SUMMER MAINTENANCE
STAYING OUT FOR SUMMER Outco details the essential activities to plan for outdoor FM success during the warmer months.
Getting a grip of the particular demands of each season is the key to optimising the work of grounds maintenance and outdoor FM teams. During the summer, much of the focus invariably is on grounds care, when the demands of lawn care and turf management increase, shrubs encroach overs pathways and both blooms and weeds alike flourish. However, these drier months are also the ideal time to proactively identify and troubleshoot issues and anticipate the seasons ahead. Less rainfall and increased daylight hours also make this the best time to schedule site inspections and carry out essential maintenance and repairs.
Ahead of this busy period it’s important to work with your staff and contractors to prepare an outline programme of works, a schedule for the season ahead and agree overall objectives and set KPIs. Each estate presents its own unique set of priorities, but in this article, we’ll look at some of the main areas to consider.
Inspections and troubleshooting - from drainage to surfacing, line marking and
pothole repairs Although the British summer doesn’t guarantee dry conditions, this relatively dry period is ideal to maintain sites’ drainage systems, address flooding issues and to inspect and maintain car parks to catch issues before the onset of heavier rains and colder weather.
24 | TOMORROW’S FM
The summer months can bring multiple issues for drain channels, from the temperatures causing issues within the piping, or root damage caused by summer growth, right through to debris in pipes causing blockages or even damage and cracking. Hot, arid weather can also dry up drains which can produce more odours, which in turn can be a nuisance to site users and increase the need for reactive investigations and repairs. Summer is therefore the best time to proactively schedule drain surveys to diagnose any issues, identify any hidden problems and give you the insight needed to better manage maintenance costs.
Addressing drainage issues early can also help to prevent issues later in the year such as water damage or flooding in car parks. Similarly, summer is the ideal point in the year for early intervention on surfacing repairs, for example, identifying and fixing cracks before they develop into potholes during the colder months. During the summer holidays when traffic levels are reduced, it can also be an ideal time to consider other repair tasks, such as refreshing line marking in car parks that can help to improve safety and visibility during the darker nights of autumn and winter.
Growing grounds maintenance demands Summer is dominated by grass cutting and pruning with many sites requiring more contractor visits to keep lawns and shrubs in check. While a lot of the grounds
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54
