Floor functionality and durability are essential to promote safety standards and meet OSHA and other federal, state, and local guidelines at your business. You’ll typically need to update flooring at least once a decade to ensure it's in top condition. If you’re expanding your space, you’ll want to install effective flooring from the start.
New flooring can enhance your productivity long-term, but to keep business moving, it's important to minimize any disruptions the installation process may cause. When you’re getting new flooring, a little preparation goes a long way in minimizing downtime for your business. Use these tips.
1. Carefully Select Materials
First, compare the materials available to select one that is quick to install and provides the durability and resistance you need for your business operations.
For example, Urethane Mortar, also called Urethane Slurry or Urethane Concrete, is a type of flooring that rapidly cures and hardens for limited downtime. Your staff can walk on flooring made with Urethane Mortar in as few as 8-12 hours after floor installation is completed. It’s resistant to heat, thermal shock, and organic and inorganic acids and solvents, making it a great choice for industries like manufacturing and food processing plants.
Another material that limits downtime is epoxy flooring. This easy-to-clean, chemical-resistant material makes it another popular choice for industrial, manufacturing, medical and food and beverage industries. Typically, epoxy floor covering requires around 24 hours to cure.
You’ll also want to consider how much time is required before certain materials can be added to concrete. For example, you might need to wait around a month before epoxy can be applied. With Urethane Mortar, the wait time is considerably less, around 3-5 days.
Also, consider long-term use when choosing materials. To minimize downtime in the future, choose materials that are built to last longer and that are easy to clean and maintain over time.
2. Hire an Experienced Team
The quality of the installation team will have a major influence on downtime. Teams that lack experience working with certain materials or that haven't worked in spaces like yours may take longer to install flooring. In worse cases, the flooring may be installed incorrectly and require fixing or reinstallation, resulting in future downtime.
As you research and compare flooring installers, inquire about the type of equipment that’s used and the size of the team doing the job. Ask how each company works to minimize downtime for their clients and how they improve efficiency while working.
A flooring installer should be willing to walk through your space before they're hired and provide relevant recommendations that meet your unique requirements. That’ll help you choose a cost-efficient solution that also promotes safety and durability over time.
To get the job done right, interview the flooring installation team before you hire one. Ask:
• What their experience working with businesses like yours is
• What type of downtime can be expected
• What the finished project should look like and what results are expected
Credible flooring installation teams should also be willing to refer you to consult with their past clients. Ask if the installer has client testimonials or can put you in touch with a past client so you can research what to expect.
3. Schedule Installation for Off-Hours
In addition to curing time, the installation process itself requires several shifts. These may include:
• Surface preparation
• Primer, mortar, grout coat and/or slurry coat application
• Top coating
If you’re concerned about downtime, ask the flooring installer how much time can be expected during the actual installation process. If you want to get the job done as quickly as possible, inquire about flexible scheduling options. See if the installation crew is open to working 24/7 to get the job done faster.
You may also consider scheduling flooring installation for times like scheduled shutdown periods or in-between manufacturing runs.
Your flooring installer should be willing to work with you on your schedule. From start to finish, the process should be focused on decreasing downtime every step of the way. As you compare installers, ask for examples of how they can do that for your business.
If flooring installation must occur during in-business hours, make sure the installation provider you choose minimizes disruption to your staff and operations as much as possible. Ask about clean-up, equipment, and machinery management during the process and what to expect for how that will affect your team and operations.
Learn About Your Options: Contact Concrete Coatings of the Carolinas
At Concrete Coatings of the Carolinas, minimizing downtime is just as important to us as it is for your business. We have experienced staff and the best equipment to install flooring quickly, efficiently, and effectively so you can get back to business with less downtime. Contact us for a free flooring consultation for your business.