The truth about Deicer

“Deicer” is a misnomer. It doesn’t actually make the ice “go away”, it just minimizes it, but only if it’s placed prior to an event, not after.

Deicer placed after it snows, or rains and then freezes, will only lighten your wallet, not your liability. 

Deicer should always be put on prior to a snow or freeze event, not after.

Get a quote and information about our winter service routes.

Storm & Emergency Services

Summer has been threatening to be over for quite a while now. It is now time to setup your winter storm and emergency services including sanding and de-icing for commercial properties. Don't delay, our routes fill up pretty fast. 

Curious about what's already provided by Seattle Department of Transportation? Check out the Winter Weather web page to learn more about how snow removal is managed by SDOT. However, they do state that "property owners, both in residential and business areas, are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks and steps". 

The last thing you want is to turn away business because your parking lot isn't drivable or your steep driveway or steps are too icy for employes or clients to brave! Whether we have a really tame winter or the worst in history yet, won't you sleep better knowing that your properties are taken care of? Our storm and emergency crews watch the weather diligently and are always ready to roll so they will take care of the necessary arrangements long before any "normal human being" should be awake!

Click here for a letter from the owner regarding our anticipated winter and winter services and an area of service map.

Call 425-483-5700 for a quote today!

Forcasting Winter 2011/2012

We have a “weakening” La Niña which if it remains true, we should have a wetter and warmer winter with an “average” amount of snow in the Seattle – Tacoma – Everett area. However if it “moderates”, the experts say it could surprise us with above average snowfall.

"La Niña is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon located over the tropical Pacific Ocean and results from interactions between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. During La Niña, cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures influence global weather patterns. La Niña typically occurs every three-to-five years, and back-to-back episodes occur about 50 percent of the time. Current conditions reflect a re-development of the June 2010-May 2011 La Niña episode."  (NOAA, 9/8/2011)

Currently no forecasts suggest a replay of 2008. In general, this means snow sometime just before or just after Christmas, lasting into late February, early March.

Be sure to setup Storm & Emergency Services for your property now so no mater what this winter turns out to be, your business will be prepared. TILCO Vanguard provides sanding, deicing, snow removal,  and much more. Call 425-483-5700 for a quote today.

Sweeping Promotion-ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT

There is only a few days left to take advantage of our Summer Special.  Asphalt seal coating not only restores the original black color to your asphalt surface, it also minimizes maintenance by protecting against loss due to oxidation, freeze thaw cycles, and other natural causes.


Keep your parking lot looking new and protect your investment with TILCO Vanguard's seal coating.  Now is your chance to seal coat your parking lot and get a FREE month to try our sweeping services.

To learn more about the benefits of seal coat, click here for a video clip* 

Limited time offer, get your quote today.

*video was provided for reuse via the Pavement Coatings Technology Council (PCTC)

3 Cost Cutting Methods

Be proactive – when you see the initial warning signs of water damage, asphalt cracks, crumbling curb, or deteriorating truncated domes; get on the phone! At least get the problem assessed by a professional before simple water damage becomes a gaping money pit....

Be selective – Your mother-in-law's cousins step brother may have the tools to get the job done cheap... but is it really the in the best interest of your investment to hire him? Seek out professional vendors to outsource and be certain that they will stand behind their work before you approve the project. A warranty in writing is a document worth a careful review. Sometimes that little extra assurance is worth paying a little more to get things done right -- knowing that if anything is not according to plan, that same company will find a way to make it right.

Negotiate – at times companies have been known to sweeten the deal with “added value” offers that are technically off the record but at times they may be just what your property needed even more than the initial work you had bid.

So I guess, remember what your grandma always said… “It never hurts to ask”. 

Get a quote

Reducing Liability

Non skid material protects pedestrians from slipping on metal drain cover

TILCO crew applies SkidGuard to metal vault cover

Proactive property managers seek to reduce liability by applying non skid material to metal vaults, drains and manholes throughout their parking lot. The liquid plastic SkidGuard contains recycled glass for added traction. TILCO Vanguard crew applies the SkidGuard material at select locations in the parking lots they maintain in the Puget Sound area. The material dries almost instantly and even comes in kit form for those Do-it-yourself types.

