ACo Declares War on COVID-19

Swift, decisive, and proactive. By declaring war on the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, ACo aims to protect our employees, trade partners, clients, families, and all those impacted by the decisions we make. It is as important to protect our health today as it is to be prepared for the future economic repercussions.

While “novel,” this situation will not last forever. We need to be ready to get back to 100% as soon as we can, and that includes staying in touch with current and potential clients, building relationships, managing trade and vendor partnerships, and continuing to develop as professionals.

Now is not the time to wait and see, now is the time for action.

Take Immediate Action

In these uncertain times, there is no way to continue business as usual. So, we will continue business as unusual. As a team, ACo is taking steps to stay in production, practice good hygiene and jobsite sanitation, limit in-person contact and exercise social distancing, and use common sense rather than panic or ignore the situation.

Hygiene and Sanitation

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds when entering or leaving a location or periodically throughout the day. Use hot water and antibacterial soap. Use sanitizers when necessary.
• Regularly wipe down surfaces with disinfectant such as doorknobs, cellphones, countertops, desks, drawer and appliance handles, and any surface people frequently touch.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning.
• Keep track of your sanitation efforts. On jobsites and in offices, use daily logs. Set reminders on your phone to wash your hands, sanitize your surfaces, and avoid touching your face on a regular basis.

Social Distancing

• Stay home as much as possible. Work from home, keep errands short, pick up food for take-out.
• Use video conferencing instead of in-person meetings.
• If you must meet in person, keep meetings short with 10 people or less.
• If you work in the field and cannot work from home, be vigilant about hygiene and sanitation.
• Maintain a safe social distance of at least 6 feet.
• Avoid touching other people, so no handshakes, high-fives, or hugs.

Use Common Sense

• Stay home if you are sick.
• If you are healthy, don’t go out unnecessarily.
• Follow reputable news sources to stay up to date.

Tools to Help You Succeed

There are many tools you can use, guidelines and recommendations you can follow, and actions you can take to help all of us succeed in defeating COVID-19. Defeating this pandemic doesn’t mean no one else will contract this novel coronavirus, but it will mean we can flatten the curve, avoid overwhelming hospitals and medical resources, and recover the economy more quickly.

With that in mind, ACo has the tools and solutions we need to help continue business as unusual and defeat the virus.

Jobsite Sanitation Kits – All ACo jobsites, trade partner crews, and employees will carry sanitation kits. These kits include:

• Antibacterial soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Cleaning supplies and wipes
• Rubber gloves
• Shoe covers

Technology resources for remote meetings and design consultations – Yes, ACo is still accepting new business and continuing to serve our current clients while adhering to practices that help decrease the spread of the coronavirus. The following tools help us keep moving on all of our projects:

Video Conferencing

• Facetime
• Zoom

In-home Measuring Apps

• CamToPlan (User-friendly/entry level) iPhone Users/ Android Users
• Magic Plan App(Advanced Users)

Virtual Design Inspiration

• Morpholio Board – Available on iOS and Mac, find design inspiration, create mood boards, and share them with your designer.
• Pinterest– Create and share a Pinterest Board with your designer. Exchange ideas, find inspiration, and see the latest projects from ACo.
• Visualize your design with 3D renderings from the ACo CAD team.

Design service and materials only projects. Ready to tackle a home improvement project while you practice social distancing, but you aren’t sure where to start? Using video conferencing, in home measuring apps, CAD drawings, virtual reality, and even our flooring visualizer, the ACo designers can help you plan and execute your project from afar. We will order your materials and you can install them yourself.

The Future is Ours

This too shall pass, and when it does, we all want life to return to normal as quickly as possible. This means doing all we can to continue to keep the wheels of the economy rolling. So, order take-out from your favorite restaurant, support local businesses by shopping from their websites, schedule the landscaper to plant spring flowers or spread mulch, connect with ACo to start your next home improvement project, and find new ways to do old things. Continue to move forward each day and we will all come out of this with a bright future.