The Lifetime Family is dedicated to providing you with the best product on the market accompanied by the best customer service in the industry. We are able to maintain these standards by staying up to date with technology and constantly evolving to improve our process to better serve you. While a lot of the improvements we make are in the tangible products you receive, have no doubt we are making constant improvements behind the scenes and in our office.

In an effort to make your experience with the Lifetime Family as fluid as possible we have upgraded our phone system. We now have seamless communication between Lifetime Enclosures and Lifetime Flooring under the same phone system.

With growth comes change! 904-731-5580 will remain our main line at Lifetime Enclosures and any phone numbers you’ve seen in ANY ADVERTISEMENTS (website, magazines, etc.) will still work. Previously we had multiple phone lines. They are now all bundled under the main phone line 904-731-5580.

The following phone numbers are no longer active:

904-730-9539

904-731-8563

904-731-2014

904-737-5505

904-737-5504

Please update our phone number to 904-731-5580

We are very excited for this new change! Thank you! We appreciate your patience as we learn our new phone system. We look forward to better serving you!

QUARANTINE DAY 985:      How to Clean Your Screen Enclosure

With the current stay at home order issued by our local authorities I think it’s safe to assume we’re all working on our Honey Do lists. We have received a few calls this week from homeowners asking us how to properly clean their screen enclosure.  We here at Lifetime Enclosures want to offer a little guidance!

There are a couple different methods to choose from when it comes to cleaning your screen enclosure. Before you begin any method you will want to brush the screen with a broom or light brush to remove any loose leaves and debris. Make sure to use a soft-bristled brush so you do not damage the screen. You can use a blower to blow debris from the top of your pool enclosure or screen roof enclosure.

Perhaps the easiest way to go about cleaning your screen enclosure is with a power or pressure washer. If you choose to go this route make sure that you start on the lowest setting and slowly increase pressure as needed to make sure that you do not damage the screen. You shouldn’t need a lot of pressure. This is a convenient method and will make is easy to clean the higher and harder to reach portions of your screen enclosure. The combination of warm water and high pressure will usually eliminate the majority of mold and grime on the screens. The common garden hose attachment will also do the work without damaging the screen. Most hardware stores rent out pressure washers if you do not have one and this is your preferred method of cleaning.

If the pressure washing method doesn’t seem to get the tough spots of mold and mildew you can also soak the screen with water and scrub the spots with warm water and dish soap. After you have done some light scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush you will want to rinse the screens thoroughly with water. You can allow them to air dry or you can dry them yourself with a non-abrasive and super absorbent chamois cloth. Using the chamois cloth will ensure you have no drip stains or streaks that will likely form during the air drying process. This method of tedious cleaning will also help to remove stains caused by fingerprints, dead bugs, and weathering.

For especially tricky stains that need a little extra attention or to remove stubborn mold and mildew you can also use a solution of 1:3 water and bleach. Make sure to water nearby plants first. This will protect them from the harsh bleach. You can spray this solution on the stains and use a soft-bristled brush to lightly scrub the area. Make sure to thoroughly rinse all of the solution off the screens. The bleach may damage the aluminum, so be cautious near the framing and make sure to rinse quickly and completely. Don’t forget to dry with a chamois cloth to avoid water spots and streaks.

If the bleach method is a little too strong for you then we suggest a mixture of 1:1 Vinegar and warm water. Spray the desired area with the mixture and lightly scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse completely. Again, you can allow to air dry or you can manually dry the screen with a chamois cloth. Don’t stress about the vinegar smell, it will dissipate as the screens dry. And actually, the residue left by the mixture hinders the growth of mold!

To clean the roof panels of your pool enclosure or screen roof enclosure you may need to use a walk board over two ladders. Make sure your ladders are well positioned and on level ground. If you do not feel comfortable with this please call a professional to handle the job!

Be cautious while cleaning your screens. Using the pressure washer improperly or scrubbing with the wrong brush or solution can damage your screen enclosure. Most homeowners are comfortable with this type of DIY. But never hesitate to call a professional!

And don’t forget, soap and water can quickly make for a slippery floor… so be careful!

If these suggestions didn’t help, or your enclosure if beyond the point of being able to be cleaned, if may be time to give us a call to talk about getting it rescreened. It would be our pleasure to help!

Stay safe and wash your hands!  

Happy Quarantine Cleaning!

Check out our new trailer wrap! We are so excited and love how it turned out! Make sure to keep an eye out for us on the road! #LIFETIMEliving #LIFETIMEenclosures #LIFETIMEflooring

What Home Means to Us Now

During these uncertain times within our country, more now than ever, we are staying at home and cherishing our loved ones – as the saying goes, home truly is where the heart is. We at Lifetime Enclosures and Lifetime Flooring want to assure you and your loved ones that we are abiding by the following guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and our healthcare officials*:

• Practice Social Distancing – maintain at least six feet distance between persons
• Hand Washing – wash hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
• Team Members – any team member that feels sick, specifically with flu-like symptoms, fever, and/or cough is instructed to stay at home until they are at least 24 hours fever free and/or seek medical treatment if necessary
• Travel Precautions – any team member who has (or has a household member who has) traveled internationally, been on a cruise, or has had potential exposure to someone with COVID-19 is required to report this information to Human Resources immediately

(*Please note that this is a fluid situation and we, as a company, will continue to update our practices in accordance with updates that are received from the CDC and our healthcare officials.)

