Slow and steady

April 26, 2018maiker Leave a comment

Easily the most common mistake made by novice sweepers is thinking that moving faster is equal to effective sweeping. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that you will be more efficient and therein more effective when you sweep at the recommended sweeping speed and when necessary slower. Doing so allows the machine to work it’s magic and reduces the number of re-passes that have to be made. Becoming proficient at these practices allows a sweeper to cover more ground and finish in a timely manner.

When it comes to our sweeping practices , slow and steady means we deliver optimal results while meeting project deadline requirements in the safest manner.

Permeable Paving

May 16, 2016cmwattsweeping 1 Comment

It is estimated that the United States has approximately 61,000 square miles of paved roads and parking lots. With such an astounding number of paved areas, it only makes sense that there is going to be a substantial impact made on the environment by these areas. It also makes sense that with such a great amount of our nation’s surface area devoted to paving, that we work diligently to find and implement more sustainable and less negatively impactful techniques and materials to use for paving. One such thing that is being used more and more is permeable paving, sometimes also called permeable pavers. Permeable paving, in short, is the use of specialized techniques or materials that allow for on-site filtration of stormwater through the surface of paved areas. Permeable paving allows for large particulate debris, sediment and heavy metals to be trapped on the surface or in the substrata layers of the paving materials, leaving a the filtered water to flow through the soil and subsequent layers below the pavement and to replenish our groundwater supply. The groundwater supply level is essential to our drinking water supply, as well as to impede further stream erosion and to also help replenish our surface water levels–the level of the streams, creeks, lakes, rivers, and oceans. The benefits of permeable paving over traditional, non-permeable paving are qualitatively greater. In urban areas the use of permeable paving has even shown an increase in tree coverage due to the fact that the substructure of permeable paving allows for tree roots to have enough room to grow to their full size.

With the benefits to the environment being so profound with the use of permeable paving, it has become more and more the go-to method for many local governments and business owners to use in new paving projects, as well as in the reconstruction and replacement of existing paved areas. While the benefits of permeable paving are exponentially better than other paving methods for a great deal of projects, the key to maintaining the benefits is to make certain that proper care and maintenance is given to your permeable paving. We at Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. have made it a priority to stay up-to-date on new and innovative paving methods and how to properly clean and maintain them. Watt Commercial makes certain that we effectively and properly clean permeable pavement so that its functionality, as well as its aesthetic appearance and overall integrity are maintained. Teamed with our experience and commitment to customer satisfaction and customer service, Watt Commercial uses our constantly growing knowledge to help business owners, municipalities, cites, towns and counties respect our environment with the best and most proper ways to care for your paved parking lots, decks, roads and paths. Please call us today for more information and for an on-site personalized inspection and consultation. With Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. you can rest assured that your paved areas are in the most experienced hands in the commercial sweeping industry–no matter what materials you have in place.

What’s In Your Budget?

November 11, 2015December 11, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

Autumn leaves are a beautiful and picturesque sight. However, they can pose a dangerous and often unforeseen risk. Not often do we look at beautiful fall foliage and think of dangerous slip and fall accidents, but as a responsible business owner, it becomes essential to consider all potential risks to our patrons and employees. Slippery fall leaves are one of those risks to you, your business, employees and patrons. Autumn leaves, especially those left for long time periods on your property, accumulating in your parking areas, become soaked in the drenching autumn rains. The rain causes the unmoved, unkempt leaves to become extremely wet, heavy and slippery. Wet, slippery leaves on the ground pose as much of a dangerous hazard as ice on the ground does. Leaves that are in your business’s parking lots and parking areas are often carried inside your business by foot traffic in and out of your business, where the fall risk is now not only outside, but inside your business as well. Business owners and property owners are responsible for keeping patrons and employees safe and protected from injury and accidents–including those which can be caused by fallen leaves in an unkept parking lot or those that have been tracked into the entry way, or other areas of your establishment. The CDC has found that one out of every five falls causes a serious injury, including broken bones or even head injuries. Businesses are already susceptible to slip and fall litigation and need to insure they take extra preventative initiatives to not end up entangled in a costly litigation situation.

Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. is an experience, professional sweeping company that can help your business develop a sweeping maintenance plan to fit your specific needs. When thinking about your budget and your bottom line, a regular sweeping maintenance plan is NOT an item you can afford to cut from the budget. Proper parking area sweeping helps to not only keep your property aesthetically pleasing, which can lead to more patrons, and therefore more business and possibly more money for your business, but a regular sweeping program helps to protect your business from costly litigation costs and possible settlement payouts and increased insurance premiums as well.

Call Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. today in order for us to come out and give you an on site assessment and estimate. You cannot afford to take any chances with your business. Let us help protect you today!

Stand Out and Shine in the Dreary Seasons

November 5, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

Autumn can be one of the most beautiful times of the year. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful, lustrous hues of bright and fiery tones and the weather begins to turn crisp and fresh. However, this turning of the season is only a temporary one, unfortunately. Shortly after the beautiful turning of the leaves and the fresh crisp of the air, the leaves fall to the ground leaving the trees grim and bare and the crip and fresh air becomes cold and bitter as fall all too quickly becomes winter. As the early beauty of autumn quickly dims to rainy days and grey, dreary and foggy days that become the bleak end of fall and depressing days of winter, it is the most important time of the year to insure that your business and parking structures and parking lots are looking their absolute best! Having a pristine, well-kept and freshly seal coated asphalt service at your business locations will make sure that your patrons notice that you care about the service you provide to them year-round. It will also help you gain new patrons by helping you stand out from the crowd in the sea of grey and dismal by literally popping out and catching the eye of new business prospects. By having your facilities updated during this time of year and by keeping up with, or implementing a regular sweeping maintenance plan now, you will make certain your business doesn’t get lost in the piles of leaves and murk of the depressing cast of grey that falls over the cities during this time of year. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. and our sister company, Atlanta Sealcoating, Inc. can help you put into action a plan right now either a professional sweeping maintenance program, or a professional sealcoating and restriping project for your parking area–or both! Both of our companies are here to serve you and your needs 365 days a year 24/7. Whether you need us for scheduled routine maintenance, on-call work, or a special project such as having your asphalt area crack filled and sealcoated to maintain its integrity and prolong its longevity and help it stand out among the crowd of dilapidated and dirty lots around it, Watt Commercial and Atlanta Sealcoating has you covered 100% of the time for all of your need all year long! Call us today to get more information for exactly what we can do to help you stand out from your competitors and set up an appointment for an on site assessment with one of our highly trained pros today!

Size Matters

October 8, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

In the days of years gone by, when someone would say that size matters in referring to the size of a city, township, or municipality and their need for a professional and routine street sweeping service, one would quickly think that regular professional street sweeping services were exclusively for large or major cities. One would easily think that only big cities would need professional street sweeping services on a regular basis, and that the bigger cities would be the only cities that would be able to afford the professional services of a street sweeping service provider, such as Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. However, in today’s professional sweeping market and with the way that all sizes of cities, towns, and municipalities face demanding and extremely restrictive tight environmental restrictions enforced by the Federal Government, the issue now is that no governance, no matter how big, nor how little, can truly afford to NOT have a regular profession sweeping action plan in place. Especially this time of year, a sweeping maintenance plan for all cities, towns and municipalities truly is essential. Leaves that fall during the Autumn months truly are a constant threat to any city or town’s storm drainage and run-off system and can easily clog sewer drains and rain and storm run-off drainage areas, which threaten local drinking water sources and therefore threaten the local environment and can easily cost the local government quite a lot of money in fines from the EPA and other Federal agencies. In a lot of ways, bigger cities may actually be able to afford these fines and penalties they may face by NOT having regularly scheduled sweeping maintenance because they work with larger budgets and larger emergency and discretionary budgets, whereas smaller townships and municipalities have much smaller and much more limited budgets. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. has worked with cities and municipalities of all sizes for many years. We can easily help put into place a professional sweeping maintenance plan that is well-suited for your city or town that will help keep your area looking its best, and most importantly, keep your town operating its best. Having a clean and environmentally friendly town is the most important and responsible act that any city can do these days and Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. can help you be responsible, save on costly environmental fines, look your very best, and stay within your budget for the year. Call us today for more information on how we can help you with all of these things and more, or for an on-site assessment today! Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. is the premiere choice in the Atlanta area for all cities and municipalities for all of their professional sweeping needs–regularly scheduled maintenance, special events clean-up and even emergency or unscheduled on-call needs. No matter how big or small your city or town may be, Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. covers it all!

