leak behind these areas.
  • Waterproof Outlet Covers. Deteriorating gaskets no longer seal the cover, protecting it from water. Outlet covers in disrepair can cause electrical damage.

FLATWORK:

  • Loose or Broken Concrete/Sidewalks. Deterioration or cracks can be accentuated by Flat Surface Cleaning.

WINDOWS:

  • Broken Seals/Gaskets cause leaking into windowsills and walls.
  • Damaged glass can create fogging.
  • Brittle screens may not hold up to cleaning, and could even become a safety hazard to technicians.

DAMAGE AVOIDANCE:

According to the website msba.org, there are “5 Rules for Damage Control.”

  1. TELL THE TRUTH. “…if you don’t tell the truth, you’ll lose credibility…”
  2. TELL IT FIRST. “If you don’t, someone else will.”
  3. TELL IT ALL. “The more you can tell of your story, the more you’ll control it.”
  4. TELL IT FAST. “The world moves at the speed of Twitter…to protect your reputation, you must move with it.”
  5. TELL IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER MOST. “A person…should care most about the people who really care.”

In short, if you are aware of any neglect or damage to your home, honesty is the best policy. Better still, would be to TAKE ACTION and address an area of neglect or damage BEFORE scheduling a service. This gives the homeowner peace of mind by doing their part, giving a service company peace of mind, so they can do theirs.

As a last resort, our Grime Fighter Technicians are trained to recognize and point out these areas of potential hazard prior to the service. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to have the house in good repair before we come. As listed in Grime Fighters Terms & Conditions, we are NOT RESPONSIBLE for any damage to the home due to disrepair. Our 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE comes from within the quality of our work, not damage from neglect.

Grime Fighters takes great care when it comes to your home. When kindness is coupled with honesty, it reaps a far better outcome for all.

Top 5 Reasons to Power Wash in Spring and Who Should Do It

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Spring’s imminent arrival beckons us to begin anew. We eagerly clean and prepare to welcome longer days and warmer breezes into our home. It is therefore crucial that we also properly clean the exterior of our homes during this season of transition.

Weather extremes have certainly contributed to a significantly volatile season. And not to be ignored is the effect on our homes. Abundant moisture and humidity create a breeding ground for algae, mold, and mildew. Strong winds are not only destructive to your home’s exterior, they also carry debris to areas of moisture which becomes food for mold and algae. Furthermore, dirt and debris have lodged themselves in the cracks, corners, and crevices of your home’s exterior. Fluctuating temperatures forcing freeze and thaw cycles wreak havoc on salted, flat surfaces. Decks and patios covered in winter’s slime create hazardous pathways. Gutters forced beyond capacity by heavy moisture, weakened by strong winds, can become destructive to your roof and siding. These factors are even more probable if your home was not winterized last Autumn, in preparation of Winter’s wet weather and decreased sunlight, which only increase the likelihood of growing grime.

TOP 5 REASONS TO POWER WASH IN SPRING:

  • INVITE. (The guests you don’t want.) Your home could be extending an invitation for destructive organisms.
  • INSPECT. An excellent time and opportunity to check your home’s exterior for potential damage, before it becomes structural damage.
  • IDEAL. Milder weather and temperatures along with extended daylight, provide an ideal time for power washing.
  • IRRITANTS. Spring allergens (pollen, dust, and dirt) are at their highest levels. House washing, flat surface cleaning, and window cleaning will keep these allergens where they belong.
  • INVIGORATE. Earth springs back to life and we do, too. Take advantage of the longer days to lift your spirits and breathe life back into your home. Make your home your haven.

There is no shortage of task lists and outdoor projects in Spring. In fact, it is synonymous with the season. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with Spring Cleaning, rely on the professionals to help get the job done.

Here’s why Grime Fighters has the edge over your D.I.Y.

  • TOOLS, TRAINING, TECHNIQUE. There are different solutions and treatments for different jobs. Your siding requires a different psi than your sidewalk. Whether it is slimy siding or spot-free windows, our team is trained to understand and provide your home’s unique needs so you don’t have to spend your Saturday stuck in a learning curve.
  • SAFETY, HONESTY, TRUSTWORTHINESS. Safety and Honesty are the hallmarks of everything we do at Grime Fighters. That means our team acts safely, honestly, and professionally AT ALL TIMES. Taking care of your home is not just our job, it’s part of our community responsibility. Great care is taken in scheduling and executing work so as to build trust with our neighbours, whether in our local Lehigh Valley, or neighboring Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

At Grime Fighters, your needs come first. You don’t trust just anyone to clean and protect your home. Whether you need to clean your sidewalk, deck, patio, siding, windows, or gutters, trust Grime Fighters to revive your home this Spring.

