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Wahlen Works: We’ve Got Milwaukee History

Thursday, 01 October 2020 by Wahlen Works
milwaukee discovery center

The Medical College of Wisconsin was founded more than 125 years ago in 1893 as the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons and then, in 1913, the Marquette University School of Medicine. It officially became the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1970. One year later, in 1971, the Wahlen Corp was formed by Ted Wahlen. 

In the years since, we have become the caretakers of some of Milwaukee’s most historic and distinctive properties, earning the trust of facility managers, property managers, and general contractors throughout Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.

In addition to MCW, here are some of the Milwaukee landmarks we are proud to service and maintain.

The Milwaukee Art Museum. Art got its start in Milwaukee in 1888 with Frederick Layton’s Cathedral Square art gallery. In that same year the Milwaukee Art Association was established. Milwaukee’s art collections and display facilities grew over the years and the Milwaukee Art Museum celebrated its centennial in 1988. 

In 2001, the Quadracci Pavilion opened, with its movable wing-like brise soleil becoming an instant Milwaukee icon. We are honored to be responsible for the care and maintenance of their stunning underground parking facility — one that has inspired a Porsche commercial, and is the first impression most visitors have of the museum.

Discovery World. Discovery World started out in a basement, moved to the Milwaukee Public Library, then shared space with the Milwaukee Public Museum before moving in 2006 to its permanent home on the shore of Lake Michigan near the location of the very first Milwaukee cargo pier. It’s our job to keep the decks and parking areas of this beautiful facility in pristine condition.

Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital. Wisconsin historical marker #186 is located on the grounds of historic Saint Mary’s Hospital and marks the location of the Saint Mary’s School of Nursing, founded in 1894. Saint Mary’s opened in 1848 at Jackson and Wells streets. It’s sister hospital, the non-sectarian Columbia Hospital, began operations in 1909, also in downtown. In 1995, the two hospitals merged and Columbia St. Mary’s was formed. Their new $417 million-dollar state-of-the-art facility opened in 2010. We ensure that it’s exterior and parking areas are clean and safe for patients and visitors.

The ASQ Building. You wouldn’t believe it to look at it now but the ASQ center was once a Gimbels department store, and later a Marshall Fields. Built in the 1880s, it was designed after the Selfridge Store in London, but had deteriorated significantly before its renovation in 2001. Today the beautiful structure is in the National Registry of Historic Buildings and stands proudly in the heart of downtown Milwaukee as a successful, 195,000 sq. ft. office building.

Northwestern Mutual. Northwestern Mutual has called Milwaukee home for 160 years. It was born on March 2, 1857 as the Mutual Life Insurance Company of the State of Wisconsin. By 1865 it had expanded into other parts of what is now the midwest and changed its name to the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. 

In 2019 it was ranked #111 in the Fortune 500 for revenue. The insurance behemoth now occupies the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons in Milwaukee and an 84-acre campus in Franklin; and owns the 7Seventy7 apartment tower on 777 North Van Buren Street. The Franklin location includes two parking ramps, one four-level and the second a six-level, 1,625-stall structure. We have been entrusted with the maintenance of both of those facilities and the external garage at 7Seventy7.

The Garages of The Third Ward. The Historic Third Ward District is called that because 70 buildings in its 10 square blocks are on the National Register of Historic Places. They were built in a 36-year span after a fire destroyed 440 buildings in 1892. Today the Third Ward is a must-see for visitors to Milwaukee. “Its district of well preserved, large historic buildings, festival grounds, art galleries, theatre groups, eating and drinking establishments, and special events make it a unique attraction in the Milwaukee metro area.” We are as proud of the Third Ward as we are to maintain the vast majority of the garages in the district.  

The work we do each day takes us to some of the most recognized and iconic locations in Milwaukee. We do our part to maintain Milwaukee’s historic properties and we feel privileged to do so. It’s what it means to be Milwaukee trusted.

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  • Published in Marking, Sealing, Washing
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Wahlen Works Penetrating Sealer Extends The Life Of Your Concrete

Thursday, 18 June 2020 by Wahlen Works
concrete penetrating sealer

To describe something as “weathered” is to say that it has been worn by time and exposure to the elements. A weathered house. A weathered face. Weathered concrete. Over time, everything deteriorates. You can’t completely prevent the “weathering” of your concrete, but you can slow it down significantly with a penetrating sealer.

Our 100%-solids silane sealer is a premium grade, clear, penetrating, waterproofing treatment. Silane is a combination of hydrogen and silicon and it doesn’t form a coating on the surface of the concrete like acrylics and epoxies do. 