Are Fall Leaves Wreaking Havoc on Your Parade…Festival or Town Celebration?

October 1, 2015October 4, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

There’s no doubt that Autumn in Georgia is hands-down one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. It is also one of the busiest times of the year for most cities, towns, and municipalities. The Fall weather is cool, crisp and fresh–making it perfect for a myriad of outdoor activities and events. Be it an arts and crafts fair, a chili cook-off, or a county fair, there are plenty of great things going on all around our great state for people of all ages right now! As we all know, any good party or event is sure to leave in its wake a bit of a mess that needs to be cleaned up after all of the fun has ended. That is where we enter the picture. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. has the proper equipment, experience and crew to take on cleaning up after any city, town or county event. We have a 24 hour round-the-clock schedule that we easily adjust and fit to suit your needs, making it easy for us to come in when your has concluded and get your streets professionally swept clean and have them ready before the citizens of your city hit the streets to resume life as usual–with no signs on the roads of any debris or litter left behind from your city’s parade, craft show, food festival, or other event you may have hosted during one of our fabulous fall weekends! If your town is hosting an event this Fall, or any other time of year, don’t stress the mess! Call Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. and know that your city streets will be swept clean and pristine by experts with extensive experience with cities, towns, municipalities and counties of all sizes throughout the state of Georgia. Give us a call today for your free on-site assessment and estimate!

Can your Business Afford to NOT have Watt Commercial Sweeping?

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

As the budgets for businesses seem to get tighter and tighter, there are areas where it seems they can “trim the fat” and save a few dollars. Often, since the expense is often seen as “cosmetic” or “aesthetically beneficial only”, businesses and property management companies are cutting routine parking lot sweeping programs from their budgets in order to save a few bucks. Literally, what can a few bucks worth of “savings” end up costing you? Well, here are some figures from some Georgia cases against businesses and property management companies from lawsuit settlements in recent years: $200,000 for a broken ankle; $840,000 for a parking lot injury; $340,000 for a twisted ankle; $200,000 for a parking lot fall in an apartment complex parking lot while visiting a friend; $90,000 for parking lot slip and fall on wet debris. In each of the cases mentioned, it was found that the injuries each person experienced were owed due to the fact that in Georgia, not only are businesses responsible for Personal Injury Liability injuries that may occur inside a facility when a patron may fall due to an unmarked hazard or from a falling product from the shelf of the merchant, but Georgia also has Premises Liability Laws, which leaves any property or business owner responsible for injuries that may occur before someone ever even enters your property or business. Keeping the premises of your property or business is crucial to protect yourself from these costly claims that could be prevented from simply insuring a clean and debris free parking area for patrons by keeping or developing a routine sweeping maintenance program with Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. today. When determining where you can “trim the fat” in your budget, parking lot sweeping may seem as an expense that can be eliminated for being simply “cosmetic”, when in fact, Georgia Premises Liability Laws are found to often be easier for the injured party to recover monetary damage settlements and verdicts for than even Personal Injury Liability cases. Don’t be fooled! Yes, Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. will leave your property or business parking areas looking clean, safe and aesthetically pleasing to your patrons, but the services we provide go far beyond simply making your property look “pretty”. Our services help to protect patrons from injuries that they may get BEFORE they ever even enter any building or business that is located on your property! If you find yourself asking where you can cut costs in your budget, trust us, sweeping services provided by Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. is NOT an expense to cut. When you’re looking at only a few dollars per day or per month over the course of a year compared to TENS or HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars awarded each year in Premises Liability Cases, as a property or business owner, it simply is NOT a risk or gamble worth taking! Never cut out the professional services of Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. Our years of experience will not only keep your property looking sparkly clean, but will also reduce your liability and responsibility in cases that could arise from injuries occurring on your premises. Another benefit to using Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. for your property or parking area maintenance provider is that we have a sister company, Atlanta Sealcoating, that can easily fix any cracks, bumps, or even improperly or unpainted hazards in your asphalt on your property or at your business location. Something as simple as not having your speed bumps or handicap accessible ramp areas painted properly can leave you at risk of liability cases that could result in the same costly cases mentioned above, as parking lots conditions, as well as parking lot areas being properly marked and painted also fall under the Premises Liability Laws of Georgia. So, what are you waiting for? If you still have not set up a regular or even on-call sweeping program with Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. you should give us a call today to arrange to have an onsite, professional assessment of your property of business!