With the temporary closures of our schools and beaches, coupled with the cancellation of all scheduled sporting events, concerts, and travel plans to name a few, we are advised to spend more time in our homes and with our families. In the coming weeks and months, we will be using our homes and our backyards as classrooms, offices, gyms, and restaurants. We will get creative and inventive in order to ease our boredom and anxieties related to our current COVID-19 situation.

Once again, we are committed to the safety of our entire team and each of our Lifetime Families.  Whether we recently completed your project, you have a project underway with us, or you are in the beginning stages of planning your new project, you can be completely confident that Lifetime Enclosures and Lifetime Flooring are taking the precautionary steps to protect our team and to keep your family safe during this trying time.

In the event that our state government officials order a “Lockdown” or the closure of all nonessential businesses, we will shift our team to work from home. Our team will still be available to communicate with you and will be ready to answer your questions in order to keep you updated on the progress of your project. Please note that it is likely that this situation will create some unforeseen delays for our industry and your project. Even still, as a company, we remain committed to completing each job in a timely manner and will keep you updated on any potential delays we may anticipate. Our goal has always been, and still is, on-time completion! We utilize a web-based program for most of our day-to-day operations and this will allow us to remain available and maintain positive progress on your project. Again, we will make every extra effort to keep you up to date and informed on the status of your project. There is enough to stress about right now, your Lifetime Project shouldn’t be one of them!

To help us achieve all of the above, please make sure that the email address we have on file is accurate. We will use email to keep you updated on any operational changes that apply to all projects. We will also keep our websites (www.lifetimeenclosures.com and www.lifetimeflooringjax.com) updated with any pertinent information regarding day-to-day business operations.

If you have additional questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us via any of the below outlets:

Lifetime Enclosures

Phone Number: (904) 731-5580

Email Address: [email protected]

Lifetime Flooring

Phone Number: (904) 730-4152

Email Address: [email protected]

Thank you once again for your continued trust and patronage.

Sincerely,

Jeff Briar

President

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CURE MY NEW CONCRETE SLAB?

To get the strongest finish out of your new concrete slab for years to come we suggest taking the time to properly cure your new slab for at least 7 days after installation (28 days is ideal). Curing is the process of controlling the rate and extent of moisture loss from concrete during cement hydration. Curing plays an important role in strength development and durability of concrete. This is done by continuously wetting the exposed surface thereby preventing the loss of moisture from it. If water evaporates too quickly, it will weaken the finished product with stresses and cracking. To put it simply, the goal is to keep the concrete saturated during the first 28 days.

The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately. To protect your new slab and ensure an exceptional finished product you should wait 24 hours for foot traffic (including pets), 10 days to drive light vehicles or add furniture, and 28 days for heavy pick-up trucks and RVs. After 28 days the concrete is cured and you will have a strong and stable slab. After this point you can paint or stain your concrete if you’d like.

Properly curing your concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and resistance for many years.

To get the strongest finish out of your new concrete slab for years to come we suggest taking the time to properly cure your new slab for at least 7 days after installation (28 days is ideal). Curing is the process of controlling the rate and extent of moisture loss from concrete during cement hydration. Curing plays an important role in strength development and durability of concrete. This is done by continuously wetting the exposed surface thereby preventing the loss of moisture from it. If water evaporates too quickly, it will weaken the finished product with stresses and cracking. To put it simply, the goal is to keep the concrete saturated during the first 28 days.</span

The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately. To protect your new slab and ensure an exceptional finished product you should wait 24 hours for foot traffic (including pets), 10 days to drive light vehicles or add furniture, and 28 days for heavy pick-up trucks and RVs. After 28 days the concrete is cured and you will have a strong and stable slab. After this point you can paint or stain your concrete if you’d like. 

Properly curing your concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and resistance for many years.

IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO HAVE MY SURVEY AT THE TIME OF MY IN-HOME ASSESSMENT?

Yes! It is definitely necessary to have your land survey available during your in home assessment, and here’s why.

What is a Land Survey? A land survey is a graphic depiction of a property, similar to a map, outlining its legal boundaries and the different elements that make up the property.

It should also identify the following:

• Easements, building setbacks, or any other restrictions.
• Whether or not your house is in a floodplain. If it is, an elevation certificate should also be included.
• Boundary descriptions of all adjacent properties to ensure that the property lines are defined exactly the same.

The location of boundary lines is a critical piece of information to have before you add an enclosure or sunroom in order to ensure that your proposed project meets all of the required zoning regulations in your jurisdiction. For this same reason it is important to have your survey available at the time of your in home assessment. This allows you and your representative to make certain that your project meets jurisdiction requirements throughout the design process and helps minimize hiccups and delays as the project progresses.

If you design your room without the necessary information provided on the survey you may run the risk of designing a room that does not meet all the required zoning regulations of your specific jurisdiction, resulting in your plans being rejected by the building department. When this happens, we have to redesign your project to meet the applicable regulations and then submit the revision to the building department. This creates delays in permitting which can then result in delays in installation, and ultimately a delay in the completion of your project.

If you’re planning a project in the near future, it’s best to have your survey ready in order to prevent any avoidable delays and ensure a timely process.

Check out this aerial shot of both Lifetime Enclosures and Lifetime Flooring! We have done a lot of work improving our building and showrooms! Come check us out, we are ready to serve you!

We have updated and added a ton of information, pictures and ideas! Stop by our showroom and pick up a copy today or visit lifetimeenclosures.com and download it for free! We hope you find this information very beneficial and useful!

We are having our Pre-Home and Patio Show Open House Saturday, February 22nd and offering our Home and Patio Show discount! We will be having Tate from Rutherford Equipment grilling up some food and will also be serving some refreshments! See you there!