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Moisture is among your commercial property’s greatest enemies. Wind-driven rain, leaky gutters and downspouts, old, deteriorated caulk or glazing, plus improperly painted substrates are all factors in moisture penetration. The result of water getting into unwanted places include peeling paint, damaged substrates, and—worse yet, mold and mildew. This is why you want to keep your commercial building waterproofed. While no one can prevent unwanted weather, and leaky gutters and downspouts are outside the scope of this article, proper preparation and a good quality paint job can go a long way in preventing moisture penetration. The following will contribute to a watertight building: Caulking. It is surprising how much damage a little water can do and how small an area allowing access will allow a lot of water in. Gaps in building materials, open joints, holes, plus splits and cracks may seem insignificant, but they’re a major entry point for moisture. This is easily solved by installing a good quality caulk. Since building components vary, caulks vary as well. They can be as simple as latex caulk, acrylic, siliconized acrylic, polyurethane, butyl, and pure silicone. The key is to seal up points of entry. Painting. Your commercial building is properly painted when all the paintable substrates have an adequate and cumulative amount of coating on them. I say adequate and cumulative as typically one coat of paint applied too thin will typically not do the job. Every substrate, that needs to be protected from moisture penetration, must have the right amount of millage installed. The proper mill thickness can be found in the manufacturer’s product data sheet (PDS). Of particular concern are those commercial buildings comprised of concrete masonry units (CMUs), or block. Concrete block is extremely porous, and unless coated properly will allow a huge amount of water into the walls of your building. The most important aspect of waterproofing a masonry building is filling the pores of the CMU. This is done by applying a block-filler as a first coat, with no more than ten pin-holes (the pore) per square foot. Once this is achieved, a good quality topcoat of any sort will provide water tightness. Best for CMUs are elastomeric coatings. These are rubber-based paints that, once dry, form an impenetrable rubber film over the substrate, and are the best for preventing moisture penetration—even wind-driven rain. Another advantage to elastomeric coatings is that they expand and contract, and will actually bridge small cracks in the masonry that may develop over time. There are other options for waterproofing—actual waterproofing sealers, stains, and cementitious coatings, all of which we have applied over our 36 years in business. In summary, to keep your commercial building looking good and free of moisture damage, keep it sealed up and make sure it is properly painted. Here at T. L. Hart, Inc. our goal is to ensure your commercial property is always in excellent condition. Our team of professional painters stands ready to keep moisture out of your property. Contact us today to request a quote.

While you can get your property painted for just about any amount, hiring a reputable commercial painting contractor will ensure you get a quality end-product with a firm that stands behind its work. To provide this, there are three cost-factors that go into a good commercial contractor’s price: labor, materials, and profit. Labor While many ‘contractors’ have painters that work for them, not all painters are paid equally, and not all contractors pay the appropriate insurances and taxes. Painting contractors in all sectors are notorious for paying their help either ‘under the table’ or as 1099 subcontractors. This latter arrangement most always violates simple IRS rules stipulating who is, and who is not, an independent contractor. Reputable commercial contractors treat their painters as employees, pay a fair and competitive wage, and pay all appropriate insurances (liability, worker’s compensation, unemployment) and taxes (FICA). These additional costs are typically referred to as the labor burden, and can include health and dental insurance, plus contributions to retirement plans—all of which support those committed to the professional trades. In summary, a viable commercial contractor pays his help well and covers all required insurances and taxes. Materials While it can vary, materials typically constitute about 15%-20% of the overall cost of the job. Paint products are available in various price ranges. Some can be very cheap, while others are extremely expensive. A good commercial contractor will avoid poor, unsatisfactory materials and use paints suitable for the substrates being painted. With most major brands, there are commercial lines that are appropriate for the usual commercial property. These are best suited for the conditions typical to commercial settings. Overhead & Profit Where non-professional painting contractors will work for wages, viable firms know that to stay in business they must cover their non-production costs and make a profit. So once labor and material costs have been tabulated, the commercial contractor will add an amount that exceeds the hard costs of the project. Profits go toward the purchase of equipment and machinery, provide for operating expenses, plus accruing cash on hand for the unforeseen and often, inevitable downturns in the market. T. L. Hart, Inc. is in its 36th year and has built its company around sound business principles and practices. When providing a quote for painting or related work, you can be assured that the conditions and needs of your commercial property have been assessed, and a fair and reasonable proposal is offered you. Call us today to get a free estimate. We are currently booking work for 4th quarter 2020 and 1st quarter 2021.