Sweeping is Essential during Construction and Development Phases–Protect your Investment from the Beginning!

March 23, 2015March 23, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

It might seem that working a regularly schedule professional sweeping program into your business isn’t needed until your business is finally opened and in operation, but that’s not the truth. During the construction and development phases of any business type, regular professional sweeping services are definitely beneficial to your timeline, bottomline and your budget. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. has the experience to ensure that your business is properly swept during your development, construction and operational phases.

Why do you need to have your construction site swept? It may seem silly to you that a site that is in the midst of construction would need to be swept regularly because it’s just going to get dirty again as construction continues, right? Well, it is because it will keep getting dirty that regular professional sweeping is actually beneficial during the construction phase of your business or development. Jobsite safety and environmental regulation compliance are directly related to your site’s cleanliness. Regular sweeping will help to reduce liability from loose rocks and debris from your site littering the streets and also help to control dust problems that can create poor road and environmental conditions. Today’s competitive business climate means tighter construction schedules and tighter budgets that cannot afford to be exceeded. Time and money spent on cleanup during your construction phase will directly affect the performance of your crews, aiding their ability to be able to do their jobs most effectively, and regular construction sweeping done by Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. can help you to stay on schedule and to also avoid any possible fines that could arise from dust polluting the air and any dust and construction debris causing dangers to drinking water sources by way of run-off.

Waiting until the last phase of your construction has several drawbacks. It will cost you more in labor hours and time to have your crew prepare an overly dusty and dirty construction site in order for it to be swept. The accumulation of weeks or months of construction debris will have to be removed slowly and over a longer amount of time in order to properly prepare your development for opening day without causing dangerous airborne pollution from stirring up the acclimated dust from your site. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. has the experience and equipment necessary to keep your construction site well-maintained from the beginning phases right up until opening day. We will help you maintain your budget and your timeline all while reducing the liability of on-site related injuries and costly environmental fines.

Don’t wait until your business is open and operational to begin a professional sweeping program. Call Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. today so that we can help your business from the construction phase all the way through opening day and beyond!

Below inches of compacted dust lies the asphalt you spent so much of your time and budget having laid.

Inches of compacted dust cover the asphalt you spent so much of your time and budget having laid.

When your construction site is not regularly swept, dangerous, harmful, dusty, dirty water run-off puts you at risk of costly fines and the drinking water of the community around your business at risk of contamination.

Keeping your construction site clean and professional swept on a regular basis leads to cleaner water run-off, less negative impact on the environment and the surrounding community and also keeps the chances of on-site injuries lower.

Don’t wait until your construction is finished to implement regular professional sweeping services. Regular sweeping done by Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. throughout your site’s construction can help you in a number of positive ways! Call us today to get started on your construction sweeping plan today!

You Can’t Just Sweep It Under the Rug!