Planting Community Seeds…

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“You cannot stop the death that comes in the winter nor the life that comes with the summer. You can contribute your intelligence and will to the intelligence and movement of a dynamic larger than you. You can plant the seed that will sprout in the spring. You can lay the foundation for a different winter to come after the summer that has yet to arrive. You can only do this for yourself.” -Gary Zukav

We readily acknowledge that we cannot control the dynamic of the changing seasons… how autumn softly lulls us into the sleep of winter. But we also acknowledge the dynamic of being a part of something bigger than us as individuals. At Grime Fighters, we recognize that we are part of a whole. Without our loyal customers, we could not ‘contribute our intelligence and will‘ into the dynamic of our community. And just as the seasons change, our customers’ needs change.

While freezing temperatures may temporarily limit the amount and type of work we do, we by no means stop working. During Winter, Grime Fighters is still working behind the scenes to provide for you, our customer, with improved quality and effort. This is an ideal time for us to ‘plant the seed’ for Spring, making repairs and improvements on our Rig and Equipment, utilizing our maintenance portal, to provide a systematic check for parts, readying our team for Spring.

As we approach the slow season of January, February, and March, we will have reduced cleanings. All outdoor work is weather and temperature dependent, working only above 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, bookings are made only one week in advance.

Work that can be scheduled during this time:

INTERIOR WINDOWS

CHANDELIER CLEANINGS

HOUSE WASH *above 37F

GUTTER CLEANING *above 37F

FLAT SURFACE CLEANING *above 37F

All Exterior Window Cleaning and Roof Cleaning will be postponed to Spring.

We wish to thank our community for a successful 2021 season! Thank you for your patience and persistence in these challenging times. We look forward to continuing our dynamic relationship together, improving and contributing to a better, cleaner community.

Fall Is For Flat Surfaces

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The Hidden Dangers of Autumn:

When we think of a season’s dangerous weather, we naturally think of winter’s ice and snow, of summer’s violent storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Rarely do we think of autumn. But there is a hidden danger in autumn that can affect your safety outside of your home.

Fall’s foliage is magnificently beautiful. We love how the crunching leaves beneath our feet herald the start of all things cozy. And yet those fallen leaves are also magnificently dangerous when conditions turn wet.

Because of the waxy substance of the leaf, water pools on top of leaves, leaving roads and walkways dangerously slippery. In fact, it has been noted that roads covered in wet leaves are just as dangerous as roads covered in black ice. The difference is that leaves are generally ignored as a threat. However, there are more accidents due to wet leaves on roads than black ice.

This danger is not relegated to the roads, but also relevant closer to home: driveways, walkways, and patios. Adding to the foliage potential is the problem of shade-loving moss and algae growing and thriving amidst leaf covered surfaces. Not only does this create a hazardous environment for humans, it also decreases the lifespan of the material on which it resides. What can be done?

Autumn is the ideal time to remove buildup and treat flat surfaces to inhibit further growth of moss and algae during the wet and dark winter. Conscientious homeowners take the time to sweep away leaves and debris from walkways, keeping them safe for family, neighbours, and delivery men. But removing the slippery hazard of moss and algae requires a bit more.

A FLAT SURFACE CLEANING, using only water and pressure, will clean your walkway, patio, or pavers, leaving no trace of filth. However, if you have any moss or algae buildup, a DELUXE FLAT SURFACE CLEANING is necessary to treat the surface with specially formulated detergent and pressure to eradicate any growth on these surfaces and prolong regrowth by sterilizing these surfaces, making them inhospitable.

Prevention:

  • Treating flat surfaces in the fall removes buildup and the danger of hazardous surfaces.
  • Treating in Spring removes any growth that may have begun in winter.
  • The homeowner can take note of areas of growth or buildup and edit planting overgrowth in those areas that could contribute to shade or still water on walkways.
  • Schedule your DELUXE FLAT SURFACE CLEANING now. Let GRIME FIGHTERS leave you with peace of mind, knowing that you have taken appropriate action to keep your property safe, and remove the hidden danger of Autumn.

home exterior before and after pressure washing