Silanes have a very small molecular structure. The small molecular size of the product enables it to penetrate deeply into the pores of the concrete but does not change the appearance or vapor permeable (breathable) nature of treated surfaces. The higher solids (100%) of our sealer compensate for its small molecular structure and low viscosity.

Silane sealer forms membranes within the surface and penetrates deeply into the concrete. This is why it does such a good job protecting the reinforcing steel. Silanes are also water-repellent and hydrophobic (having little or no affinity for water). They protect against freeze thaw damage and efflorescence. Efflorescence is the crystalline deposit of salts that form from water consisting of salt deposits left behind when the water evaporates.

The primary deteriorating agents for concrete are weather, traffic, and chemicals. A penetrating sealer is the best choice to protect concrete from chemical corrosion and freeze-thaw damage in parking garages, bridge decks, and other surfaces which are subject to extreme exposure. Our silane sealer causes concrete to become permanently repellent to water, salt, and waterborne chemicals without losing its breathability.

“Corrosion-related damage to reinforced concrete is the result of rust, a product of the corrosion process of steel, which expands and thus requires more space in the concrete than the steel did at the time of installation. This change in volume of the steel results in expansive forces, which cause cracking and spalling of the adjacent concrete. Other signs of corrosion of embedded steel include delamination of the concrete (planar separations parallel to the surface) and rust staining (often a precursor to spalling) on the concrete near the steel.”

A penetrating sealer prevents spalling, cracking, and staining longer than other concrete sealing treatments. By sealing your concrete, you’ll be spending a little now to save a lot later. It is one of the most cost-effective forms of preventative maintenance you can undertake. We have more than 40 years of experience maintaining parking facilities in Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin We offer a 5-year warranty on our concrete sealing services so you can have confidence that your property will be protected.

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Preventative Maintenance With Concrete Sealing

Thursday, 21 May 2020 by Wahlen Works
properly sealed concrete

In an obscure court case over an alleged breach of lease in St. Louis, the judge ruled, “to the extent defendants based their breach of lease claim on central parking’s alleged obligation to repair deterioration…to the garage’s concrete surface before the end of the lease term, the court finds in favor of defendants”. 

Further down the page, discussing a different example of deterioration, one engineer said, “It’s a classic case of garage neglect, where the operator has failed to protect the decks with a sealer or coating and has allowed water to infiltrate the deck, rusting the rebar mats and (probably) the post-tensioned cables. The rust on the bottom mat steel has resulted in spalling concrete and general degradation, resulting in loss of deck strength and homogeneity.”

If you own a parking garage, preventative maintenance can save a small fortune. 

One form of preventative maintenance is concrete sealing and it’s one of the best returns on investment you’ll find. Last month on this blog we wrote about chloride contamination in concrete and this month we’ll address preventing that contamination and deterioration with concrete sealing.

To prevent degradation in your concrete, you need to prevent water, salt, and waterborne chemicals from penetrating its surface. A high-quality, professional sealant blocks the pores of the concrete, preventing these damage-causing elements from working their way under the surface and attacking the rebar. 

Our silane sealer is 100% solids, compared to the sealers you can buy in most home improvement stores which are about 40% solids. It’s been tested by time, having been in use now for 40 years. The small molecular size of the product enables silane to penetrate deeply into the pores of substrates but does not change the appearance or vapor permeability of treated surfaces. 

In addition to parking structures, this silane sealer can be used to protect buildings, roads, balconies, plazas, and vertical surfaces. It’s approved by the USDOT for sealing bridge decks. It is quite simply, the best product you can use to protect your property. Our sealer forms a permanent chemical bond, stops freeze-thaw damage and spalling, is not susceptible to ultraviolet or chemical degradation, and is cost-effective.

Don’t neglect the preventative maintenance of your garage. A comparatively small investment now could save tens of thousands of dollars or more down the road. Our concrete sealing service also comes with a 5-year warranty, giving you confidence in the wisdom of your investment.

