Teams are working overtime to produce, move and ship essential items to people throughout the world during the COVID-19 crisis. That means a lot of man hours and drastically-increased warehouse activity. Translation? Concrete floors are taking a beating. But with constant activity, there’s never an ideal time for maintenance activities. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of the limited downtime you have. Let’s talk about common issues and warehouse floor repairs to make during downtime.
Common Types of Warehouse Floor Damage
Foot traffic, machinery, equipment and more all challenge the integrity of your warehouse floors. Forklifts, for instance, weigh in at about 10,000 pounds. Abrasions and chemical spills cause problems, too. While issues may have been few and far between before, they’re more likely now. From panic buying at warehouse stores to ramped up manufacturing, warehouse floors are carrying more weight and sustaining physical damage. Some concerns include:
- Cracks – Even small cracks allow liquid to make its way into the aggregate. The problem? This causes
- Scaling and Flaking – Flaking and scaling occur when new concrete floors are installed at cold temperatures or when there’s excess moisture. As a result, the top layer can easily break off from the flooring system.
- Joint Spalling – Joint spalling is the breakdown of the slab edges within two feet of a concrete joint. It’s caused by stresses at the joint, cracks, weak concrete and heavy traffic loads.
While cracks and flaking start out small, they can quickly become major headaches. Keep a watchful eye and make a plan to fix these issues during downtime.
Repairs for Downtime Hours
We know it’s hard to make repairs, but some are easier than others. If your concrete flooring is getting a workout, regularly inspect the surface and take stock of what requires attention. If your facility shuts down overnight or on weekends, you have a prime opportunity to give your warehouse some TLC. Repairs that require minimal downtime include:
- Concrete Spall Repair – Minor spall damage may respond to a basic surface repair, smoothing out the concrete. Alternatively, small issues can be fixed with a partial depth patch, while more significant problems will require a full-depth patch.
- Spall Joint Sealing – Once a spall repair is complete, it has to be protected. Joint sealing helps by applying new sealant over top of the joint to maintain the repair.
- Epoxy Crack Injection – Epoxies can weld cracks together, enhancing strength. The process involves installing injection ports every few inches and injecting thick epoxy under high pressure into the crack.
- Protective Coatings – Concrete floor damage can be mitigated with preventive measures like moisture-reducing or stain-repellent coatings. By installing protective coatings, your warehouse floor will be guarded against scaling, flaking and corrosion.
These are just a few of the most common concrete floor issues. If you have a custom request, discuss it with a team member.
McLean Makes Your Warehouse Our Business
Do you have warehouse floor repairs to make during downtime? It’s hard enough to find the time for maintenance, and it should be done right the first time. That’s why McLean works on YOUR schedule, making your warehouse floor repairs in evenings and on weekends as required. From Boston to all over the Northeastern US, we offer the same high quality commercial and insutrail flooring services. Get in touch with us to ensure that your facility continues to run at peak efficiency.