Before your crew starts, check these 5 things
Summer is the most important window of the year for K–12 facilities teams. Buildings are empty, access is easy, and the work done now directly affects how the school year starts in August.
But too many teams jump straight into cleaning without stopping to assess first. Here are five things worth checking before your crew gets started.
1. Walk every building before work orders go out
Don't rely on last year's notes. Do a full walkthrough of each building and document what you're actually looking at — floor conditions, HVAC units, damaged furniture, ceiling tiles, anything that's changed. What you find in the first week shapes the entire summer schedule.
2. Check your filter inventory before you need it
HVAC and univent filter changes are one of the most commonly delayed tasks in summer cleaning — not because crews forget, but because the right filters aren't on hand when they get to the room. Order before the season starts, not during.
3. Confirm chemical and supply stock with each building
Every facility runs on different supplies. Before assigning deep clean tasks, confirm each building has what it needs — multipurpose cleaner, disinfectant, floor stripper, and refinisher. Running out mid-job costs time and momentum.
4. Set a clear sign-off process before work begins
Who verifies that a room is complete? Who signs off on condition ratings? If your crew doesn't know the answer before they start, you'll spend August chasing down accountability. A simple room checklist posted on classroom doors — like the one in your welcome email — handles this automatically.
5. Schedule your floor work early
Stripping, refinishing, and carpet extraction take time to dry and cure. Schedule floor work in the first half of summer, not the last week. If a room needs multiple coats or a second extraction, you'll have time to get back to it.
That's it for this week. Short, practical, and worth passing along to your team before the season kicks off.
If there's a specific topic you'd like covered in a future issue — work order systems, inspection checklists, staff scheduling, or anything else — just reply to this email. I read every one.
Talk soon,
Daniel Mendoza Facility Insight facilityinsight.com
