Strata Category

Painted by Leisuretex Gold Coast

Painting Maintenance Care for your Building Exterior

Once your external painting project has been completed there is important information that shouldn’t be overlooked before filing your Leisuretex warranty and maintenance manuals – these documents contain notes about your chosen paint product/s, the recommended practices for paint care and using the right cleaning methods for your coating system.

Our Australian climate can deliver harsh elements and painted surfaces become at risk of developing dirt, stains, mould and grime. Even the best paint manufacturer products cannot withstand such conditions over an extended period of time, but with proper care and maintenance, you will minimize these levels of wear and tear.

THE BEST CARE FOR YOUR PAINTED EXTERNAL WALLS

A common oversight is the ‘paint and forget’ assumption. Painting is part of a process over time, the full benefits are realised when a professional painting project is scheduled alongside a good maintenance plan. Keep the outside of your painted building maintained by:

  • Cleaning your building – a full washdown by a professional every 1-2 years will extend the maintenance cycle of external paint. Exterior surfaces are painted with highly durable paint and therefore can withstand repeated cleaning.
  • Doing a walkthrough around your building regularly to keep an eye on the overall condition of your painted (and unpainted) surfaces. Schedule a nominated person in your building to conduct a visual inspection, they should look out for any rust stains, leakage or signs of structural damage that might need to be repaired to avoid premature deterioration. Keep in a mind, that a good painter should never use paint to cover up underlying issues – remedial repairs should be addressed and not dismissed just to save a dollar,…the future costs will come back to bite you.
  • Budgeting for repairs to damaged facades, walls, timber, and steelwork
  • Cutting back or even removing trees and greenery that are too close to building walls which can create excessive moisture, thus leading to things like mould and discolouration.

INVEST IN PAINTING MAINTENANCE FEES, SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG TERM

Choosing to prevent the chances of future painting repairs through good maintenance care now means you will benefit from an external building that will perform for a long time while looking its best.


Brisbane painters at Pinnacle Brisbane

In need of body corporate painting maintenance?

The Leisuretex Aftercare service offers maintenance to keep the exterior of your building looking its best

Upon your painting project being completed your Leisuretex Aftercare documents will be handed over, complete with everything you need to know for maintaining the look and performance of your finished work. Leisuretex offers a professional after-service for pressure cleaning, window washing and soft washing, having the technical skills needed to complete the job efficiently. Ask us about our licenses and certifications, as well as the equipment we use; this allows for maintenance to be done with ease and leaving your building performing at its best.


Before and after pressure cleaning a painted wall
Before and after pressure cleaning a painted wall

Why choose Leisuretex to maintain the quality of your body corporate building

The Leisuretex point of difference is its attention to planning and preparation. Even before we touch the first surface, we make it a point to ensure a seamless process from start to finish. Our project planners visualise the project as a whole, long-term effort, and not play each part by ear.

We invite comparison and see for yourself why we are the go-to professionals for body corporate, industrial and commercial painting projects. From contracts to surfaces, we stand by our belief that preparation is always the key to success. We know all the work that needs to be done even before we get to your site.

You won’t find any other team of professionals as easy to work with as us— right from the start, right to the end.

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body corporate painters Gold Coast

How to Choose and Manage a Body Corporate Painting Contractor

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to increase the value breathe new life into a property. When you’re getting your house or office painted, there’s usually a sole decision-maker or consensus is easily reached, it’s typically exciting times. But when it comes to strata or body corporate painting, it becomes a little bit more complicated.

This article will discuss why body corporate painting is a bit more complicated than other painting projects and how to choose the right painting contractors to make the process as harmonious as possible.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Since there is more than one property sitting on a collectively owned piece of land, and each owner has their say on things, it’s hard enough to get everyone to agree to undertake a large-scale panting job, let alone choose the colours for the new façades. There will always be a diverse set of opinions among residents, management and other stakeholders. Despite the variety of viewpoints, you can earn everyone’s complacency by having your painting project managed by experienced professionals—not just experienced in painting, but experienced in managing large-scale, complicated tasks, like body corporate painting projects.

Choosing the Right Painting Contractors

Even before the actual work can begin, a body corporate committee should carefully select the right service provider. This crucial first step will determine how well the residents receive and react to the painting project and set the tone for similar future endeavours.


Leisuretex Painting Contractors

Here are some tips for selecting suitable candidates for your next body corporate painting project

Look at the Credentials

Like any other service provider, your chosen team of professionals should be able to demonstrate the technical skills needed to complete the job efficiently. Ask for their licences and certifications, as well as the equipment they use; this will quickly weed out fly-by-night companies that may not be able to deliver your expected results.

