Okay, this month we’re going to be talking about maintaining your floors. I know it’s not a subject that we want to talk about, but it is something that needs to be done. Every office needs to have a maintenance plan so that we can correctly maintain our commercial floors and make sure that they’re going to perform and last for the amount of time that we were expecting.
In many cases, most offices will have an evening maintenance crew that comes in. I want to talk a little bit about making sure that you have correctly gone over the maintenance requirements with the cleaning company, because every product is different and a standardized cleaning method will sometimes actually damage the floors instead of keeping them in good condition. Often, our offices will have a commercial vinyl, a commercial carpet or commercially rated woods and laminate.
First, I want to talk about the woods and the laminates, which are very susceptible to moisture damage. When working with a maintenance company, you must first and foremost make sure that you are correctly identifying the cleaning method that will be used. If the cleaning method is a water-based cleaning product, you will be doing long-term damage to the wood and laminate that will end in a full replacement. I highly recommend that you look at the maintenance instructions that come with the product, which will give you the cleaning products and methods that you need to maintain the floor.
Second, let’s talk about the products that can be cleaned in more of a traditional format. For instance, vinyl or the new vinyl plank flooring can be cleaned using steam mops that you find at most of your home shows. The steam mops are a great cleaning tool that work really well especially in offices that want to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Finally, let’s talk about commercial carpeting. It’s really important with commercial carpeting that you create a maintenance schedule where the office is closed for the evening and a professional steam cleaning company can come out and clean them using steam cleaning. Steam cleaning carpet is the only way you can correctly clean carpet and ensure that the carpet is going to last. On average, most commercial carpets need to be cleaned every year. If you have a higher traffic commercial environment – say, a restaurant lobby or a hotel lobby where the foot traffic is much higher than a standard commercial operation – then I recommend you get your carpets cleaned every six months. When considering the types of products to purchase for your commercial project, you need to take into consideration the maintenance requirements and the long-term maintenance costs that will be required. This needs to be factored into your ROI and your cost of ownership so that you can make a good buying decision. Sometimes a higher initial cost for products maybe a less expensive solution in the long term.
Thanks again for spending a few moments with me, and as always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop me an email at [email protected]. QCBN
By Chris Hussey
Chris Hussey is the Principal of Chris N Nate’s Flooring Shack at 9234 E. Valley Road in Prescott Valley. He can be contacted at 928-515-2450
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