Janitorial Cleaning Services At The Okanagan Correctional Centre

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Evergreen Building Maintenance was recently awarded the honour of working with the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC), the largest correctional facility in British Columbia, located north of Oliver on the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve. This is an expansive contract, as the facility spans 300,000 square feet across 14.5 hectares (36 acres).

The 378-cell facility is a $200 million project that is part of BC Corrections’ second-phase of their capital expansion plan. When it’s completed, it will hold double its original capacity in B.C.’s interior. It also requires a deep trust of Evergreen’s trained and educated employees, as it’s a high-risk, high-security area that requires enhanced security clearance for all staff on the grounds.

Project Goals

The goal of the project is to enhance public safety for communities, correctional staff and inmates within the province and to stimulate the economy in the area. It will create up to 1000 new permanent and contractual construction jobs along with 240 full-time correctional job positions for both experienced workers and new recruits. Other contracted staff will include on-site nurses, doctors, dentists, counsellors, food service workers and trades personnel.

Environmental accreditation

The OCC developmental project has been applauded for its environmental efforts and has obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification. The project is also using wood in accordance with the B.C. Building Code, to adhere to the First Wood Act set out by the Government and to maximize energy efficiency.

Evergreen’s Milestone

As a company, we feel we’ve hit a milestone since we’re working on not only a large project, but also one that directly reflects our environmental values. At Evergreen, we continually strive to use eco-friendly measures in our cleaning from using fragrance and scent-free products that are free of toxic chemicals like VOCs, to implementing products that are GREEN SEAL or ECOLOGO certified.

Other green practices we use include:

  • Zinc-free floor finishing procedures
  • Conducting interior building air quality reports
  • Using paperless billing systems
  • Using non-fuel powered equipment
  • Creating customized disposal and recycling programs
  • Hiring employees trained in green cleaning practices
  • Low impact solutions to remove graffiti
  • Lotus Pro High Capacity Wall Units

Evergreen began in the Okanagan Area over 30 years ago and has expanded to several regions across Canada. Interested in learning more about our work? Get in touch with us if you company or facility is in need of quality commercial cleaning services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Department Store Cleaning

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Professional department store cleaning can make a real difference to your business.
When a customer walks into a department store to look for a specific item or just browse, they are inevitably affected by the environment within the store. If your store is neat, tidy and well organized, this will have a positive influence on the customer and their buying ability. However, if your store is the opposite – dirty, cluttered and unorganized, this is considered a ‘retail turn off’ in marketing circles.

What turns off customers the most?

A recent Harris Poll surveyed U.S customers citing that their biggest turn offs were the following:

  • 78% of people said “general bad odour”
  • 66% said dirty restrooms
  • 60% entryway cleanliness (overflowing trash cans, unkempt and filthy)
  • 56% dressing room conditions (lighting issues, dirty floors and mirrors, and broken locks)

In addition to this data, the study found that those who are 65 and older are least likely to return to a store that does not support people with mobility issues.

Why Professional Retail Cleaning is Important

Department stores can range from two or more floors of sectioned off areas that include fitting rooms, washrooms, cash registers, counters and storage rooms. They are designed for a customer to spend time in, sometimes include additional restaurants or cafes and see many people in a day. It’s for these reasons that cleaning initiatives are a crucial aspect of keeping things running smoothly.

A professional department store cleaning service will make a detailed plan of action on what to clean, at what frequency it needs cleaning – as some areas need more attention than others – and will solidify a cleaning method for your business. Once this is established, things will get done like clockwork and become a natural part of a successful store protocol.

First impressions are very important in the retail world and are a huge part of the customer’s loyalty to your store.  Effective retail cleaning is one of a few ways you can show your customers that you care about offering quality products, services and a positive customer experience.

Why Fall Janitorial Cleaning Is As Important As Spring Cleaning

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Spring cleaning is the best way to prepare your business for the summer season and get rid of all the dirt and environmental debris that can build up during the winter. However, the cleanup that is required at the end of the summer season is as crucial as spring cleaning but often neglected. Here are just a few of the reasons why fall cleaning is as important as spring cleaning.

Get Rid of Summertime Dirt and Pollutants

Many commercial spaces such as recreation centres, restaurants, bars and shopping centres have outdoor facilities that are only open during the summer. Dirt, dust, pollen and other environmental debris can be tracked indoors from these outdoor spaces. If left uncleaned, this summertime debris can collect and accumulate inside your business during the colder months. Once you’ve closed down any patios, outdoor vendors or sports facilities for the season, it’s important to give your indoor spaces a thorough cleaning for the winter. This includes washing all windows, walls, carpeting and furniture.

