The performance of commercial flooring is as good as the product will
allow. However, there are numerous things that you can implement that
will increase the lifecycle and performance of a new floor covering.
Carpet
should be maintained using a correct maintenance programme by a
professional cleaning company from the moment it is installed, this
should comprise of regular visits to carry out spot removal and deep
cleaning to high traffic areas. The application of a carpet protector
spray will help with the cleaning, maintenance and performance of the
carpet, what it won't do is provide bullet proof protection for the
carpet as many people believe will be the case. If staff have access to
drinks machine or kitchen areas where they make food or drinks, these
areas should be monitored closely and if tea/coffee spillages are
becoming a problem consider limiting drinks to specific areas that can
be contained.
Vinyl floors can range from basic
tiles through to luxury vinyl tiles incorporating a PU sealant. The
floor type will depend on the installation type, foot traffic and what
happens on a cleaning and maintenance basis, if a vinyl floor has been
installed in a warehouse environment, the foot traffic is heavy, it will
need an additional protective sealant applied to maintain the surface.
Like most floor coverings it is the grit and dirt that will affect and
damage the surface, it is important to minimise this as much as possible
especially in high footfall areas where is can quickly scratch the tile
surface if not sealed. PU sealants are available for further
protection, these will provide a lot more protection against the
traditional dressings or emulsion polishes and will carry a 3 year
warranty in some cases.
Stone is a luxury product
that finds its way into various commercial buildings, whether it is
marble, granite, slate, limestone, travertine, basalt, sandstone or some
other natural stone. These products have been perceived to be very hard
wearing and almost maintenance free in the past, it should not be
overlooked as a material that requires no maintenance! All of the above
stone types can be diamond ground to a smooth finish that will enhance
the appearance, this can be enhanced further by specialist sealants,
colour enhancers, vitrification processes. Sealants can vary
dramatically in quality, some are topical and others are impregnating,
water or solvent based, the use of the correct sealant will extend the
lifespan, performance and appearance of such a beautiful natural
material.
Wood has been increasing in popularity
since the late 90's and has made its way into numerous commercial venues
ranging from sports arenas to high street wine bars. All will need
regular maintenance or treatment to extend the lifecycle of the chosen
timber, this can be dependent on where the floor is installed, what type
of timber it is, hardwood or softwood and even what type of floor has
been installed, solid or engineered (egineered has a wear layer of real
wood on a softwood backing). Foot fall and access for treatment will
determin the type of finish to choose, lacquers, oils, wax-oils all
provide varying levels of protection, lacquers are the most hard wearing
and layers can be applied to provide a very hard wearing finish in very
high traffic areas. Oils and wax-oils are still a commercial option as
they can be layered also, they will give a more natural appearance,
however the drying times and window of opportunity have to be considered
in all product options. If the wood is maintained properly it will
extend the lifecycle of the floor for many years.
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