Also, a company’s values will say a lot about how they deliver their work. For example, Leisuretex adheres to a Zero Hazards Policy that ensures that workspaces are safe for everyone.

Contact Professional Trade Bodies

Any reputable professional commercial painters will belong to at least one professional trade organisation. Some of the most prominent institutions include the Master Painters Association, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, the Accommodation Managers Industry and the Smart Strata database.

Reach out to these trade organisations to learn if your prospective painting services provider is a good-standing member. If they don’t belong to any dependable trade organisation, you might be better off looking for other options.

Evaluate their Reputation

Outright, you can search for the company online and check on their online reviews. You can reach out to other body corporate committees and ask whether they have done business with any of your prospects and ask for first-hand feedback. It will also be a good idea to ask for the painting company’s references for additional feedback.

Ask for their Portfolio

Most reputable professional commercial painting companies will have a well-functioning website that showcases their past works. Check whether they’ve done previous strata and body corporate work on their portfolio and visually evaluate their output. You can also request that they bring along their collection when they meet you for a site visit or ask for it when you meet them in their office.

Other things to Look for:

Do they Present Themselves Professionally?

Having the painting services done in a residential environment, some residents may find the task’s duration intrusive and obstructive at worst. You can soften the blow by ensuring that your hired contractors are visually aesthetic, courteous towards residents and respectful towards set boundaries.

For example, Leisuretex teams come in brand-marked trucks, clean uniforms and use well-maintained equipment. Leisuretex also prides itself in promoting values, such as respect, relationship-building, open communications, orientation towards achievement and consistency in quality.

Do they Have a Clear Chain of Command?

From the get-go, it would be beneficial in the long run if you need to talk to only one person during the entire project. Whether for updates, process changes or complaints, you don’t want to find yourself being passed around several people because nobody wants to be held directly accountable. Leisuretex allocate you one point of contact for you and your project, this gives you peace of mind knowing you can get in touch with the right person, without the fuss.

Look for a company with a well-defined team structure, so you know who you should deal with for whatever reason you’ll need to. Most importantly, they should assure you that there will always be a manager on site. You don’t want to be left with a team of workers who can’t answer your management-level enquiries because they simply don’t have the information you need.

Make it Easy for the Residents

As they will be receiving both the benefits and downside of the painting project, the dwellers must be kept in the loop. This inclusion could help them adjust their activities and set expectations during the whole process, and how they will see your skills, as a body corporate committee, towards handling large-scale ventures.


body corporate painting contractors

Prepare Every Resident for the Coming Work

Almost everyone will be welcome a fresh coat of colour for and around their homes, but it comes with a certain degree of inconvenience. Both owners and tenants will appreciate it if you inform everyone beforehand. You can post announcements through your social media group and email list, but a physical letter to every dropbox will do well if you want to maintain a personal touch.

Let them know the entire scope of the work, which areas and specific surfaces will be worked on, when, how long each stage will take, and the duration of the whole project. It will also help if you let them know the name of the contractor you’ve hired and a bit of information about their company.

Ensure Regular Updates

Because body corporate painting takes a significant amount of time, residents will appreciate it if they’re constantly updated as to where the project is at the moment. Let them know which stages have been completed, what’s currently in progress, and which areas are yet to receive action.

It would also be helpful to include logistical information, such as parking areas delegated to equipment, walkways being closed off or a certain amount of noise during certain times. Lastly, encourage feedback from the stakeholders—let them express how they feel about the ongoing project so you can talk to the project manager if some adjustments are needed.

Strategically Schedule Areas for Minimal Disruption

Highly experienced body corporate painting management services will work with your organisation to devise an action plan for minimal residential disruption. This strategy can include scheduling certain areas at strategic times when foot and car traffic is least a factor and when noise levels should be kept to a minimum.


paint colour sample cards

Licensed, Certified and Experienced Project Management

The Leisuretex point of difference is its attention to planning and preparation. Even before we touch the first surface, we make it a point to ensure a seamless process from start to finish. Our project planners visualise the project as a whole, long-term effort, and not play each part by ear.

We invite comparison and see for yourself why we are the go-to professionals for residential, industrial and commercial painting projects. From contracts to surfaces, we stand by our belief that preparation is always the key to success. We know all the work that needs to be done even before we get to your site.

You won’t find any other team of professionals as easy to work with as us—one name, one number, one contract from start to finish.

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Blocked gutter

Essential Property Maintenance Tips – Getting Ready for Winter

Getting your building winter-ready aims to protect your property against any potential or existing issues that can be worsened by the season’s rain and storms. Often there can be underlying problems that surface around this time of the year and there are few items you can inspect to stay ahead of building repairs and finances.

