Few things can stop a business in its tracks, but one of those is flooring repair and replacement. It’s challenging to find ways to reroute the flow of business and make it work while necessary installs and repairs are made, or worse— close the doors until the work is completed. With all of that comes frustration, increased customer support, and major expenditures. 

Avoid all of that with a solid commercial floor care plan, starting with careful selection of the right flooring for your budget and space. 

From the moment you step into a building, the flooring helps to set the tone of your space– businesslike, casual, high-end, traditional, practical, or modern. While flooring is often selected for aesthetic purposes, don’t forget to consider the installation area and the specific maintenance costs associated with that particular flooring type. 

Keep future costs low and extend the lifespan of your commercial floors with a regular maintenance routine that will keep your employees and customers safe and help you get the maximum wear out of your flooring, saving you time and money in the long run. 

Floor Care Tip #1: Do flooring right the first time 

The type of commercial flooring you select contributes to the overall look and vibe for your building. Whether you go with vinyl tile, composite tile, or carpet, each has its own aesthetic and comfort benefits.  Also, it’s important to remember that your flooring is going to play a big part in your budget. 

While you might at first consider installation and square footage costs, the type of flooring you select for various areas in your building have a longer-lasting impact on your regular maintenance fees. Here are some of the routine maintenance tasks you’ll need to take on for these common types of commercial flooring: 

Vinyl Tile – Requires daily sweeping and mopping, but no waxing. It may require some polishing throughout the year. 

Composite Tile – Requires daily sweeping and mopping, as well as waxing and polishing to prevent scratches and discoloration. 

Carpet – Requires daily vacuuming, yearly extraction and periodic traffic lane cleaning. 

Stone Floors – Not every stone material takes the same treatment when it comes to creating a shine, which is why you should leave techniques like polishing, grinding, coatings, and more to the professionals.

Floor Care Tip #2: Protect your flooring investment 

To keep your costs in check before you get started on creating a commercial flooring plan, you should consider: 

• The size of the flooring area. 
• The amount of foot traffic or furniture movement.
• Available time to perform floor maintenance.
• The location of the flooring. Is it near an outside exit where additional dirt or sediment may be brought in? 
• Open floor space or amount of flooring covered by portable or stationary furniture.  

With these details in mind, you’ll be able to identify high-maintenance areas or particular times of the year when maintenance needs are lower. You’ll be able to successfully stay within your budget while still properly caring for your floors. 

Floor Care Tip #3: Reducing maintenance costs

While there are unavoidable costs related to commercial floor maintenance, there are some precautions that you can take to mitigate high costs, including: 

• • Felt pads – Use pads to protect your flooring from scratches and nicks related to moving furniture. 
  • Floor mats – Protect entryway flooring with a long mat to collect dirt and grit, especially during inclement weather. Keep the mat clean and clean or replace as needed. 
  • Control indoor temperature and humidity levels – Maintaining moderate temperatures and ensuring the humidity levels stay around 35% and 55% will reduce the likelihood of expansion, condensation, or warping. 
  • Protect from sunlight – Direct sunlight can cause the flooring to fade or become discolored over time. 
  • Cleaning service – Routine cleaning by professionals familiar with various flooring care needs will not only take the concern off your shoulders but will also ensure a longer lifespan for your floor. 

Some maintenance tools may also be able to perform multiple functions or work on various surfaces. By researching and investing in multi-purpose tools, you may be able to rotate them around the building to cut down on time spent performing separate cleaning jobs. 

Floor Care Tip #4: Think of maintenance as a preventative safeguard

A regular floor cleaning routine is an opportunity to more quickly catch and prevent slip and fall hazards as well as health concerns, keeping you in OSHA compliance. The basic requirements for compliance include clean and sanitary conditions, dry surfaces free of hazards, and regular inspections. 

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a few of the most common flooring hazards are:

• Holes, cracks, or bumps
• Buckle, loose, or frayed carpet or rugs
• Slippery or wet floors
• Water-damaged flooring that may be creating weak points or mold growth
• Uneven floors of more than ¼ inch
• Lack of slip-resistant mats in wet areas

Creating an effective floor care plan in Waco, Texas

While cleaning can sometimes be put off a day or a week at a time, be careful not to fully neglect your floors. After all, they are literally supporting your employees and customers! With a budget-friendly yet thorough industrial floor cleaning schedule, your floor will have a better chance at meeting (and possibly exceeding) the manufacturer’s expectations. 

Your floor care plan should include regular floor inspections to spot areas of concern as well as vacuuming or sweeping to remove dirt or damaging debris that can create scratches or layers of dirt on the carpet. 

While some tools may be effective on multiple floor surfaces, make sure you have the right tools for the job for a safe and thorough clean to reduce the need for re-cleaning. If you are contracting cleaning services review turnover rates, training, insurance, and past customer reviews. 

Planning takes time, but it’s well worth it for a longer-lasting floor. DNC’s team of professionals are familiar not only with various floor surfaces and floor care routines but as a local independent company, we have dedicated most of our resources to central Texas. 

We’ve serviced thousands of facilities and have more than 35 years of combined experience. As a non-franchise company, we work personally with you to ensure the delivery of an unsurpassed level of integrity, quality, and cleanliness while reducing risk and providing maximum value to your bottom line. Request a free quote today so we can discuss your specific needs in Waco.