Page 2 - 2017-09-CFR Volume 108 - The Importance of Exterior Maintenance

gritty abrasive products can also The experts at LGM
scratch and damage the wear layer on
LVT or LVP products, as well as hard- specialize in consultation, correction
wood, laminate and other non-coated and resolution for flooring complaints,
hard floor surfaces. A strong preventa-
tive strategy will keep this damaging claims, installation and performance
material out of the building, or at least issues.
keep it contained to the entry area.
No issue is too big, too small or too far
First realize exactly what climate away for us to handle.

type your building is located in. All ads are interactive. Just click on
the ad to enter their website.
Do you have seasonal changes

outdoors? How about snow and

ice in the winter months? Does

the building management use

sand or ice melt compounds for

removal and safety of pedestri- TRACKED IN SOILING
ans? How about dusty environ- AND RESIDUE
ments like in desert locations? Is

rain water a problem? All these

questions will begin to place some emphasis on procedures and fre-

quency of the exterior maintenance strategy. In each climate type, pro-

cedures may vary, but frequencies will be similar.

Standing at the front door, look out and see the entry apron. A well
thought out sweeping program will keep the approaching gritty soil at
bay. If the apron is concrete, check the finish of the concrete to match
bristling on push brooms to the surface type. If the concrete finish is
smooth, use a finer sweeping broom to remove the smallest particles. If
the area is large, you may want to consider a walk behind sweeper, with
an edging brush to pick up loose soils along curbs and flower bed are-
as. If this soil is left behind, wind or rain will move this material into the
walking pathways.

Many contractors have opted for a “water broom”

for clearing out soils in the walkways. This process

can also remove any oily soils or sticky spills from

becoming a problem. Attached to a simple garden

hose, these “brooms” flush away the soils to an

outside drain. Contractors should check with local

municipal requirements for runoff from this type of

outdoor cleaning. Certain local laws prohibit any

runoff from entering a storm sewer. Photo Courtesy of : http://

www.watersweeper.com/

Page Layout By: Anita S. Drennon

2 Commercial Flooring Report September 2017