TREAT MOULD

Mould grows under damp and moist conditions. When it dries, mould releases spores of bacteria and fungi which can cause very serious health issues. Untreated mould can get into your walls, ceilings, plaster and behind gyprock. A professional washdown and cleaning service will treat the affected area, removing mould and preventing its growth. If water ingress is the possible cause of mould or even a waterproofing issue, you will need to get a building solution as a matter of urgency.

PAINTING

More than just the ‘skin’ or appearance of your building, painting also acts as an added barrier to protect against the elements – sun, rain, and wind. Autumn in Australia tends to provide the most ideal weather for painting exteriors as the days aren’t as hot, and they often allow for drying in between coats.

CLEAN GUTTERS

Be sure to unclog gutters from any leaves, needles, and branches. Blocked gutters can and will prevent the flow of rainwater from your roof, causing water to trickle down external walls and cause dampness or wetness to set in.

ROOFING

A healthy roof will get you winter-ready and prevent water leaks from occurring.
* Look for and fix cracked or loose tiles and panels
* Address existing leaks
* Fix or replace bent flashings
* Fix sagging gutters

A pro-active approach towards your property maintenance will help your building to retain its long term value. By using a professional licensed contractor you can have piece of mind knowing that your upkeep is in good hands, your building and staff are safe, and that you are minimising the risk of future expensive maintenance repairs.

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Identifying Behaviours (good and bad) Under Covid-19 Pressure

As our economy continues to take a blow from the current Covid-19 crisis now it is as important as ever to keep strong work relationships. Impossible times like these can place a lot of pressure on us in a number of ways. It’s important that we recognise and demonstrate important behaviours that can make all the difference in getting to the other side while maintaining healthy, productive business to business relationships.

BEHAVIOUR THAT ENHANCES WORK RELATIONSHIPS & PRODUCTIVITY

We all have good and bad days but a pattern of negative behaviour can be detrimental to your work and the relationships around you. There’s always time to weed out a few bad habits, consider adopting one or more positive changes:

STAY CALM

Stay calm

Let’s face it, we are all anxious about the circulating Coronavirus and the constantly changing alerts that impact our day to day living but we can stay calm at work by arriving with the right set of facts (only) from good sources of information.

  • A sense of humour (even dark humour) can often relieve tension and promote a more relaxed atmosphere.
  • Accept that some things are not in our control and we need to trust the advice of Australian and world health experts.

Good communication

CONSIDER GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Whether talking to another in person, on the phone or online, each presents its own challenges requiring good communication skills. Now, we should continue to build excellent communication skills. Are you a good listener? Do you speak with confidence? Do you practice assertiveness without aggressiveness? Staying aware of your conversation habits (both good and developing) will help in conducting better conversations that are considerate and productive at the same time.

  • Be organised when approaching difficult conversations. This helps to stay clear, focused and less emotional.
  • Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal communication.
  • Actively listen to the person talking, wait for them to finish.
  • Remember that talking regularly between businesses helps to stay connected in your field but it also provides a way of supporting one another during this difficult time especially.

Be gratefulBE GRATEFUL

Your job role was awarded to you, so own it and be grateful to it. The power of gratitude boosts your day and helps to manage stress, so consider these things to be grateful for:

  • Flexibility
  • Salary and benefits
  • Your peers
  • Work life balance
  • Small (and large) successes in what you do

Going for a runSTAY POSITIVE WITH A HEALTHY BODY AND HEALTHY MIND

Actively managing your wellbeing is looking after your diet intake and the physical activity that you engage to relieve tension and stress. People with healthier lifestyles are less likely to develop depression (Doc. Seana Gall, University of Tasmania’s Menzies Institute for Medical Research) so continue to look at what you give your body for nourishment and how you look after it each day (i.e stretching and regular physical activity).

TACKLING NEGATIVE WORKPLACE BEHAVIOUR

Here are some ways you can handle the co-workers that are bringing you down…

  1. Focus on controlling your behaviour (not theirs) – you can’t control others but you can control the way you respond.
  2. Don’t engage in conversations that lead to complaining, this will only bring you down with them.
  3. Keep your distance…not just the 1.5m social distance, this means maintaining your personal boundaries for getting included in negative discussions.
  4. Breathe…5 seconds breathe in, 5 seconds breathe out (yes, this can be very powerful).

Resource: MBO Partners (2019)

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Technician conducting safety inspecting - roof anchor

Working at heights – How safe is your building?

HOW SAFE IS YOUR BUILDING FOR WORKERS AT HEIGHTS?

Whether it be 2 metres or storeys from the ground, YOU as a facility manager or person in charge of a business/undertaking have a degree of responsibility to ensure the safety of anyone who is working on the roof.