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  • Published in Parking Structures, Sealing
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Commercial Floor Sealing

Monday, 18 November 2019 by Wahlen Works
sealing concrete floors
The use of hard surface floors is on the rise in commercial establishments. Concrete has always been a popular choice for warehouses and garages. In addition, it is becoming trendy for lofts, office buildings, and shared workspaces. There are a lot of reasons for this, including economics and aesthetics. The concrete is already there so there is no additional expense from covering it with wood, carpet, or another material. Furthermore, when properly sealed, the natural, rustic beauty of the concrete is enhanced.
Concrete is porous and so it needs to be sealed to prevent stains and increase its lifespan. There is a lot to know about properly sealing an interior concrete floor, which is why we believe it’s wise to hire a professional. It is demoralizing to spend all that time, energy, and money only to have bubbles, blotches, and dull spots. Because of the rough nature of the surface of concrete, sealer that is not applied properly won’t look good.
Before sealing your concrete floor, it must be prepared properly. If the concrete is rough, grinding, densifying, and polishing needs to be done. Next, all dust, dirt, and debris must be removed. Any spills, stains, or wax must be thoroughly cleaned with a product designed for concrete so that the sealant will adhere. During this phase, we can also dye the concrete to enhance the decor and design. Then the floor must be rinsed and allowed to dry completely. Incomplete drying will trap moisture under the sealant.
After repairing cracks, the floor is ready to be sealed. It’s important to select the correct sealant. This varies based on whether or not the floor has been painted or stained or has had design textures applied during installation. The product must also be formulated for interior use. A different sealant is used for concrete warehouse floors than is used for concrete office floors. The interior space needs to be well ventilated during this part of the process and the floor needs to be allowed to dry completely before it’s ready for foot or vehicle traffic.
Another thing to keep in mind is the age of the concrete floor. A relatively new floor requires a different type of preparation than an older one.

Floor Sealing Questions

When you contact us to have your concrete floor finished and sealed, we’ll have some questions for you.
  1. Where is the floor located (warehouse, office building, etc.)?
  2. How old is the floor?
  3. Is it painted or intentionally stained?
  4. Was the concrete finished with any type of design.
  5. Are there accidental stains which need to be removed?
  6. Has the floor been sealed before? If so, how long has it been since the previous application?
  7. How much traffic does the floor have to bear?
At Wahlen Works, we know which type of sealer and process you’ll need for your particular floor sealing project in order to increase it’s life and enhance it appearance. A properly finished and sealed concrete floor can last for years before it needs to be treated again. Contact us for an estimate today.
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Parking Lot Maintenance Checklist For Winter

Tuesday, 08 October 2019 by Wahlen Works
parking lot maintenance
Wisconsin has nearly perfect weather in early fall. Daytime temps in the 70s mean that just about every activity is comfortable. Temperatures in the 50s at night make for great sleeping weather. These gorgeous conditions can almost convince us that it will last forever. But we know it won’t.  Whether or not there’s another polar vortex in our future this winter, we know it will get cold. There will be snow and ice. There will be salt and sand. It will be messy. It’s time to think about parking lot maintenance.
 
As difficult as it is to think about, now is the time to prepare for winter. To make it easier for you, we’ve developed this handy checklist of everything you need to address to protect your parking facility before Wisconsin does what Wisconsin does. 

Winter Preparation Checklist

The Autumn list for parking lot maintenance includes:
  1. Clean your parking lot. Leaves are not as innocent as they seem. Their chemical composition can  damage the surface of your concrete or asphalt. In addition, fall leaves that have been compacted and frozen by an early snowfall are a pain to remove. A professional sweeping will clear leaves and debris from places where water needs to flow freely. Then, pressure wash the entire facility for clean, odorless property.
  2. Inspect thoroughly for damage. Perform repairs on potholes or cracks. If you defer these repairs until the spring thaw, the damage will be greater and more expensive to fix. 
  3. Check your drainage so water doesn’t pool in the lot or run back to the foundation.
  4. Seal your concrete. Concrete sealing creates a barrier between winter chemicals and salt and your parking surface. By the end of October, seal coating season is just about over, so don’t delay.
  5. Walk around all your snow plowing routes to ensure that they are unobstructed.
  6. Evaluate whether or not your pavement markings and signs are clear and easy to see. If not, consider new parking lot striping. A freshly painted lot  increases the odds that people will drive and park safely. When large sections of your parking lot are used to store unmelted snow, you need to make sure that the rest of your parking lot can be used properly and efficiently.
  7. Review all customer and employee access points into your building. wash to make sure that people don’t slip and fall. check for irregularities in the walkway that can cause people to trip.
If you fail to winterize, your costs could easily shift from preventative (which is less expensive) to reparative (which is more expensive).
 
Start today! The average first frost in southeastern Wisconsin happens in October. That’s now and it means you want to schedule your service within the next few weeks. Before we perform any job for our Milwaukee clientele we map out a detailed plan to ensure that the work is done efficiently and expertly. Call us today at (414) 774-0884 to schedule your winterizing services.
 