The overall appearance of your commercial property, especially its paint job, is very important. An outstanding paint job will leave a positive first impression that will encourage buyers and tenants to come back to your business again and again. If you're considering painting, here are some tips you can use to ensure you get the most out of your investment. Determine the scope of the project. Planning for the project should be your first priority, especially if it will affect your operation or staff. How disruptive will it be? Will you need movers to tear down and move furniture? Does the work need to be done after hours? Is this a good time to replace your flooring? Whereas for many companies never is a good time, for some it may be during a historically slow period, or on a weekend, or perhaps over a holiday. Take time to consider what you want to do and its impact on your particular business, then move forward once you have a grip on this. Consider your budget. Of course, the cost is almost always an issue, so determine what your budget is for the scope you would like. In securing estimates, have the contractor give you some cost options, maybe breaking down various areas and listing them separately. In this way you can choose the areas that fit the amount you wish to spend. One other recommendation: don’t go cheap. You will get what you pay for. Use a painting contractor with a good reputation and a history of satisfied customers. They are not always the least expensive, but they have been around for a while for a reason. Pick your colors. Color is everything. It can cheer or depress, attract or detract, enhance productivity or hinder it. What is the look and feel you are after? Do you need help? A good contractor may well be able to help you make the right decision; if not, he or she might be able to refer you to a designer who can assist you. Too, you can request color samples--even having color swatches painted on your wall. Realize the paint color(s) you choose can make the difference between your property standing out or looking dull. Use the right paint. Not all paints are created equal, and all have qualities that can positively affect the quality and longevity of the finished product. In most commercial environments the current standard is a good quality commercial grade water-based eggshell finish. These are typically easy to clean, resist burnishing and dirt, and have a pleasant sheen. That said, in high traffic areas, a semi-gloss enamel might be a better fit, or even a gloss epoxy (depending on the area). Avoid flat paints as they are usually not washable and will soil easily--an exception this would be the newer ceramic-based flats. These products look and perform great, with almost no angular shine. Keep everyone safe. The safety and well-being of your employees and customers must be number one in any endeavor. Be sure to use a contractor with a proven safety record and one with an active safety program. If you plan to have the work done during normal daytime hours when people are present in your facility, ask to have zero VOC paint products used. If your facility requires the use of professional-use only products, such as urethanes or epoxies, allow for adequate ventilation or have the work done off hours. Furthermore, if the work requires the contractor to utilize ladders or aerial lifts, keep the area clear of people while the work is being done. Accidents happen, but they can be prevented if proper products and procedures are used. Will you need additional services? To make your commercial property really stand out, besides a new paint job, you may consider added services such as a new door or window, new flooring, wall covering, or floor coating. On exteriors it could include caulking, pressure washing, removing old, failed paint (stripping), or wood restoration work. Choose a reputable contractor. When it comes down to starting a painting project, hiring a competent and trustworthy contractor will be the deciding factor between success and failure. Here at T. L. Hart, our passion is to serve you, that's why we do whatever it takes to get the job done with outstanding results. Our employees are carefully screened, trained in safety and customer service, and are capable of meeting the specific requirements of your commercial property. If you're ready to work with us, give us a call or go online at www.tlhart.com and we'll provide you with you a free, detailed estimate on your painting project today!

Sometimes you have to be careful about what you ask for. It was a cold November morning in 1977 and I was working for the City of Lansing on their street patch crew. Our job that day was burning high spots off the asphalt pavement. To do this, we used a hand-held burner attached to a kerosene tank strapped to the rear-end of a dump truck. The four-foot high tank had a bicycle-style hand pump on the top; it was my job to keep the tank pressurized to run the burner. During that time I was looking to transfer to another department, and since I had an interview scheduled, was praying about it. In fact, as I was standing in the bed of the truck pumping up the tank, I was asking to be led in the situation. That’s when I got my answer. At the precise moment I was praying, the welds on the bottom of the tank gave way and the tank shot up like a missile, bursting into flames. I was blown upward and backward to the front of the truck bed and, being surrounded by flames, dove over the side of the truck to avoid being burned alive. Miraculously, though my eyelashes and eyebrows were singed from the flames and my hat and three layers of clothing soaked with kerosene, I did not catch fire. My only injury was a broken wrist and a few minor lacerations. It took surgery and six months for my wrist to heal, and during that time off I did considerable thinking and praying. One day it became clear to me that I was to start a painting business. Thus began my career as a painting contractor. Thankfully, prayer is not always answered in such a dramatic way. With me however, God probably knew there was no other way I would accept the ‘call.’ What I learned then is that everyone has a work to do, a specific purpose unique to him, one that fits the universal plan of God. Someone has to paint buildings; that’s what I was chosen to do. Many reject this view, that God is concerned about our jobs. They have bought into a form of dualism, one which separates the ‘sacred’ from the secular, the latter being the lesser important of the two. This is not the Judeo-Christian ethic though, which teaches that God put man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. In other words, man was made to work. It is this belief – that work is sanctified, that gives meaning even to the most menial task. Martin Luther put it this way: “The works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks, but that all works are measured before God by faith alone.” And so all life is sacred, including its work. There is no dichotomy of callings; all are called by God to God, and to each is given his or her assignment in life. And so Jesus was a carpenter. Peter, his right-hand man, a fisherman. Luke, who wrote The Gospel of Luke, was a doctor. The Apostle Paul, a tent-maker.  Me, I am a painting contractor. Blasted, as it were, into business.

