Training is the key

Without doubt the floor preparation industry is facing challenging times with tightening health and safety legislation, increased competition and margins being put under pressure.

The more efficient a company becomes the more profit it will make and the best way that companies can remain competitive is simply to become better at what they do. Despite increases in technology, the industry is still very much about people and their performance - improve this and both margins and business as a whole will improve.

Some contractors are happy to let operators with little training loose with surface preparation equipment that could potentially cause untold damage. The acquisition of the latest equipment is seen as an investment, but training is often seen as a cost, ­perhaps it's time to rethink this. The costs of returning to remedy a badly completed contract due to unqualified operators are not only financial, contractors also run the risk of damaging customer relationships and their reputation.

However, selection of the best training is vital. A quality training scheme with industry-approved accreditation is one of the surest ways to raise professionalism within the workforce of any flooring contractor, while also improving safety, quality and customer satisfaction. Surface Solutions invest in training. Operators are given in house training in the safe operation of all equipment used by the Company as well as attending courses run my the equipment suppliers. Companies who embrace training schemes find themselves better able to compete, Surface Solutions is an example of this, to quote Steve Strickland, Director "Training is a big factor in the package we offer and it is important we do it right. All our operators regularly use floor preparation equipment but developments in the range of accessories available and a tightening in health and safety legislation makes on going training essential in a professional environment."

Teapots, Tripe and Dambusters

We get some unusual enquiries and work in some strange places. A problem with the walkways around a reservoir earned them the nickname of the “Damblasters” for a time. The surface of the walkway was worn and slippery and a possible health hazard. Using the very latest enclosed dust free shot blasting equipment we were able to key the surface of the concrete so a tough epoxy anti-slip finish could be applied.

Many other interesting sites have been visited over the years from a teapot factory to a tripe producer and manufacturers of all sorts of products from tractors to corn flakes. Each have their own unique requirements.

Shot blasting is not always the answer. Some things cannot be just blast cleaned away, soft contamination such as rubber or adhesives have to be removed by other methods. Diamond grinding can often be the answer. This system can control the depth of removal of the surface layer leaving a smooth finish to the floor that can be sealed and polished to give a natural looking surface.

More aggressive methods can reduce levels, tungsten tipped floor planers wear away surface concrete to reduce floors. This method is used where the surface of a floor is rough and uneven or new falls are required to improve drainage.

Whatever the problem we'll have the answer!