The importance of maintaining the quality and safety of a sport floor
Many schools have wood sports floors. They are expensive to build, which is why it is important to maintain their quality and surface safety. Most gymnasiums are used for many different activities, like basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, social activities, and even floor hockey.
Because of all these activities, a good maintenance program will help maintain the floor’s quality and safety so it can withstand traffic and last for many years to come, without major repairs. Damaged gym floors are expensive to repair. A properly maintained floor can last 50 to 60 years or more.
For floor longevity, it is critical to protect the wood with a polyurethane or a waterborne clear finish, designed specifically for the protection of wood gym floors. Let the finish take the beating and not the wood. The yearly application of a quality topcoat is inexpensive and extends the life of the floor, and it keeps its surface safe even with constant use.
If not properly maintained, a floor can potentially become an accident hazard. Because of the many activities that take place on the floor, pollutants can cause it to become slippery, sticky, or tacky, and become a potential accident hazard to those who use it. The annual refinishing of a gym floor is not only for cosmetic appearance, but it is also for the safety of the people who use it. Also, the floor should be cleaned on a regular basis.
In recent years, as an effort to cut costs some schools have elected to have their facility maintenance people do the finishing of their own gym floors. Initially, this activity seems to be a cost savings to the school. But in fact, schools that have taken this approach found it to be more expensive and not a savings.
Like in the trade industry—where we have plumbers, electricians and HVAC specialists—there are companies that specialize in finishing gym floors. These companies train their employees and are experts in gym floor repairs and finishing. They repair and finish sports floors efficiently with proper equipment and the best and newest technological finishes that are safe, low odor, durable, VOC compliant and environmentally friendly with minimal pollutant to the atmosphere. These people are experienced sports floor experts.
Schools that that do their own gym floor maintenance, use two to three times more manpower than a floor contractor. The school tends to use the lowest cost finishes that may not be VOC compliant and can pollute the atmosphere. Also, overtime is paid for additional work that could not be done because workers are finishing the gym floor.
The actual hidden cost of doing a gym floor in-house is estimated at two times more expensive than the cost of using an outside gym floor specialist. And, if something goes wrong, there is no guarantee.
We can compare this action to removing your own tooth as opposed to going to a dentist. It seems less expensive until you get an infection and have to pay for more medical expenses. Or your teeth keep going bad because of poor maintenance.
Today, we pay for floor experts because they are more knowledgeable, more experienced, and more efficient. They are able to get the work done with the proper tools and equipment, guarantee their work, and are cost-effective.
This article is courtesy of The Ohio Floor Company, www.ohiofloor.com. Whether it’s volleyball, basketball, badminton, pickleball or tennis court flooring you’re looking for, their company has experts in every step of the process.
