What to Look for Before Doing a Holiday Shutdown

Worn areas

Check any high-traffic zones near equipment and main walkways. Look for thinning sealant, visible damage, pits and any signs of wear. These high-traffic spots will definitely need repairs and recoating. Addressing worn areas protects your floor from further deterioration. Use floor mapping technology to identify problem areas and determine the frequency of recoats needed to maintain durability. Refer to recoating schedules to stay ahead of wear issues before they escalate into safety hazards or major repairs.

Spills and stains

It is important to inspect floors for discoloration, staining or stickiness from chemical spills and leaks. Stained floors may require stripping, deep cleaning and completely resealing affected areas depending on the size and severity. It’s essential to clean up any spills at the time of the incident to prevent permanent staining and damage.

Cracks and pitting

Scan concrete floors carefully for cracks, chips, gouges, pitted areas or uneven surfaces. In many situations, cracks allow moisture to seep in and cause underlying erosion. Be sure to address all cracked and damaged concrete during your shutdown. Applying protective sealants after repairs will help prevent future moisture infiltration and deterioration in repaired zones.

Contamination

Inspect floors for oil, grease, chemical or other contamination. Grime buildups lead to slipping hazards and is impossible to seal over completely. The best way to combat this is to schedule degreasing, chemical cleaning and power washing of contaminated floors prior to shutdown. Severely contaminated concrete may need mechanical grinding.

Inspect drains

Unclog and clear all floor drains in case of future flooding. Check drain covers and grates for damage too. Proper drainage prevents operational disasters. Ensure any debris or blockages are fully removed so water can flow freely. Inspect the drainage pipes under sinks and other plumbing fixtures for leaks or cracks that need repairing. Effective drainage systems protect facilities, inventory, and daily operations from avoidable water damage incidents.

Update flooring designs

The shutdown presents a perfect chance to upgrade old, worn floors with new, heavy-duty floor systems built for safety, cleanliness and durability. Consult Protective Industrial Polymers (PIP) about innovating your flooring. Consider antimicrobial flooring technologies for spaces where cross-contamination is a concern, guaranteeing a hygienic surface, or ESD coating for anti-static capabilities. Allow our flooring specialists to evaluate current surfaces and recommend long-lasting solutions that stand up to your operations.

After thoroughly evaluating your floors, enlisting the assistance of PIP can be invaluable. We offer a diverse array of durable polymer flooring solutions tailored to the precise requirements of various industries. You can expect exceptional quality at every stage of the process when collaborating with our dependable staff, who boast extensive expertise in their respective fields.

Conclusion

Taking advantage of downtime during the holidays ensures that your facility’s floors can be fully inspected, repaired, cleaned and protected with fresh coatings. Your workforce will return to safer, cleaner conditions for your employees to function. PIP can restore your floors over the shutdown, so they stay in great shape all year, despite heavy manufacturing use. Our company creates complete flooring solutions specifically designed for heavy manufacturing, commercial, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Offering an extensive array of services, we pledge to provide the best possible consulting knowledge for every project until it is finished.