If you are a building owner or manager looking to upgrade the look and feel of your property--or, simply maintain what you have in place, repainting can provide an economical solution. Here are some tips to consider. Consult with a professional. If you are not sure where to start, try consulting with a professional painting contractor. Invite him to walk through with you and offer some ideas. A contractor with any history in your sector should be able to suggest improvements, colors, and other applications that may be able to solve your problem. With over thirty-five years in the business, T. L. Hart, Inc., has a wide range of solutions to most any painting need. Try cleaning. Sometimes, simply cleaning can make a huge difference in how your property looks. On exteriors, applying a biodegradable cleaner and power washing it off can make a dingy building look new. Interior wall-washing is uncommon these days, but can often be employed in lieu of painting. That said, the wall paint needs to be of the quality that can be cleaned; inexpensive paints can wash off with the dirt! Industrial cleaning can often help increase productivity by enhancing existing lighting, and safety by reducing slip and fall hazards. Maintenance repair. In its 35-year history, T. L. Hart, Inc. has--at the request of owners or managers--painted entire buildings when isolated, maintenance painting would have sufficed. Buildings with southern exposures, for example, often need painting before the other elevations. On interiors, it might just be a wall or two that needs to be done to get your space looking good. A word about maintenance painting. T. L. Hart, Inc. recommends regular maintenance of existing coatings. A program where performing annual as-needed touch-ups and isolated repairs can extend the life of the current paint job. Accentuate your space. Color accents can greatly enhance the look and feel of any room in your house or office. It can be a contrasting color on a wall or two, or a different color on the windows, doors, and trim. This is very common is office environments and is a regular application that T. L. Hart, Inc. makes. Additionally, and while outside the purview of this company, window treatments and flooring can make a huge difference in the quality of your space. If you need a recommendation for contractors specializing in these amenities, call T. L. Hart, Inc. Use wall covering. While out of vogue in recent years, wall covering-- or, wall paper as referred to in the residential market--can add a beautiful and lasting effect to any room or office. Like paint colors, options for wall covering are almost limitless. Too, commercial grade products, typically fabric-backed vinyls, can far outlast traditional painted surfaces. T. L. Hart, Inc. has been in buildings recently with wall covering installed by it twenty years ago--and it is still intact and on the wall! That is to say, though more expensive up front, wall covering can outlast a paint job many times over. Paint your floors. Garage floor coatings have become increasingly popular, with options ranging from clear sealers, to solid colors, and solid colors with colored chips imbedded in the paint film. Sidewalks, patios, and even driveways can be stained. In commercial settings, janitor closets and warehouses can be clear-coated. And factory floors can receive epoxy or urethane coating of many types. T. L. Hart, Inc. applies all types of floor coatings. Build a wall or add a window or a door. While T. L. Hart, Inc. does not perform construction services for residential customers, it does perform considerable work like this for its commercial and industrial clients. While not a general contractor, T. L. Hart employs persons skilled in drywall, ceiling tile and grid, window and door installation, plus many other specialty services like these. Here at T. L. Hart, Inc., our aim is to serve you where you have a need. Our goal is to not only help boost the value of your property, but make it a better place to live and work. We stand ready to help you with your cleaning, painting, and related needs, so call us for a free and detailed estimate. Call us today to request a quote .

