Whether you are remodelling, renovating or relocating, installing a new flooring system in your place of business is a big decision.

Installing commercial or industrial flooring always means committing a large amount of time and a considerable amount of money to the project. Once the new floors have been laid, any sensible business person would want to protect their investment. With a little care and some basic maintenance, you can ensure that your commercial or industrial flooring will stand the test of time.

Depending on the type of floor you have chosen, there are many different ways to make sure your working space stays pristine, safe and easy to navigate. All of the commercial or industrial floor coatings that are offered by the professionals at Clifford Flooring require specialised care to keep them looking their best. While not always an involved process, knowing just how to best care for your floors will help you to protect your initial investment and get the most from our products.

Floor cleaner and industrial floor

Here are some of the best ways to ensure your floor is in great condition:

1. Keep your Epoxy floors in excellent shape

Good standards of industrial/commercial hygiene can only be maintained if the integrity of your epoxy floor is complete. Making sure that you know the right way to care for your epoxy flooring is vital. Proper maintenance of epoxy floors will enhance their longevity and keep them looking glossy and new for years. Epoxy floors should be regularly swept with a soft bristled broom. We recommend at least once a day. Any spills should be dealt with straight away to prevent chemicals scoring or marking the floor or creating sticky patches. It is advisable to wash your epoxy floors at least once a week. Although epoxy floors are well known for their durability and strength, it is not advisable to drag sharp or rough-edged materials across them.

Like with most smooth floor types, the care is simple but should be carried out on a regular basis.  Therefore, please allow our recommendations or those of an experienced cleaning product specialist, e.g. Diversey, Ecolab, Albright and Wilson.

  • Avoid dirt

Through integrated floor mats and grilles, the ingress of dirt is reduced to a minimum.  Installation of such zones should be planned for in advance.

  • Protection of newly applied floor

If an epoxy floor is installed at an early stage during new or refurbishment projects, the floor may be subjected to usage very different from those expected during service.  These include Heavy lifting equipment, Movement of heavy cumbersome machinery, Spillage of paints, mastics, sealants etc. Because of this, it is important to consider the following carefully: The installation of temporary covers of a cardboard type material, and hardboard if other trades are to work in the area, Covering the area to be subjected to traffic and additional trades with plywood sheets with heavy duty masking tape at the seams, The avoidance of early usage particularly with rubber-wheeled vehicles.  This will minimise the risk of dirt being embedded into the surface of the floor before it reaches full hardness.  A period of 48 hours is advised at lower temperatures before full service is permitted

  •  Maintenance cleaning

The frequency of the maintenance cleaning depends on the degree of the dirt contamination and the standard of the cleanliness required and can be daily to weekly.  Loose dirt or dust is removed by appropriate methods, such as vacuum, damp mop or specialist machinery.  Shoe and skid marks can be removed with a suitable cleaner.  Clean the general floor area using a pH neutral, non-film forming water.  Cleaners are best used in conjunction with specialist machinery, followed by flushing with clean water.  Specific soiling may require specialist cleaners e.g. in kitchens for oil and grease.

  • Heavy soil cleaning

This type of cleaning has the best results when a specialist cleaning product manufacturer is consulted, thereby forming a cleaning plan that suits the individual needs of your particular facility.  Clifford Flooring Pty Ltd suggests that pH neutral, non-forming, non-abrasive products are used.

  • Reapplication of sacrificial polishes

These should be reapplied in accordance with the amount of traffic your facility encounters and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

  • Maintenance and repair

Even the most assiduously cleaned epoxy floor may suffer damage to its integrity by some unforeseen incident in the workplace, which could result in a consequential risk of bacteriological build-up in cracks etc.  If this situation arises, the damaged epoxy floor should be repaired without delay.  Contact Clifford Flooring Pty Ltd.

  • Important

Water used for cleaning must not exceed 50○C. Cleaning products must not contain abrasive media or solvents.   Best results are obtained by consultation with cleaning suppliers, many of whom will visit your facility and develop a custom cleaning package and regime.

2. Caring for Polyurethane Floors

Polyurethane floor coating is a highly resistant and incredibly durable flooring option. However, even the toughest floor needs to be properly maintained. Keeping your floor free of grit or rough materials will ensure it stays level and even. For this reason, regular washing or mopping of the floor is recommended. Do not use detergents as they can leave deposits on the floor that can impair the glossy finish. To protect the look of your polyurethane floor, Clifford Flooring advises having the floor polished every now and again.

Polyurethane Floor Toppings are a hard, impervious, non-absorbent and non-dusting flooring system.  This ensures not only their durability but the ease of cleaning when a suitable cleaning regime is used.  The cleaning and maintenance of a Polyurethane Floor Topping is considered vital and integral.

  • Post Contract Cleaning

If a Polyurethane Floor Topping is installed at an early stage during new or refurbishment projects, the floor may be subjected to types of usage, very different from those expected during service. These include:

  • Heavy lifting equipment
  • Movement of heavy cumbersome machinery
  • Spillage of paints, mastic, sealants etc.

It is important to consider the following carefully:

  • The installation of temporary covers if other trades are to work in area
  • Covering the area to be subjected to traffic and additional trades with plywood sheets with heavy duty masking tape at the seams
  • The avoidance of early heavy usage particularly with rubber-wheeled vehicles. This will minimise the risk of dirt being embedded into the surface of the floor before it reaches full hardness.  A period of 48 hours is advised at lower temperatures before full service is permitted.
  • Maintenance and Repair

Even the most assiduously-cleaned Polyurethane Floor Topping may suffer damage to its integrity by some unforeseen incident in the workplace, which could result in a consequential risk of bacteriological build-up in cracks etc.  If this situation arises, the damaged Polyurethane Floor Topping should be repaired without delay.

Good standards of industrial/commercial hygiene can only be maintained if the integrity of your Polyurethane Floor Topping is complete.

Not sure still on how to keep your floor coatings in good condition?

Talk to Clifford Flooring providing flooring solutions to Industrial and Commercial Sydney, NSW businesses which meet the highest standards set by HACCP, WH&S and TGA. For more information, contact us today by calling our office on 02 1655 1042 or Gordon on 0709 5555 695 for a free consultation and quote.