Tips for restaurant owners to preserve hardwood floors.
By Lisa Markese
First impressions are everything, and the old saying is doubly true in the restaurant and hospitality business. As improvements in the economy increase consumer spending, the restaurant industry is consistently ranked as one of the top consumer spending categories. It is more important now than ever to make sure that the interior of your restaurant puts its best foot forward from the moment your customers step foot in the door.
Using hardwood floors in your eatery setting truly warms up the atmosphere of any restaurant. Wood absorbs sounds, is aesthetically pleasing and is long-lasting with proper maintenance. Whether you’re happy with your hardwood flooring or looking to make a change and invest in natural materials that make a visual statement, here are some tips and things to consider to extend the life of your restaurant’s hardwood floor.
Selecting the Proper Wood Floor Option
As with anything, you get what you pay for. The first step to guaranteeing your interior will look fresh for years to come is selecting the correct wood materials for your restaurant’s floor at the very beginning. In high-traffic areas such as restaurants and diners, the key factors to consider when selecting the wood are the hardness of the wood and the cost. In the case of flooring for a restaurant, owners need to purchase the hardest wood available; the best options are oak, maple and cherry. Yes, the wood needs to be reasonably priced to cut costs, but wood-like oak is a great choice for a long term floor solution; it will also save business owners money and it will be durable. These woods are more durable; they do not absorb as much water as softer woods, which makes it a major advantage during the cold and rainy seasons when customers constantly enter dining areas with wet shoes and clothes.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Remodel
Choosing to remodel as a business can potentially mean money lost and inconveniencing the customer. But making the right decisions during the remodel will put you in a lot better shape long term. First, wood is generally more attractive and has a more “homey” feel compared to other flooring options. It gives your restaurant a look that is much more pleasing to the eye. Installing new floors can make you take a financial hit in the short term to really see a change in business in the long run. Another option for restaurants that already made an investment in wood floor is to renew your existing wooden floors. This method is much more affordable — renewal is one-third the cost of remodeling and one-fifth the cost of re-facing. Regardless of the state your restaurant is in, proper maintenance is the key underlying factor for sustained hardwood floor success.
Helping Hardwood Thrive: Maintenance and Cleaning Techniques
There are many common misconceptions when it comes to discussing the best practices for cleaning and maintaining hardwood floors. But the main error people make when they try to preserve a hardwood floor is the addition of wax. The Number 1 rule to follow when you give your floor a chance at a long life is to never put wax on it. A variety of floor cleaners actually have wax in them, so it is important to always read the labels. Adding wax makes it incredibly difficult to put new finishes on the wood. Without finish on the floor it is easier for water to seep through and destroy the floor. The ultimate objective is to never let water get to the wood. Also, a good housekeeping tip to avoid scratching and deterioration is to put soft pads on the legs of chairs — this is obviously a common problem within restaurants. Hardwood floors must be cleaned every day to ensure the wood stays healthy. New technologies within the industry are ever-present and it is important for both the restaurants and cleaning companies to be aware of any changes.
Avoiding Winter Repair and Casualties
Whether hardwood floors in a home or hardwood floors in a restaurant are being discussed, the primary nightmare for all parties involved is the strategy for maintaining floors during the winter. Harsh weather conditions and customers who enter a restaurant with slush and wetness on their feet constantly pose threats to a restaurant’s interior during the cold months. From salt that leaves a white trail to melted snow adding extreme moisture to floors, restaurant owners must take the proper measures to prevent extreme floor damage. Salt, for example, will eat through wood finishes, allowing melted snow, water and other items to damage the wood surface. The truth is that water presence inside the restaurant is unavoidable during the winter because you simply cannot control what people drag into your place of business. But another truth is that the maintenance and cleaning strategies should not change. Place floor mats at every entrance, both outside and inside, to catch the salt and slush. The hardwood floors must still be cleaned daily and make sure any and all moisture is off the wooden floors. Make sure the wood has a strong finish on it and, again, never wax the floors. If the wood is finished properly with a solid, durable finish, water during the winter months should not be a problem.
Hardwood floor maintenance can be a daunting task for restaurant owners but it truly does not have to be. The harder the wood, the better chance it has to fight against the daily battles with customers, furniture and moisture. In addition, keeping wax away from hardwood floors and applying multiple coats of finish that prevent water from leaking through are also crucial. Finally, the floors have to be cleaned each day. The best news of all for restaurant owners is if these proper steps are applied, they are going to have a strong, durable, long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing interior that will attract customers and boost business.
— Lisa Markese is a business owner within the N-Hance Wood Renewal franchise system, operating in six territories within the New Jersey metro area. N-Hance Wood Renewal is based in Logan, Utah, and drives 400 franchises across the United States and Canada.