Yes that’s right. The Code of Practice under the Work Health & Safety Act Section 274 specifies that a person conducting a business or undertaking is a duty holder, and therefore must “minimise the risk of falls so far as is reasonable practicable by providing a fall prevention device, work positioning system or a fall arrest system“.

TOP REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT HEIGHT SAFETY

Myth no. 1 – The safety of workers at heights is not my concern, it’s the responsibility of the contractor.

WRONG! Managing the risk of falls at workplaces falls under one of the duties required by PBCUs – Persons conducting a business or undertaking. As well as the contractor, PBCUs must eliminate the risk of falls by providing a safe means of access.

Myth no. 2 – All subcontractors who work on my building are fully trained in working at heights.

WRONG!  Not all tradesmen have had training and working at heights is high-risk activity. Always ask the service provider to show their qualification in working at heights.

Myth no. 3 – No need to worry, we’ve always had a fall protection system in place.

WRONG! All roof access systems must be routinely checked, maintained and RE-certified each year by a certified height safety inspector.

AND LASTLY,

Myth no. 4 – We don’t need to access the roof often.

You guessed it..WRONG AGAIN! The importance at safety in working at heights should never be underestimated. Safety must be a priority to provide protection against falls and you will need a method for controlling risks at height 2 metres or more.

Did you know..
In Australia, an average of 29 people die from work-related falls. 50% of the worst reported injuries happen from falling under 3 metres.

THEREFORE, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU PERFORM A HEIGHT SAFETY HEALTH CHECK

Leisuretex tickDoes your building/property have a height safety fail-safe system that is both, correctly laid out and compliant with the Work Healthy and Safety Act?  Not sure? Get in touch with a Leisuretex Access Solutions Technician for an inspection. 

Leisuretex tickHas your height safety system had a recent inspection and re-certification? Leisuretex organises height safety audits to ensure the safety of your workers. We will check your height safety system for compliance, and to guarantee that you are meeting your responsibilities.

Leisuretex tickDo you have work procedures for conducting work at heights? Is there a risk management system that you use to manage and control updated documents and installed height systems?

Leisuretex tickAre you familiar with WHS Act 2011 and Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice for managing risk of falls at workplaces? This lists your legal obligations and requirements regarding height safety.

Leisuretex tickHave you downloaded a copy of our Anchor Compliance Checklist for Building Managers which helps to identify height safety items needing action?

CONTACT A CERTIFIED HEIGHT SAFETY INSPECTOR

Leisuretex Property Maintenance height safety technicians are accredited to assess, certify and install fail-safe systems which meet the Australian Standards. We use the highest quality materials that are batch tested, dependable and give total peace of mind.

Leisuretex have offices in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, get in touch with us today.

anchor installation testing device
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3 Maintenance Solutions for Handling QLD’s Heat

The QLD summer heat can never be underestimated and as temperatures continue to soar each year we are choosing better alternatives for staying cool.

These suggestions below are proven methods for keeping cooler indoors while being energy efficient and possibly reducing your air-conditioning costs.

1. CHOOSE A WHITE PAINT (YES, IT REALLY WORKS)

By selecting a white paint or even light coloured neutrals this will make a dramatic impact on indoor comfort. Besides having a fresh, clean appearance white shades help to reflect the sun’s radiation and reduce heat gain by approximately 30%! It’s true.

white paint

Did you know?
New York has painted white over 6.7 million square feet of rooftop as a heat-fighting plan. Los Angeles has also painted its streets white to reduce urban temperatures.

2. GO GREEN

Probably the least expensive option, plants are natural coolants that absorb heat and even release oxygen to aid in lowering indoor temperatures. Spider, Ficus and Rubber are just some of the types of plants that help to purify air and keep cooler during the hot months. While potted plants on floors and shelves can add life to a space you could also consider green walls, facades and even roofs as a creative option.

Go Green

3. APPLY COOL ROOF PAINT

The use of a UV resistant product such as Dulux AcraTex Cool-roof can be applied to roofs for a noticeable reduction in indoor temperatures. Since heat is absorbed by the roof and is transferred to the building below, it makes sense to reflect as much of that heat as possible in order to stay cooler indoors.

This can be done by having your licensed painting contractor apply a cool roof system to your exisiting roof. Surfaces that are suitable for this type of technology include concrete, tiles, bitumen, slate and colour bond. The result is a roof that now reflects more of the sun’s energy before it reaches indoors, bringing your roof’s temperature down to by 20-40 degrees.

Cool Roof

To discuss having your roof made more cool efficient,
contact Leisuretex Painting Contractors on 1300 852 759 or
email us: enquiries@leisuretexpainting.com.au

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