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Periodic warehouse floor maintenance is essential for any facility with heavy goods or a high traffic volume. A well-maintained floor guarantees the safety of all people operating in the space and helps boost productivity and efficiency.
Moreover, regularly scheduled warehouse floor maintenance can offer significant cost savings in the long run because you can identify and address problems with flooring before they get out of control, helping to prolong the surface’s life.
Professional warehouse floor maintenance includes a wide range of services, like sealing cracks, coating surfaces, and floor marking with paint or tape.
If you are considering hiring a third party for your warehouse floor maintenance, it is worth considering that the surface will need to be correctly cleaned beforehand. So, consider contracting a provider offering industrial warehouse cleaning.
If you are relocating or refitting a warehouse or distribution center, working with a warehouse setup consultant is your best choice to make sure everything is in place from the start. This will make follow-up maintenance easier and more efficient.
Specialist providers will be able to support you throughout the entire process, with services often including cleaning and floor maintenance as well as supplying and installing critical infrastructure like warehouse racking and collision barriers.
If you need a team of professionals to help you with your warehouse floor maintenance in Mexico, Brazil, or the United States, contact us.
5 key reasons for warehouse floor maintenance
Warehouse floor maintenance is important for many reasons, some of the most important of which include:
1. Improved safety
Warehouse floor maintenance is critical to maintaining safety within the facility and making any logistics business an optimized workplace. Sealing cracks and resurfacing floors help prevent accidents such as collisions and slips, while floor markings improve traffic flow and guide employees safely through the warehouse.
2. Operational efficiency
Warehouse floor maintenance minimizes disruptions caused by repairs and accidents, especially when performed regularly. It also streamlines the movement of equipment, goods, and personnel. Ensuring consistent workflow means greater operational efficiency, less downtime, and shorter delivery times.
3. Long-term savings
Investing in warehouse floor maintenance services increases the durability and longevity of all elements. In any warehouse or distribution center with floors in optimal condition, whether with special finishes or taped or painted marking, there is less necessity for repairs, which in turn helps save resources in the long run.
4. Enhances company image
An organized warehouse or distribution center with a clean, spotless floor projects a professional and positive image to customers and helps keep the business competitive. The appearance and condition of the warehouse floor also influences the morale of workers, who are more productive in well-kept spaces.
5. Compliance with local regulations
Some industries require specific floor markings and safety measures. Warehouse floor maintenance helps logistics companies comply with local regulations, from taping and painting to indicate hazardous areas or where special machinery is handled to special floor coatings for food or pharmaceutical stores.
Different warehouse floor maintenance services
Among a wide range of warehouse floor maintenance services available, the following are some of the most commonly requested:
Crack sealing
Crack sealing is a preventive warehouse floor maintenance service to eliminate cracks in asphalt or concrete surfaces caused by heavy vehicle traffic. While it is recurrent on roads, it is often applied to entrances and exits, parking lots, and industrial floors in the warehouse or distribution center.
To seal floor cracks, it is first necessary to carefully inspect the surface to identify all imperfections and to see how long or deep they are. Then, an expert can determine which materials will be needed for effective sealing.
After the evaluation comes the cleaning and preparation of the surface, removing dirt and debris to ensure proper adhesion of the sealing material to the surface. Common materials include asphalt sealants, cold-applied sealants, and specialized epoxy-based sealants.
Once the surface is ready, the selected sealant is applied directly into the cracks using specialized equipment such as heaters, pouring pots, or pressure applicators. After filling the gaps, the excess sealant should be leveled with the surrounding surface to ensure a uniform appearance.
This floor maintenance service should be planned, as the sealant requires time to dry, which varies depending on the type of material used. During this period, the sealed cracks will become resilient and able to withstand traffic and environmental conditions.
Crack sealing is imperative, as it prevents water from seeping into cracks, prolongs the surface’s life, improves safety by reducing trip hazards, provides better traction when driving and walking, and helps facilities look more aesthetically pleasing.
Epoxy coating
Warehouse floor maintenance also includes coating concrete surfaces with epoxy resin. This finish is known for its durability, strength, and versatility.
To start, it is necessary to prepare the surface, which involves a thorough cleaning and, in some cases, the removal of existing coatings, dirt, oil, and contaminants. If cracks are present, they must be repaired before the coating is applied to ensure a smooth, flawless finish.
When the surface is ready, the epoxy resin is applied and usually mixed with a hardener. Specialized tools such as rollers, brushes, and rakes are used in this step. For best results, the substance should be spread evenly across the area.
