Proper care of hard floor surfaces is always challenging, requiring diligence and a systematic approach to maintenance. Protecting hard floor surfaces during the harsh winter months can be even more of a challenge. A seasonal approach to floor maintenance can help protect your hard floor surfaces from the damaging effects of winter. A good approach would consist of a few basics.
Entry Matting System - A Preventive Measure
Protecting hard floor surfaces should start at the exterior of your facility. The winter months can bring a cocktail of abrasive elements into your building. The winter elements---water, ice, salt, and slush---when unchecked, will find their way inside your facility. Once inside, those contaminates will begin to damage your hard floor surfaces.
Foot traffic is typically the prime entry mechanism for winter elements into your facility. Many hard floor surfaces (hardwood, tile, marble, etc.) can suffer from the lack of an effective entry matting system. Winter elements that penetrate your building can damage you flooring in numerous ways (scratches, scuffs, water damage, etc.)
Investment in an entry matting system can be a cost-effective way to protect your investment in flooring. This is especially critical during the winter months as the soles of incoming foot traffic can be encrusted with winter residues.
The following links will provide you with some additional information on entry matting systems.
Benefits of Effective Entry Matting
Selecting the Right Entry Matting
Don't Forget the Exterior
Keeping the exterior of your building in good order is an often overlooked component of hard floor maintenance. Keeping sidewalks and entry walkways free of snow, dirt, ice, and other grit can help ensure that your entry matting system does not become overloaded. Daily cleaning (sweeping, scraping, blowing, etc.) of those exterior walkways will help reduce the amount of debris that has to be handled by your entry matting system.
Rapid Response to Problem Areas
In those events when the winter elements do find their way inside your facility it is critical that you have a routine in place that will rapidly address those incursions. Proper hard floor maintenance requires all areas that have been exposed to water, ice, sludge, etc. to be cleaned and dried is quickly as possible to in order to minimize exposure time. Stepping up your floor inspection frequencies during the winter months will allow you to spot problems areas more quickly and take appropriate action.
Protecting hard floor surfaces during the winter months does not have to be an expensive effort. Investment in an entry matting system, combined with a seasonal increase in inspection and maintenance routines, will help maintain the health and appearance of your flooring during the most challenging season.