A busy warehouse is one of the toughest flooring environments out there. HGVs, pallet trucks, stillages and fork trucks shift heavy loads up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Across the UK thousands of people are working in warehouses day and night. They are a crucial part of our economy and the workload they shoulder cannot be understated.
If you are thinking of changing your existing flooring system you might be wondering which type of floor you should be going for.
So here are a couple of questions to ask when choosing new industrial flooring for warehouses
Safety first
As every employer knows workforce safety is paramount, and also one of the biggest contributing factors to staff absenteeism, so choosing a floor that addresses this issue head on could make a big difference to your bottom line.
A modern industrial environment should be clean, bright and clearly mapped out with zonal markings on the floor and clear demarcation lines. Having a floor that clearly lays out where the danger zones are and maps pathways to ensure the smooth flow of goods and traffic is essential.
Think about how much traffic will be passing over these zonal markings on a day-to-day basis. If you are considering floor paint, for example, can it withstand the constant hammering of feet and machinery or is a more robust solution required?
Cost
The amount you pay is always a primary consideration, but make sure you evaluate the lifetime cost of the flooring system you are buying.
What might seem like good value in the short term could look a lot less attractive when projected over a 20 year period. How often will you have to repair or replace the floor over this timespan? How much will that cost, not just in labour and materials but also in operational downtime?
Flexibility
As your business grows and things begin to change you may soon find yourself having to restructure your layout. Is this a genuine consideration for you? If so then picking a floor that you can remodel easily might be the right option for you.
Did you know?
“One the flexibilities of an interlocking system is your ability to move and replace small sections of your warehouse floor with the bare minimum of disruption.”
Appearance
Not everyone considers appearance to be a huge factor when it comes to warehouse flooring, but going the extra mile to impress potential clients has its obvious benefits.
Having your logo branded into your flooring looks incredible and gives the impression of a business on the move. When selecting a floor ask yourself how easy it would be to achieve this look.
Maintenance
Flooring maintenance is critical, and some industrial flooring solutions are much easier to maintain than others.
Keeping the floor clean and dust free, preventing damp and providing a safe, hazard free working environment is crucial. Check to see how easy it is to maintain the floor over its lifetime. Some solutions are much harder to maintain than others so make sure you investigate this thoroughly.
If you are weighing up the pros and cons of a new industrial floor for your business and wish to speak to one of our flooring experts contact us today on the number above or email [email protected]
CEO and founder James Gedye has established Ecotile as the leading provider of interlocking floor tiles to the UK and around the world. Founded in 1996 from his bedroom turned office, James has built Ecotile into a multi-million-pound business, with sustainability still at the heart of his vision.
Based in Luton, Bedfordshire, Ecotile remains a privately owned UK manufacturing company, precision engineering all products in a purpose-built ISO accredited factory.
Leading the company to 2 prestigious Queens Awards in 2017 for Enterprise for Innovation and International Trade, these accolades underline James’ desire to create the highest quality products and fly the flag for British manufacturing. Working directly with leading businesses for over 25 years, James’ Ecotile brand has become synonymous with trust.
Used by 1000s of leading businesses, trusted by the MoD and specified by contractors, Ecotile floor tiles can be found across the world.
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