Using De-Icers Safely and Effectively

Winter can be a treacherous time of year. Freezing temperatures, white-out blizzards, icy roads and walkways. Icy roads cause millions of dollars in accidents and damage every year. It’s important for snow clearing businesses to have the proper tools and resources to ensure projects are completed quickly and efficiently. To do this, you’ll need to use de-icers, which are chemicals that help to break or prevent a bond between the ice and concrete, making it easier to shovel and plow. Here’s how to safely and effectively use de-icers:

De-icing Options

1. The best choice is calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). It melts ice and is no more damaging than tap water.
2. Magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, or calcium chloride are other options; however, they can corrode metal, damage walkways and stain carpets.
3. Rock salt is a quick and effective way to rid sidewalks, driveways, and roads of slippery ice.

For areas large and small, we’d love to work with you to determine and supply the needed de-icier for your job!

De-icing Steps and Walkways

1. Apply de-icer according to package instructions to steps and walkways before the snow or sleet comes down. De-icer acts like cooking oil under the ice and keeps anything from sticking.
2. After a few inches of snow have fallen, shovel the walkway. If more snow is predicted, apply another layer of de-icer.
3. To remove ice, carefully chip away with a snow shovel or ice pick. Start at edges and work in.
4. For stubborn ice, melt using boiled water and mop up immediately. Leftover water will freeze. Wear gloves to avoid scalding your skin.
5. Store the de-icer and snow shovel in a safe and easy to reach place. You don’t want to walk over a slippery walkway to get to your tools.

If you need to stock up on ice-melting rock salt, come to Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone! We have untreated and treated salt in bulk and a variety of bagged offerings including ProSlicer and Rocket Ice Melt. Both are high performance, treated de-icers and are available in 50-pound bags. And for snow removal jobs that can’t be tackled by ice melt alone, we also carry snow shovels. Contact us today!

Pre-Season Prep for Landscape Contractors/Businesses

It’s that time of year again! Ah yes, springtime- right before the busy season for landscape contractors and businesses begins. April marks the months where business really picks up and companies have to be ready to get out and get the job done. To make sure you are ready for the grind and demands, check out these pre-season prep tips!

Make Sure Your Team Is Trained Efficiently & Ready For Work

It’s always better to be safe than sorry in most situations, and your team of employees is no exception. Whether you’re able to keep your best workers year round or hire seasonally, it is in best practices to make sure your team has the proper training well before the busy season starts. If you wait till you’re busy to hire more workers, the possibility of hiring hastily increases the chances of hiring someone who isn’t a good fit with your company. Not only does a well-trained team increase your efficiency on the job, but it also improves the safety aspect of the job.

Make Sure Your Equipment Is Upgraded & Ready To Be Used

In your off season is when you should be keeping up on the maintenance of all your equipment. One way to keep track of everything is to look at the service history of your machines and see what kind of work has to be done. Whether it’s a major overhaul or routine preventative maintenance, these kinds of problems can cause huge issues during your busy season. You need reliable equipment for your field of work, and it should be ready to go by the time you are.

Make Sure To Re-Evaluate The Work Process

During the pre-season prep is the perfect time to sit down, evaluate your business, and come up with new ways to improve. What processes work well for your company? What could save time and money? It’s important to always ask for feedback from your employees to get a diverse perspective on your business. Coming up with goals for the next year can also help you work smarter, not harder, which will help you save time, money, and create a positive work environment.

When business picks up, it’s important to be on your A game and have everything ready to give your customers the best service possible. Your pre-season prep doesn’t have to be a stressful experience- with the right planning and utilizing resources, you can feel confident going into your busy season. At Lafarge Fox River Stone, we partner with landscape contractors and businesses to give great results and even better products. For more information about our company and services, visit our website or call us at (847)-888-6133.

Exploring the Ins and Outs of an Illinois Landscaping Business

Owning and operating a landscaping business has many benefits. The freedom of having control over your schedule and the pride of knowing that you created something using your skills are just a couple of these benefits. Here in the State of Illinois, there are rules and regulations put in place to protect the consumer and ensure that the landscaping business is held to a predetermined set of standards. If you are considering starting a landscaping business in Illinois, here are some things you should know.

Define your business

The first thing you need to consider is the type of landscaping services you will be offering. Under the Illinois Landscape Architect Act of 1989,  if you provide any type of landscape planning and architectural services, you must have a licensed landscape architect employed on your staff. Becoming licensed requires passing a state examination and providing proof of education in the field of landscape architecture.

If you provide general landscape maintenance, the State of Illinois does not require a specific licensing; however some local communities require all landscaping businesses to obtain licensure if they work within their local jurisdiction. Additionally, they may require the business to provide proof of liability insurance as well as being bonded.  If you are unsure about the requirements for the community in which your business operates, contact the city or county clerk to get additional input.

Tax registrations

Any business operating within Illinois that provides goods or services for sale must apply for the appropriate tax collection registrations. There are different tax rules depending upon if you sell products, provide a service or offer a combination of both. Be sure to talk to a tax professional if you are unsure of what is required for your business processes.

Employees

Hiring employees adds another level of legal complexities. If you have employees on your payroll, the first step is to apply for a Federal Employer Identification Number.  In addition, the State of Illinois requires businesses who will hire employees to register with the Department of Employement Security (IDES) within 30 days of the start of the business. Your company is also required to file quarterly returns with the IDES and pay unemployment contributions.

At Lafarge Fox River Decorative Stone, we are fortunate provide high quality landscaping products to competent landscape contractors across the State of Illinois.