Depending on the desired finish and the customer’s needs, the floor maintenance specialist can incorporate decorative elements such as colored flakes, metallic pigments, or quartz pieces.
The epoxy coating can take anywhere between a couple of hours to a few days to harden. In some cases, a clear topcoat or sealer can be applied to enhance the appearance and longevity of the floor.
The epoxy coating ensures durable floors which are resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and heavy loads. This finish is easy to clean and is available in various colors. In addition, the epoxy coating can be slip-resistant to improve safety in areas with a risk of slipping.
Thermoplastic coating
Thermoplastic marking is a specialized warehouse floor maintenance service that seeks to create highly visible and long-lasting markings. These markings are used for security, organizational, and traffic management purposes in industrial, commercial, and institutional environments.
Thermoplastic markings must be designed in advance, as it is necessary to plan the location and specifications of the heavy-duty and hard to change markings. During this phase, you must consider safety regulations, traffic flow, and facility organization.
The thermoplastic material, usually in pre-cut strips or custom shapes, is heated to a specific temperature to make it malleable for ease of application. This process is generally done using propane-fueled heating equipment.
Heated thermoplastic material has to be applied directly to a clean, contaminant-free floor surface. The application must be fast and precise, as the material adheres quickly as it cools and solidifies in contact with the floor.
You can use a roller or squeeze tool to ensure proper adhesion and a smooth finish of the thermoplastic material. This step also helps eliminate air bubbles and guarantee the markings adhere securely.
Warehouse floor maintenance with thermoplastic materials creates optimal surfaces for harsh industrial environments. These markings are exceptionally visible thanks to their bright colors and reflective properties.
Floor marking with paint
Paint marking is also part of warehouse floor maintenance. The choice of paint will depend on several factors, such as the type of floor (concrete, asphalt, tile), whether it will be interior or exterior, durability requirements, and color preferences.
Paint application requires brushes and rollers, which allow precision control and are ideal for small-scale projects. Airless sprayers can also be used for larger areas, stencils for precision, and tape to help create straight lines.
To paint the surface, first you should prepare it in advance. Also, you must have done a layout to create lines, markings, or any designated symbols. Multiple coats should be applied to make the paint more durable and visible. Drying time varies but is usually from a few hours to several days.
Warehouse floor maintenance with paint allows you to create visible markings in various bright colors, making them helpful for traffic management, on-site security, and organization.
These markings are fully customizable so that they can meet the unique needs of each logistics facility. They are also a cost-effective and quick option for creating and updating floor markings and always have facilities in compliance with local safety regulations.
With proper maintenance, quality paint markings can provide long-lasting service even in high-traffic areas, such as public aisles.
Floor marking with tape
Another warehouse floor maintenance service is tape marking to create lines, symbols, and signs. These markings serve various purposes, such as improving safety, organizing work areas, and managing traffic.
As with other warehouse floor maintenance services, surface preparation is required. Before applying the tape, the floor must be clean and free of dirt, dust, and any traces of the previous marking to ensure proper tape adhesion.
Tape placement should follow a layout and consider local regulations, traffic flow, and warehouse organization. The choice of tape will depend on factors such as floor surface (concrete, asphalt, tile), environment (indoor or outdoor), durability requirements, and color preferences.
Use quality material to extend the life of the taping. High-quality floor marking tapes are designed to adhere securely to the floor surface, resist the constant traffic of heavy vehicles, and maintain visibility.
Floor marking tape can be easily customized in colors, widths, and designs to meet specific requirements. Special tapes, such as reflective or anti-slip, can also enhance safety and visibility.
Application of tape markings is a relatively quick process, allowing for minimal downtime and rapid use of the marked areas. When floor layout needs to be updated or changed, tape markings are relatively easy to remove, making this a flexible warehouse floor maintenance option.
Serviap Logistics offers warehouse floor maintenance services
At Serviap Logistics, we offer warehouse floor maintenance services in Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. Everywhere we work, we do so in full compliance with local regulations, such as those established by STPS, ABNT, and OSHA.
Our portfolio of services also includes providing and installing signage, shelving, floor markings, and collision barriers, as well as the supply of labeling. We also offer comprehensive warehouse setup, refurbishment, or relocation as part of our project management services.
Thanks to our ability to meet tight deadlines without sacrificing quality or security, we have become the trusted partner of some of the world’s largest companies, spanning a wide range of industries that include agriculture, wholesale, automotive, and e-commerce, among others.
Contact us to find out how we can help you.