T. L. Hart, Inc. has gone through a process of boiling down who we are and what we believe. I’m convinced that what we believe is who we are—or, at least aspire to be. We have concluded that four values describe our company as we envision it: love, service, excellence, and teamwork. Our primary core value is love and is best defined by what is referred to as The Golden Rule: “Do unto others what you would have them do to you.” Taken from the Bible (Matthew 7:21), it is hard to think of a better axiom to live by. Whereas everyone wants to be treated well, what better thing can we do as a company than to treat others well. Imagine everyone looking out for the interests of others! That’s the point. Second is service. I have long felt that ‘he who serves best is best.’ In corporate terms, the better we serve our customers the better we will be. And, since our vision is to be the best provider of painting and related services to our mid-Michigan clients, the only way to fulfillment is to work hard at serving better than anyone else. Our third core value is excellence. The idea is to be above average, first class, exceptional. Not just in the quality of our finishes—though this is vital, but in everything we do. From the way we respond to people, to how we produce our proposals and follow up, to executing our work and closing out our projects. Inclusive is how we dress, the cleanliness of our job sites, and the efficiency with which we perform our work. Everything. Finally, there is teamwork. I believe there is a blessing that comes with unity. Everyone benefits when there is a unified effort. This is why we teach our team how to work together, settle disputes, and approach our projects. Teamwork is built around everyone doing their part to satisfy the customer by striving to do their best.  These four core values are what we as a company have decided to live by. They play into every aspect of our operation, from who we do business with and how, to who we hire, conduct our work, and--above all, treat people. While we have a long way to go, we have at least started down the path to becoming who we want to be. It began with identifying what was truly important to us.

I’ll not forget an experience I had late Spring 1990. We were in our 6th year as a company, having enjoyed five straight years of rapid growth and profitability. I had added personnel and our firm was working all over the state of Michigan. However, it was May and we had lost a considerable amount of money the first four months of the year. T. L. Hart, Inc. was in trouble. I had had a goal of becoming one of mid-Michigan’s best and largest painting contractors. And we were well on our way. Our list of reputable customers was growing and, as for me, I was active in the area’s trade association and had worked my way to the top as president. Working with this association and the state, I had developed an apprenticeship program to train new painters. All of this was in jeopardy because of the losses. Not only was what I had built at risk, but so was my family. We had sold our house in town—and couldn’t get a loan approved for the new house we wanted because of the financials. I was humiliated and my world was fast falling apart. One day, laying on the couch and commiserating with myself, God reminded me of a Bible verse I had read before. It was from the book of James, chapter four, verses 13-15: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” There’s a lot to be learned in these three short verses, but my take away that day was this: “if the Lord wills.” That is, whatever I do—in this regard grow the company—it has to be in harmony with God’s will. Most folks think that God and religion are to be relegated to Sundays and church, but that’s not true. Even a casual reading of the Bible instructs us that God cares about even the most mundane things, like eating and drinking and sleeping—not to mention business, employer/employee relations, profit, and so forth. I had come to understand this through many years of not only reading the Scriptures, but also being part of a Christian businessman’s group which studied such things. God’s will is paramount to any endeavor, and it is important for the earnest believer to be always putting that ahead of his own aspirations. I think mine had gotten way out ahead of God’s Life is too short to be messing around with pursuits motivated by pride and personal ambition. In fact, James goes on to cite the reason for his admonishment: “But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil” (verse 16). I’m certain my inward attitude resembled at least to some degree such arrogance. Success, especially quick success, breeds such things. Thank God He interrupted the course of things and interjected His thoughts into the matter. I stood corrected. If I remember it right, we went on that year to recover the losses and ended the year with a small profit. And I was able to get a mortgage. God is good.  I had a lot more to learn—but I shall save these for another time. What is important, albeit with respect to business, marriage and family, church, and other personal interests, is the will of God. The take-away is this: we ought always to say when considering anything, “If the Lord wills.” Or, “God-willing, we will do this or that.”

