Hard floor care is a major cost in most facilities and plays a key role in overall building appearance, health and safety. Floor care costs normally range from as little as sixty cents per square foot to over two dollars per square foot per year and represent 5% to 20% of the cleaning budget in most facilities. Cost reductions of up to 50% or more in floor care cost in any size and type of a facility is a realistic goal that can be achieved when new processes and technology are applied to how floors are maintained.

Making Cost Reduction Work in Your Facility

Reducing costs is not a one size fits all or one step process. True savings come about when all aspects of a floor core program evaluated and changes customized to meet the needs of the facility and its occupants in a way that improves processes, without a loss of service quality. Change and improvement that reduces costs takes time, part of the process involves the tracking, monitoring and adjustment of processes and frequencies based on testing and factual information.

Put together a “can do minded team”, do the needed research, develop a realistic plan and time line and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much can be accomplished over a fairly short period of time. I didn’t say it would be easy or fast, but floor care cost reduction is definitely doable without a loss of quality. (more…)

Filed under: Bidding and Estimating, Floor Care, Self Employment, Technology by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM June 2016

High traffic areas add extra challenges to the cleaning process in any type or size building. Every facility has some areas that need special attention. In your building it could include one or more of the following area; stairways, lobbies, throughways, entrance and exists and primary and secondary hallways, restrooms, cafeterias, elevators and excessively busy and soiled work and manufacturing areas. Sounds like the entire building and some cases it is. These areas are where high levels of soil are tracked into a building and if not removed result in soiling and aggressive wear of surfaces and finishes.

What Works in High Traffic Areas:
When planning tasks and scheduling service in high traffic areas, here are a few tips to help you get the job done quickly and safely:

Prevention:
Capture soil at entrances and exits with 12- 15 ft. of matting, regular vacuuming and frequent dust and damp mopping of hard surface floor with in 25 ft. of entrances and exits. Protect hard floors with additional matting during inclement weather. (more…)

Filed under: Bidding and Estimating, Carpet, Floor Care, Self Employment by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM April 2016

When seasons change and the wet and cold weather come your way, it’s time to alter your carpet care program to meet the changing needs that ice, snow and moisture bring with them. Regardless of the weather, season or type of facility, ongoing carpet care is critical to extending the useful life of building surfaces as well as maintaining acceptable standards related to appearance, safety, health, and cost control. Cleaning and maintenance programs or a lack there of have a direct impact on surfaces and are under the control and responsibility of custodial and maintenance departments. (more…)

Filed under: Carpet, Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM January 2016

There is a revolution going on in hard floor care that will have a major impact on how floors are cleaned and restored in the future. We are in the beginning phases of eliminating the need to strip, burnish and refinish hard surface floors. For those of us who grew up on the handle of a floor machine, with layers of wax on our boots, it’s hard to envision floor care without stripping and refinishing, but the handwriting is on the wall and will soon reach the floor.

Destructive Innovation
The speed and depth of change is creating turbulence and uncertainty for manufacturers, business owners and department managers as the cleaning industry transitions from the familiar ground of “how things have been done in the past” to the uncertainty of an unknown future that is rapidly evolving.
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Filed under: Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM April 2015

Every building has a floor and sooner or later it will need more than daily or routine cleaning to remove heavy soil, scratches, scuffs and restore that like new shine. Hard floor care is one of the most profitable service specialties and if you ask for the work, is often an automatic add on for janitorial and residential cleaning services. If you have the skills, staff and equipment needed to provide periodic and restorative maintenance and your price is reasonable, chances are you will get the work. Sometimes floor care is included in the contract, but many times, floor care provides an opportunity for additional income and profit. If you can’t personally do the work, consider subcontracting with another company to provide the service and add 20%-40% to the cost as your markup for managing the project.

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Filed under: Bidding and Estimating, Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM April 2015

When looking at a concrete floor most people see a dull gray slab. Not me, I see profit and opportunity. Concrete is one of fastest growing segments of the flooring industry and is finding wide use in all types of residential and commercial facilities around the world. This is a trend that will continue to grow in the future as carpet and other flooring materials lose market share. In an effort to reduce maintenance and labor costs, existing floor coverings are being removed to expose concrete that can brighten a room when cleaned and polished.
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Filed under: Floor Care, Uncategorized by William Griffin
Originally Published: Clean Fax August 2014

The increasing use of wood flooring in residential and commercial applications presents a growing and profitable market for carpet cleaners and janitorial services who educate themselves regarding the cleaning, maintenance and refinishing these surfaces. Although the work can be highly profitable, it is not without risk. Special training is required to avoid rework, claims and damage to wood, bamboo and similar moisture sensitive materials.

As with other types of cleaning, pre-inspection and education of the customer on the realities of what you can and can’t do (before the work begins) is critical to avoiding misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations.

The surfaces, products and processes used to clean, maintain and refinish wood and wood like surfaces are continuing to evolve. New dustless equipment, enhanced abrasives and sustainable water based finishes are opening up a service category to companies that were in the past excluded due to the high cost of equipment and a lack of access to information and training that would allow them to do the work effectively and profitably.
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Filed under: Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: Clean Fax February 2014

When it comes to excitement in the cleaning industry, floor care is center stage for cutting edge innovation and technology. Everything about floor care is in flux, from the products and equipment we buy, to the processes we use and the surfaces we clean and maintain. The speed and depth of change is creating turbulence and uncertainty for manufacturers, business owners and department managers as the industry transitions from the familiar ground of “how things have been done in the past” to the uncertainty of an unknown future that is rapidly evolving.
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Filed under: Carpet, Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM April 2013

Concrete Cleaning, Maintenance and Restoration
Buck fifty to as much as $5.00 or more per square foot to clean, polish, stain, densify and recoat those concrete floors you walk over every day. Price varies from area to area, the size of the job and the specific services you are providing. There is no reason to let someone else make that kind of money when it could be yours for the asking. Being able to service this growing market will open doors to both residential and commercial accounts. The good news is that you probably have most of the equipment needed to get started. What you will need is training, a little practice, a few supplies and a willingness to see concrete as an opportunity for profit.
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Filed under: Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: Clean Fax April 2013

When Jeff mentioned he’s like publish a regular column on the subject of hard floor care I was eager to be involved. To keep things interesting, from time to time I may use a guest columnists and I may occasionally interview other experts who can shed light on the art and science of hard floor care in homes and commercial properties.

To lay the ground work for future columns, in this article I will deal with industry trends and income opportunities that relate to hard floor care. I’d like to think of this as your column, it would be helpful if you communicate with me so I know what information would be most useful to you. Feel free to get in touch via my cell phone or email. My contact info will appear at the end of each column. (more…)

Filed under: Floor Care by William Griffin
Originally Published: CMM December 2011