Weather can have so many different impacts on various surfaces, and that Arctic air we have grown accustomed to dealing with on a regular basis in Toronto and throughout Ontario can definitely affect commercial floors.
Cold air is usually considered much drier than the humid summer air we get around here. When the air is drier, it can affect hardwood floors most significantly. When hardwood dries out it can become brittle and crack. Even marble, granite, and slate can experience some deterioration over time when the humidity level drops significantly.
How to Maintain Commercial Floors during Winter’s Arctic Blast
The best way to properly maintain any type of commercial floor surface during the winter is to be prepared for the conditions before they arrive. Even if your maintenance department or crew has not taken steps to get ready for this winter’s Arctic air, it’s really never too late.
The most important first step in protecting commercial floors is to make sure they are moist and sealed properly. Using the optimal wax or other type of sealant for the specific surface and material is essential.
The commercial floors should also be washed on a daily basis. Even if your maintenance department only washes or cleans the floors every other day, once a week, or even less frequently, during the winter it’s best to have it done on a regular basis. Not only will this help to get up road salts and other foreign contaminants that get tracked in via slush, snow, and ice, it will also help to moisturize the floor surface.
Believe it or not, even marble or granite, even though it may appear to be a solid surface, is porous to some degree so it will take in moisture when it is applied to the surface.
Being consistent is the best step in protecting commercial floors from the harsh Arctic air conditions that are frequent in this region of the world.