March 19, 2015cmwattsweeping Leave a comment

Spring is a time of renewal; a time of growth. Spring cleaning gives your business the renewal and new growth that it needs. One of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to give your business a “face lift” for spring is to ensure your parking lots and parking structures are cleaned by a professional, experienced and reliable sweeping company such as Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. The Spring months are also the best time to have your parking lot assessed and inspected for any needed asphalt repairs, potholes that need patched, cracks that need to be filled, and an application of fresh sealcoating to your asphalt surfaces. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. can take care of all of those needs for your business. Our sister company, Atlanta Sealcoating can easily come evaluate your property and give you the best advice on how to keep your parking areas in their best condition. Repairing your asphalt is by far less expensive than replacing your asphalt and Atlanta Sealcoating can help you extend the life of your current lots by making all necessary repairs and then finish off your lot by making it look brand new with new sealcoating. After sealcoating, Atlanta Sealcoating can also re-stripe your parking lot, ensuring that each space is clearly marked and that each space meets the legally set standards for size and type of spaces. After your parking lot has received its fresh face, Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. will gladly help you develop a professional sweeping schedule for your property that will fit both your needs and your budget, not just for the spring, but year-round. Call us today for your business to lavish in its own renewal and growth of the new Spring season!

Crack Filling, Sealcoating, & Re-Striping. Oh My!

March 4, 2015March 5, 2015cmwattsweeping 1 Comment

It is true that any parking lot and parking structure should have an active professional sweeping service and scheduled sweeps in order to keep their pristine appearance, however, asphalt and parking lot maintenance has another aspect to it as well. Watt Commercial Sweeping, Inc. works hand in hand with our sister company Atlanta Sealcoating to ensure that all of your lot needs are met.

As we have talked about before, being proactive, rather than reactive is the best rule when it comes to maintaining your parking lot and parking structures. Routine cleaning and sweeping services help you do just that, but there are going to be other issues that will arise, such as cracks, potholes and asphalt areas that need patched and repaired. Don’t worry, we have you covered here too!

Crack Filling

Over time, your asphalt shifts and the pressure and friction of cars on the surface will lead to various types of cracks that not only look bad, but can potentially cause extreme damage to the underlayment and foundation of your asphalt. Crack filling is essential for long term protection of your parking lot surfaces, as well as your customers. In order for crack filling to be its most beneficial, it is best done at the proper weather conditions, which are typically warmer and drier times of the year. As spring is approaching, it is the perfect time to get an assessment on the cracks your property is experiencing in order to schedule a time for them to be properly crack filled to prevent any further damage to your property.

Sealcoating

After you’ve had the cracks on your lot filled, you will more than likely want to follow up with a proper sealcoating application. Not only will sealcoating your lot blend in the areas you had crack filled, but it will also help to restore your asphalt surface to its proper condition. Sealcoating gives your asphalt surfaces a fresh, clean and uniform appearance. It also helps protect against harmful effects of heat, water, ice, cold, oils, and gas. Sealcoating your lot after you’ve made repairs, such as crack filling, will help to extend the life of your parking lot surface. Sealcoating will also save you a huge amount of money. After the price of asphalt doubled in 2008, it skyrocketed in 2014! Sealcoating helps you to not have to pay for new asphalt. The cost of sealcoating your property is far less than having to replace the asphalt by far. Sealcoating will also give your lot a like-new look and be much more welcoming and inviting for your customers and clients, ensuring your business doesn’t suffer because of the disrepair of your parking lot.

Re-Striping

After you’ve had your lot repaired and sealcoated, you will need to have it re-striped. Sometimes re-striping is actually needed without having repairs or sealcoating, just because over time the paint fades and the lot is no longer up to standards and clearly marked. Having a clearly lined and marked parking lot can help reduce accidents on your property and again makes your lot look like new and is more welcoming to customers. More than curb appeal and straight parking space lines, re-striping also serves a very important role in making sure that your property is up to code and meets all legal measurements and requirements for parking lots and structures. Each space has a legally defined length or width requirement and the American’s with Disabilities Act laws specify how many specially marked handicap spaces your particular lot requires. Atlanta Sealcoating is well aware of all federal, state and local requirements for parking lot spaces and with our keen attention to detail, you can be assured that your lot will be re-striped to the highest standards.