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  • Published in Marking, Parking Structures, Sealing, Washing
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The Three Most Important Reasons To Seal Your Concrete

Wednesday, 12 June 2019 by Wahlen Works
seal your concrete
Anyone who has ever tried to maneuver through a parking structure which is in the middle of extensive repairs knows that it’s bad for business. Drivers going opposite directions need to share the same lane when they can’t see around the corner. Dust, debris, and muddy water coat their clean cars. The noise is deafening. And they still have to pay to be there.
As bad as it is on visitors, imagine how much worse it must be for the property owner who has to shoulder the burden of the expense and apologize to customers. We’re not saying that sealing your concrete means you never have to make repairs. But we are saying that you can greatly lengthen the period of time in between repairs when you seal your concrete.

In this blog post we will look at the three most important reasons to seal your concrete.

First, as mentioned above, sealed concrete lasts longer. The sealant keeps chemicals and water from penetrating the concrete. At Wahlen Works, we use a top of the line silane sealer which improves resistance to deicing salts, reduces dirt penetration, and will not degrade when exposed to the sun’s UV rays. This in turn reduces the risk that the rebar within the concrete will corrode. “Silane is the smallest molecular compound of commonly available penetrating sealers. Chemically, Silane forms a covalent bond within porous masonry that clots surface pores. Silane…will only wear away if the concrete surface itself wears away. Noted for very low viscosity, silane is frequently used for sealing dense concrete, such as parking decks, concrete facades, and dense brick…It can be used on parking surfaces, bridges, roadways, runways, curbs, and other concrete surfaces. (source)
Second, a sealed concrete surface is much nicer looking, which speaks well of your business. And sealed concrete retains its professional appearance longer than unsealed concrete. If you’ve ever tried to park in a location where the pavement striping is almost completely faded away or there are holes in the parking surface, you know what we mean. As a property owner who cares about the impression you make to your visitors and the community, you want to ensure that your concrete is sealed on a regular basis. 
Third, sealed concrete resists staining. In the summer stains can come from ice cream, soda pop, and melted candy. In the winter stains come from salt, sand, and melted ice. Oil, grease, and chewing gum are problems year-round. Without proper sealing, these stains can permanently mar the surface of your concrete, making it look old before it’s time. As an added bonus, sealed concrete is much easier to clean than a non-sealed surface, saving you time and money.
If your concrete surfaces haven’t been given their proper attention in awhile, start with a thorough sweep and pressure wash. After pressure washing, preserve your facilities by sealing your concrete. In addition to the long-term savings, we will ensure that you enjoy short-term savings as well by creating a package deal that meets your needs on your schedule. Give us a call today at (414) 771-0884 or request a quote online. You’ll be glad you did.
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  • Published in Latest, Sealing
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How Businesses Can Make a Great First Impression

Friday, 12 October 2018 by Tanya Ferrell
clean parking structure

When a customer approaches your business, their first stop is often your parking lot or garage and the outside structure of your building. Like it or not, appearances matter. When public and private spaces aren’t clean, visitors can get the impression that a place is neglected. Seeing that the outside of a business is neglected may give visitors the impression that the owner neglects other aspects of their business as well. A neglected space can even be interpreted as an unsafe space, and this isn’t a completely baseless assumption by visitors. A recent study done in England found that poor levels of cleanliness are often associated with increases in other low-level crime and social disorder. As a business owner, you don’t want these subconscious thoughts to run through the minds of your customers. At Wahlen Works, we specialize in helping businesses give the best first impression to their customers.

Pavement Marking

From the moment that a customer drives into your parking lot or structure, they should be able to easily determine where to park. Keeping up on your pavement marking and parking lot striping can help reduce the tiny amount of stress drivers may feel when looking for a parking spot.

Pressure Washing

When customers step out of their car, you want to ensure that they’re not stepping on dirty or stained pavement. Again uncleanliness can be associated with neglect in the consumer’s mind. So you want to show that you take care of your business, like you’ll take care of whatever need they may have. Regularly pressure washing your parking facility is one small way to show that you care.

Concrete Sealing

Lastly, maintenance is everything. If you have a concrete structure or concrete pavement, concrete sealing is one way to help ensure the pavement lasts and your pressure washing jobs last longer, as a quality sealant can help prevent staining. When you own a business, it’s important to think about think about the customer’s experience from the moment they pull up to the moment they leave. If you need help making sure that first impression is a great one, contact us today!

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  • Published in Marking, Sealing, Washing
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