See other applications to stairs, ramps, etc. [How to install SkidGuard.PDF]
Get a SkidGuard kit quote

What does your curb appeal say about your business

Spring is here, warmer days approaching and you may start to see the beginnings of gardening, landscaping, painting, and in general revitalization of curb appeal all around the Puget Sound.

Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen wrote in the One Minute Millionaire, “Always sweat the small stuff.” Details matter, especially when presenting your property to the general public. First impression or 100th impression; you set the tone of how you do business by how well maintained your yard, parking lot, exterior, and finally the interior of your business or residential property.

So let’s look at the big picture.

• Driving into the lot does your tire sink into that pot hole you’ve been meaning to fix?
• Can you see the parking stall lines anymore or have the faded beyond recognition?
• How about the handicap stalls, are they in the right place and highly visible?
• Wheel stops broken or migrating across the parking lot somehow?
• Does moss cover half your parking lot and the other half is rippled by tree roots?

Next time you visit the property, try to look at it through the eyes of your potential customer. What really stands out that could really use some improvement? If you have managed properties for long you know that you don’t have to have any of these annoying telltale signs of neglect to have a brewing issue. For a quick assessment of your needs, please call or email us.

Protecting Your Investment

Time to revitalize and extend the life of your existing asphalt. Seal coat season is just around the corner and the days when this can be accomplished in the summer are few.

TILCO crew take advantage of warm weather to seal coat commercial parking lot

KOMO News meteorologist, Scott Sistek states in his April 7 report “Seattle only averages 58 sunny days a year with, on average, about 10-12 for each of the summer months…” and of course, seal coat must happen within a certain temperature range also. Once temperatures get to 60 and rising into the 70’s, crews hit the road fulfilling seal coat contracts and  requests as fast as they can.  Get a bid for Seal Coat now or call  425-483-5700

Braille-for-the-Feet

A contractor called the other day requesting "those handicap dots". He meant Detectable Warnings or as engineers and architects know them Truncated Domes. It occurred to me that, while we may see these yellow domed mats everywhere, so few actually know what they are, what their designed for, and even further some don't even know that they are mandated by the ADAAG section 4.29.

TILCO Vanguard is an Approved Installer of Vanguard ADA Systems liquid surface applied detectable warnings. Vanguards product can follow every contour and nuance of the surface in every and any installation.

See the WADOT QPL for specifying info or get the product specs here.

Blast from the Past

TILCO Vanguard started out as just a striping company in 1976. Back then it was just called TILCO.

The
Indelible
Line
COmpany

Founder, Jon Julnes, and his crew of handymen, built TILCO into the company that still to this day proclaims ‘Everything Matters’. The generosity and services are not just about making a sale, but just like this the wave of social media these days, it’s about making a connection, building a community, and in all things, having integrity.

You can be certain that a company making the claim that they are “The Indelible Line Company” will not be in business long without integrity and over-delivering on their promises! Now, over 30 years later, Julnes makes it clear to each new member of the staff that we are only as good as our ability to deliver on our promises… just like the tagline says ‘Everything Matters’.

Full Service Parking Lot Maintenance

TILCO Vanguard of Snohomish, WA partners with property managers, contractors, and home owners alike to provide dependable consistent service with a full warranty on your parking lot service.

Our staff provides fast and efficient attention to all maintenance requests from our estimation department to the storm and emergency crews.

In property management, you have a portfolio of properties calling for your undivided attention. Some services are simply beyond the average onsite maintenance staff, such as pothole repair, concrete wheel stops and extruded curbing, not to mention gaining accessibility ratings with ADA compliance. TILCO Vanguard offers you a full service crew year round, covering all these areas of expertise.

• Asphalt Repair
• Asphalt Concrete 
• Seal Coating
• Parking Lot Striping
• Extruded Curb Installation and Repair
• Parking Lot Sweeping
• Storm & Emergency Services
• Pressure Washing
• Sanding (Winter Time Only)

Approved installer of:

• Vanguard ADA Detectable Warning/Truncated Domes
• Vanguard Non-Skid “SkidGuard” Surface treatments

 All products installed by TILCO Vanguard Inc. are built to last.

Call today! 425-483-5700 or Request a Quote