Prepare Your Business for Winter

It’s important to make your indoor space as clean and comfortable as possible before winter begins, since you’ll be spending more time inside once the snow start to fall. Not only will a fall cleaning make your business a more pleasant space to work, it will also help to attract more customers. If your business uses summer accessories such as patio furniture or sports equipment, you’ll need to find practical storage solutions to house those items during winter. A fall cleanup can help prepare your business for a productive and successful winter.

Fall cleaning is important for any commercial space but it can often be difficult to find the time for such a detailed project. That’s why Evergreen Building Maintenance offers the most comprehensive commercial cleaning services in Western Canada. Our friendly and professional staff has the experience and tools necessary to give your business the kind of deep clean that it needs before winter. Contact us at Evergreen Building Maintenance for more information about our commercial cleaning services and green clean initiatives.

The Importance of Upholstery Cleaning in the Modern Office

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Many modern offices have put away traditional ideas of desks and work stations as a creative solution to foster collaborative work between colleagues within a workplace community. Since many people now work off their mobile devices and laptops, modern companies want to create a more comfortable environment for their workers as an alternative to working-from-home or free-lance.

Because of this trend, modern offices can now include more couches, banquettes, chairs, rugs, window covers and lounge areas and sometimes even decorations that really need to be cleaned and sanitized regularly. That’s where we come in!

Upholstery cleaning is absolutely essential to remove dust, debris and keep allergens in check. With the modern office being such a dynamic environment with people visiting frequently, in order to keep the office clean and sanitized, it’s best to hire a professional cleaning service that can focus on delivering reliable upholstery cleaning services.

Here are some additional reasons for upholstery cleaning:

  • Dust particles can slowly break down upholstery fibers over time that can wear at your furniture. In some cases, food and debris can be harder to see on furniture like couches (think of someone eating food while lounging on the couch!) With a regular cleaning, it’s possible to extend the life of the fabric of your couch by reducing the build-up of dust and debris in advance.
  • Revitalize the look of your furniture – is your furniture getting a little old, or are you saving money by using pre-owned office furniture? Save on the cost of a new couch and hire a professional cleaning service to give your furniture the boost it needs.
  • Make a good impression to your clients and employees – make a good impression by keeping your office clean so your clients can focus on your good work.
  • Fabric is a breeding ground for allergens. Hiring a professional cleaning service will ensure that allergens do not make a home in your office furniture!

For more information on our services, check out testimonials given by some Canadian businesses that have used Evergreen Building Maintenance’s dedicated commercial cleaning services and fill out the form to request our services today!

 

 

Minimizing Allergens in the Workplace

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At Evergreen Building and Maintenance is concerned with the health of our clients and customers. The Spring and Summer season is the time for allergies that can be triggered by pollen and ragweed outdoors. Allergic rhinitis, the condition describing a variety of uncomfortable symptoms affecting the nose, is common among allergy sufferers, but allergens can also affect the lungs, throat, sinuses, ears and eyes.

A survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson also suggested that as many as 10 million Canadians suffer from allergy symptoms and that 55 percent of Canadians claim that their allergies cut into their work productivity.

The immune system identifies and reacts to different allergens. When an allergen enters the body of someone who is predisposed to allergies, it triggers an immune reaction which results in the familiar symptoms allergy sufferers know all too well. Improving the upkeep of your office is crucial in reducing and maintaining indoor allergens and ensuring the wellbeing of everyone in the workplace environment.

The Evergreen Building Maintenance team can help you with…

  • Eliminating dust mites and other indoor allergens
  • Cleaning mold or mildew on concrete flooring or walls
  • Cleaning carpeting to prevent moisture seepage
  • Improving the air quality by assessing ventilation (we conduct air quality reports)
  • Window cleaning –to remove dust and debris build up

While a deep clean is integral to reducing allergens in the workplace, certain cleaning products actually emit chemicals such as VOCs that contain allergens that many people react to severely. With this in mind, we do not use VOCs to ensure that we’re doing our best to meet your health and safety needs.

According to The Lung Association, a study found that 72 percent of people in Canada with asthma had adverse reactions to chemicals found in fragrances (Canada Safety Council). Our products are specifically fragrance and scent free to avoid any kind of contact allergy situation.

At Evergreen, we make every effort to reduce airborne concentrations of allergens. With proper training in healthy and safety, we implement strong training programs to keep our employees up-to-date with the latest protocol.

Fill out our service request form today!

Summer Cleaning at Schools and Universities

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Summer cleaning is a great opportunity to do a thorough cleaning throughout the campus at schools, universities and colleges.  Students are away and the cleaning crew can get unhindered access to all areas.

At Evergreen Building Maintenance, we pride ourselves on providing cleaning services to a variety of sectors including health, commercial offices, airports, government offices, retail, financial, real estate and education.

At this time in the season, the school year has wrapped up for all levels of schooling – including universities. With primary and secondary students gone for the summer and fewer people on college campuses, this is the ideal time to call in a cleaning service for a deep clean of your educational facility.