Everyone has principles by which they live. For the business owner it might be financial freedom; for the school teacher, impacting the lives of the next generation; for the Christian, faith. Whether they are aware of it or not, all have values that shape their attitudes and direct their actions. Consciously or unconsciously, they constitute the heart and soul of the person; its who they are. Companies also have tenets they operate from. Many that have identified them may refer to them as core values. These are the things that make for the culture of a company. They might be written in mission statement on the wall or simply assumed, but these are what makes the firm tick; they constitute its core. Whether you are an individual or a huge, multinational corporation, it is important to dig deep and find out what these are. Once found, wrap yourself or your company around them and bring everything you do into alignment. Author Gino Wickman, in his book Traction, provides a wonderful process for determining what your businesses' core values are. The book is worth the read just for this helpful information. He even provides tools to guide you through the discovery--and yes, it is a process of discovery; what you really believe in your heart may surprise you, good or bad. Core values can be changed. My mentor for twenty years, the late Jim Russell, once told me, "Terry, your business will take off when you change your thinking about it." What he meant was, the underlying guiding principles that held my company at bay needed to be altered. What I held to be true about T. L. Hart, Inc. had to change. I believe it was Michael Gerber in his book, The E-myth, who pointed out that your business is you. In other words, your business is a direct reflection of who you are as a person. I understand that most companies may have more than one person to be considered, but the maxim is the same; who you are--or, who your team is, will be seen in the firm as a whole. This is why you not only need to do some digging yourself, but include other key players in your organization. I went through the process a few years ago and included some team members. We came up with a list of seven or eight key qualities that we thought best represented our company. I wrote them down, and for a year or so taught them at our monthly staff meetings. After a while, I quizzed the group at to what they were; not one got them right. I learned what Wickman presents in his book: keep them to a few; no more than seven or eight, but better yet four or five. So we took another look and boiled them down further. I am now confident that our four core values truly represent who I am and what I stand for. There is buy-in from the team, and they are fast becoming corporate culture. To put this to work your core values need to permeate the entire operation. You hire and fire by them, you make your decisions based on them, and you build your products and services around them. Your core values dictate what you do and how you do it. In my next article I will tell what my company's core values are and why, and how I incorporate them into what we do. 

Last November, Lansing, Michigan voters approved a measure prohibiting the city from regulating the "use, possession or transfer of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, on private property, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years.” A similar move is currently underway in MSU’s hometown of East Lansing. As a resident of the Lansing area and a business owner, here is why I believe legal marijuana use—for medical or recreational purposes—is a bad idea. 1. Adverse effects. I first smoked dope—appropriately termed—in the fall of 1967. I was a starting end on the high school football team, and within two weeks of my first high I quit the team, became seclusive, depressed and suicidal. That didn’t stop me, though; I continued to use the drug and quickly moved to stronger ones like mescaline and LSD. My life was miserable for the next 7 years until, in 1974, I found relief through faith in God. My experience is not isolated. I have witnessed many whose drug use, beginning with marijuana, effected them much in the same way. One person I’ve worked with recently, a young man suffering from schizophrenia, traces his problem to drug use. Others I know have lost their jobs, their families, gone to prison, and one boy committed suicide. I have been an employer for over 35 years. Literally hundreds have worked for me at one time or another. No stranger to drug use, I know what it looks like. At first there is a shift in the attitude, then an increase in absenteeism, then overall performance. Ultimately the person quits, fall off the map, or does something to get themselves fired. Working under the influence of marijuana is also unsafe. Unlike alcohol, the drug remains in a person’s system for up to 30 days, so the weekend’s high carries over into the workweek, posing a safety issue in the workplace. 2. Dangerous to society. A bane to workplace safety, marijuana users behind the wheel of a car are just as dangerous on the road as those under the influence of alcohol. Last I checked there were over 834 traffic deaths in Michigan—many the result of alcohol use. So we want to add to the numbers those killed by drivers high on pot? 3. Unnecessary. While I understand the problem of chronic pain, with myriads of over-the-counter as well as prescription pain killers, medical marijuana is unnecessary. And, as anticipated, cards issued for medicinal use are being abused, with people obtaining the drug for simple headaches, upset stomach, and other non-reasons. 4. A legal quagmire for employers. Marijuana use for whatever reason presents a legal mess for business owners with employees. Not long ago I interviewed a potential worker who possessed a medical marijuana card. He was issued it because he feared taking other pain killers and claimed he used it only occasionally. Since we have a clear substance abuse policy in place and a claim a drug-free workplace, I had to consult an attorney to determine the legality of hiring or not hiring the individual. Not surprisingly, with most laws fresh off the press, there are few legal precedents. How this plays out in the courts—and how it impacts the workforce remains to be seen. Think about it: Your doctor or nurse, lawyer, dentist, plumber, grocery check-out clerk, bank teller—high on pot. Worse yet, your bus driver, school teacher, or fire-fighter! The move is on to legalize pot, and if it goes where I think it is going, we’re in for a stoned society.  Bad idea no matter how you look at it. Leave a comment! You must be logged in to post a comment.