Allwood Flooring Commercial Maintenance Program — Guide to maximize life of wood flooring in commercial applications

Wood flooring: Is it durable enough for commercial use?

The short answer is, “Yes absolutely”. In fact, when maintained properly, not only can wood floors last longer than most other options in commercial settings, real hardwood has numerous additional advantages as well—making it a more sustainable and economic choice.

Hardwood flooring is an excellent solution for both residential and commercial, moderate-to-heavy use areas. They feel elegant and inviting, are easy to install, simple to clean, and can actually improve indoor air quality. Compared to vinyl or tile, wood flooring is more environmentally-friendly to produce and is also biodegradable; where vinyl is not.

Hardwood is extremely durable and able to withstand a large amount of foot traffic. As an example, the Copenhagen Airport in Denmark has had wood flooring since the 1960s. Over fifty years on, with nearly 23 million passengers annually, they still look amazing.

Even in the most demanding locations, given adequate care wood floors can last for generations.

“Copenhagen Airport in Denmark has had wood flooring since the 1960s. Over fifty years on, with nearly 23 million passengers annually, they still look amazing.”

It’s worth it to compare.

It may seem like you are saving money by choosing a cheaper flooring. But it is worth it to evaluate the long-term when comparing between wood and other options. What many do not consider in the lifecycle of a flooring material is maintenance. Here is where wood outperforms all the rest. A study conducted by Parsons School of Design found that in just a 15 year period alone hardwood had already paid for itself. In some cases, as with vinyl composite, the long-term costs to maintain were significantly higher.

The obvious benefit of wood flooring, apart from looks, is its ability to be refinished time and time again—where all other types of floors must be replaced.

The right tools for the job.

Allwood flooring can stay looking beautiful in high-traffic areas for generations, it just takes following a few simple steps and using the right materials. We recommend Pallmann® wood flooring cleaners and coatings for commercial installations.

Together with our friends at Pallmann, we’ve create a list of recommended products and have developed a Commercial Maintenance Schedule you can use to keep Allwood floors clean and protected.

Commercial Maintenance Program

Daily:

• Using a dusting pad or vacuum, remove any large debris and abrasive materials.

The most critical component to making your floors last is keeping them free of dirt or contaminants that can scratch or stain. So the first step to any wood flooring maintenance schedule—whether residential or commercial—is sweeping and/or vacuuming them daily.

Weekly:

• Clean floors using Pallmann TURBO SCRUBBER and HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER.

Periodic cleaning with a flooring cleaner is recommended, but there are some products and tools that can actually damage wood flooring. DO NOT use a soaking mop or a steam cleaner on wood floors. ONLY use products specifically formulated for wood, as the wrong ones may permanently discolor or stain. For best results, we recommend Pallmann TURBO SCRUBBER and HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER. Pallmann HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER is PH Neutral, so it will not stain. It has no caustic or abrasive ingredients, is compatible with most hard surfaces and is safe for use on both Allwood polyurethane and UV cured lacquer finishes.

Pallmann TURBO SCRUBBER is a lightweight yet powerful machine to deep clean and effectively remove contaminants from wood floors in commercial settings. Its interchangeable roller brushes allow it to be adapted for use on multiple types of hard surfaces, and will keep Allwood hardwood floors in premium shape.

Monthly:

• Inspect protector pads on any furniture. Ensure that walk-off mats and rugs are in correct locations and have proper backing.

• Visually inspect wood flooring in high-traffic areas and where furniture is placed for premature wear patterns that may be present in finish.

• If traffic patterns are noticeable, recoating may be necessary. (Refer to Semi-Annual/Annual step).

One of the next most common causes of premature wear to wood flooring is from missing or worn out furniture and carpet backing protector pads. Typically made from a felt-like or rubber material that does not scratch flooring, protector pads are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and are inexpensive insurance against premature wear. At least monthly, all furniture feet and rug/walk-off mats should be inspected. Any worn or missing protector pads should be replaced.

Monthly/Quarterly:

• Deep clean floor using Pallmann CLEAN STRONG and TURBO SCRUBBER to remove harmful residues such as oil, grease and dirt.

By this point it’s likely necessary to perform a deep cleaning of your floors. To do this we recommend Pallman CLEAN STRONG. It is specifically formulated to remove harmful residues such as oil, grease and dirt that can accumulate; all of which can be abrasive and cause premature wear.

Semi-Annually / As Needed:

• Inspect for areas of high-traffic or damage where the factory finish is affected or wear is visible.

• Sweep/vacuum entire area.

• Deep clean area using Pallmann CLEAN STRONG and TURBO SCRUBBER per product instructions.

• Continue cleaning area using Pallmann HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER and TURBO SCRUBBER.

• Apply PALL-X BOND (or sand affected area*).

• Apply appropriate sheen Pallmann Waterborne Finish.

The finish of a wood floor is its first line of defense and keeping it healthy is key to ensuring the floor will last. It is important to maintain the finish so its not worn to bare wood. If wear is too severe a complete re-sand of the floor may become necessary. Compared to sanding and refinishing, the preventative maintenance of periodic re-coating heavy-traffic areas is an inexpensive procedure that can often be completed in just one day with little to no dust or disruption.

Generally, treating an area of flooring that requires re-coating can be done in one of two ways: with a mechanical bonded finish, or a chemical bonded finish. To determine which method is appropriate, please refer to specific product instructions at http://us.pallmann.net, or consult with a wood flooring professional.

In most instances, we recommend using the dustless re-coating process using Pallmann PALL-X BOND Recoat Adhesion System. PALL-X BOND allows for the application of a new coat of finish to be applied without the need to sand the floor.

As Allwood floors are factory pre-colored and finished, sanding introduces the risk of needing to color match if the area being repaired penetrates beyond just the finish. For that reason it is better to avoid sanding if at all possible.

An ounce of prevention.

The old adage is certainly true when it comes to wood flooring. Given good care and proper attention, wood flooring will keep looking great for decades. It is durable, sustainable, renewable, and—best of all—beautiful.

Learn more.

You can learn more about Pallmann and the products mentioned here, and get detailed information on how to use them when you visit their website at: www.us.pallmann.net. For more on the wide array of both hardwood and bamboo colors and styles Allwood offers visit our catalog or our Allwood Cares page, and find out why—with Allwood: the floor you choose can make a difference.