Page 12 - School Planning & Management, June 2019

FACILITIES \{ LEARNING SPACES \}
Floors Need Special Care
Nearly all flooring surfaces in a school facility can be considered ‘high traffic areas.’
By Gordon Buntrock
FLOORS PROVIDE A REAL IMPRESSION REGARDING what you want people to think about the institution. The
rest of your facility can sparkle, but if your floors or carpets
look worn or dirty, they can send the wrong message to visitors, students, and staff about the ability to fund the institution, or the ability to provide quality programs or education.
Maintaining the quality of floors, start where the dirt and soil enter
your buildings, the entrances and foyers. Eighty percent of the soil and moisture comes in through your entrances. I’m sure you’ve all heard the Benjamin Franklin axiom, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In floor care, the ounce of prevention is a good matting program.
Entryway Matting: If you don’t have special matting at your entrances, this is something you should seriously consider. The rather small investment will pay for itself because floors will be
12 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JUNE 2019
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