Here are a few of the things we can do to ensure the summer months of cleaning go smoothly.

Prepare a written plan

School maintenance requires adequate planning and strategies. By executing a well-defined plan that consults with the floor-plan of the school, we will create a guide for our cleaning efforts to ensure that by the time the school bell rings in September, all areas that need attention have been covered.

We will make a detailed list of all areas such as:

  • Classrooms
  • Lounges and common areas (including furniture)
  • Cafeterias
  • Kitchens
  • Gyms and Showers
  • Lockers
  • Janitorial closets (to make sure everything is up to date)
  • Windows, walls, doors
  • Hardwood flooring and carpeted areas
  • Stairs and Hallways
  • HVAC
  • Washrooms
  • Lighting
  • Outdoor areas
  • Playgrounds

…and so on. We understand the needs of each school are different and take the time to make a customized plan.

We Keep Health Interests in Mind

Infection control is an issue in educational facilities considering that hundreds of people set foot into a school day in and day out from a school’s students to its administrators. It’s extremely important to make infection control a priority throughout the school year – and the summer months are no exception.

At Evergreen Building Maintenance, we will pay particular attention to cleaning:

  • Entrances
  • Doors (knobs, handles, push plates)
  • Railings
  • Light switches
  • Desk and counter surfaces
  • Elevator surfaces
  • Faucets and sinks
  • Telephones
  • Equipment

…and anything else you specifically request!

Finally, our goal is to protect the health of students and school workers. As part of our green initiative, we are dedicated to using products and materials that are non-toxic, VOC-free and environmentally safe. As we have said before, we are green in name – and it practice!

Contact us today and let’s get started.

 

 

 

The Importance of Tile and Grout Cleaning

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Grout is the cement that fills the gaps between your ceramic tiles. It is quite often found in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways of commercial properties. Grout is an important part of flooring as not only does it keep tiles in place, it also seals the flooring to avoid leakage. It is also notoriously difficulty to clean, yet having clean grout and tiles is crucial in maintaining a welcoming and healthy environment in all commercial spaces.

With that being said, here are some reasons why it is important to hire a professional commercial cleaning service to take care of your grout and tiles.

Grout is Porous and Very Difficult to Clean

Grout readily accumulates dirt, is easily stained, and can hold moisture. This means when grout gets dirty, it stays dirty no matter how many times you mop and clean your tiles. In fact, often enough, if the grout is not cleaned specifically, the residue that builds up will just redistribute itself all over your flooring.

Professional cleaning tools and solutions are used to break through these sticky and stubborn residues. If you use regular cleaning products on grout, you’ll just be adding to the cycle of residue build up and attract even more grime.

It Takes Time

Remember, grout fills all the individual cracks between each tile. Manually cleaning them would be a tedious and time consuming endeavor that could also be pretty hard on your back.

It is definitely worth investing into a service that uses industrial grade steamers and cleaners. For many businesses that take the cleanliness of their facilities seriously, that is the only way to go when it comes to professionally clean tiles and grout.

You’ll Pick Up Tips

When it comes to your grout and tile, aftercare is just as important as having a professional service come in to take care of cleaning in the first place. The commercial cleaning experts at Evergreen Building Maintenance can give you advice and let you in on the best measures to keep your floors looking pristine for your clientele between cleanings.

Professional tile and grout cleaning on a regular basis not only makes your business look great, it could save the need to retile the premises in the future. In the long run, it can prove to be a cost-effective measure that will keep your property looking its best at all times.

Have any questions? Visit our website to learn more about our services.

 

 

 

Meet the Operations Manager of our Okanagan Commercial Cleaning Division

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Ranjit Takhar began working at Evergreen Building Maintenance while studying at the University of British Columbia. While attending post secondary, he learned the basics of the business and helped out with complicated paperwork and proposals for maintenance contracts.

Little did he know that at the young age of 24, after completing his Management Degree at UBC Okanagan, he would be successfully running the day-to-day operations for the Okanagan Division of the company.

Recently, he was featured in the second edition of Kelowna’s Top Forty Under 40 program presented by BDO Accountants and Consultants, Kelowna’s Jaycees, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the Daily Courier newspaper.

The article in the Daily Courier highlights Ranjit’s passion for entrepreneurial work that overpowered his initial disinterest in taking over so much responsibility. His love for finding new and creative ways to promote the business has increased opportunities for Evergreen’s expansion.

As of 2016, Evergreen has contracts for 150 buildings utilizing 78 employees to complete building maintenance services throughout the B.C. and Alberta. Kelowna was where it all started, with Evergreen taking care of several commercial buildings, libraries, office towers, municipal buildings, retail stores, etc.

However, Takhar believes that the company can adapt to larger operations.

“…there’s opportunity to expand more into Vancouver and Alberta and even Saskatchewan to get more airport, university, retail chain stores, banks and arenas contracts” said Takhar.

Perhaps the success of Evergreen came from successfully executing the strong company philosophy to address performance related concerns within the same business day.

Evergreen is proud of being fully owned and operated. No services are franchised, and there is an emphasis on having regional managers and working supervisors who are always ready to attend to needs of the clients.

Takhar’s hard work in school has continually paid off and he enjoys having the opportunity to use his professionalism and efficiency towards putting forth good business practices towards the range of services offered at Evergreen Building Maintenance.

 

Retail Cleaning and Maintenance

Retail Cleaning Services

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Retail Cleaning Services You Can Count On

So you just opened a brand new retail store and you’ve stocked your shelves with brand new inventory. You’re excited and opening day is coming up fast, and you have so much to do before you open your store.

You decide to take a break in the back room and realize it is a complete mess. The previous occupants left garbage, the floors are stained, and you take a moment to look your store up and down and decide that it could really benefit from a deep clean. With everything you need to take care of to open a business – not to mention keep it running smoothly – the last thing you want to worry about is the cleaning and maintenance of the premises.

First impressions mean everything in the retail world, both to your new employees and for building and maintaining your flourishing customer base.

At Evergreen Building Maintenance, we know that having a pristinely clean store is one key component that will help encourage customers to come back to your business time and time again. But we also know that’s only the beginning.

If you find yourself in this situation or something similar, do not fret: we have on-call retail cleaning services 7 days a week for all your needs as a retail store owner. We have got you covered with professional commercial cleaning services backed by years of experience and know-how.

As business owners ourselves, we understand your needs and the importance to cater to clients with detail-oriented service. A positive customer experience is what we seek to provide – both with our company and with your own.

Our team features a wide range of skills, techniques and equipment that is uniquely tailored to retail cleaning projects. Some of our service features include:

  • Daily and weekly commercial cleaning services
  • Taking the time to work with the highest respect for health and safety
  • Floor stripping, waxing and burnishing programs
  • Seasonal sickness and pandemic prevention programs to keep you and your employees healthy
  • Hot and cold water power-washing services
  • Parking lot litter removal and sweeping – because the outside of your store counts just as much as the inside!
  • Snow removal, application of ice melter or salt
  • Ceiling, horizontal surface and vent dusting
  • High-rise window washing, including lift operation
  • 24/7-365-day service, including an emergency contact line

Furthermore, we always like to make sure our clients know that we are committed to green cleaning practices: we only use ECOLOGO and GREEN SEAL products. We are truly dedicated to making your store shine while being respectful of the environment – and your business.

For more information on what the Evergreen Building Maintenance team can do for you, check out our testimonials and request a quote today. If you’re looking for a reliable and dedicated team of commercial cleaning professionals, trust Evergreen Building Maintenance with your business.

Maintaining B.C. Liquor Stores

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The British Columbia Liquor Board is an establishment that stretches all across our beautiful province.  The Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is a part of everyday life for BC residents, whether you need supplies for a party, for cooking, or for relaxing at the end of a long week. As they are an integral part of life, we are proud to say that the B.C. Liquor Stores are one of our many satisfied clients.

About British Columbia Liquor Stores

In addition to being licensed by the government to distribute and retail alcohol all across British Columbia, the LBD brings in a healthy source of revenue to the province – namely 935 million dollars’ worth of net income on BC Liquor Store retail sales of $1.2 billion. The LDB operates a province-wide, retail/wholesale beverage alcohol business, within a mixed public – private model. This means that in addition to being their own private business, they have a connection with the provincial government and contribute to how much the province earns, which in turn is given back to the taxpayers in many different ways.

The LDB also employs approximately 3,600 full- time and part-time employees and operates 196 BC Liquor Stores across the province. Its Head Office facility is in Vancouver, and its network includes 2 wholesale customer centres, 2 distribution centres in Vancouver and Kamloops and various small offices. They are a huge part of the financial life of our province and we are proud to be their supplier.

What We Do for the LDB

Evergreen Building Maintenance has recently been awarded maintenance contracts for several of the BC Liquor Stores in the interior of the province, as well as Southern British Columbia. That means we have the honour and the responsibility of maintaining multiple retail locations for the BC Liquor Board, which is no small feat. Consistent and reliable work is crucial to such a widespread and reputable business like the British Columbia Liquor Board because they need to maintain the highest level of professionalism, cleanliness, and organization in their buildings in order to operate successfully.

Providing maintenance services for multiple LDB buildings adds to our already extensive experience in handling projects of this magnitude. We are very comfortable and confident with clients that feature multiple storefronts and locations that require regular maintenance. Contact us today to see what Evergreen Building Maintenance can do for you.