Get ready to breeze through the holiday season after reading this edition of the #AskQuestMark series! With Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s bringing in large crowds, the floor of your retail spaces, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and more will be affected. It’s essential to safeguard your floor from the seasonal rush and we’re here to help.

We have two flooring pros to help you navigate this holiday season: Ron Pritt, Director of National Accounts and John Kasik, Director of Retail National Accounts. In this interview, they will review essential preventative maintenance, safety tips, cleaning solutions and more. With decades of experience with diverse commercial facilities, they will help you protect your floor this winter - let’s get started.

What specific floor maintenance tasks should be prioritized throughout the holiday season?

Ron: There isn’t a “one size fits all” solution to this. You need to find a flooring strategy that fits your needs and doesn’t disrupt the customer experience. Planning for maintenance is essential for handling everything the holiday season might throw your way.

John: Exactly. Focus on three main priorities: safety, aesthetics and budget. In terms of safety, high foot traffic means higher risk, so minimizing accidents should be top of mind. You also need to make sure your floor makes a good first impression. Your entrance is the start of your customer's journey, it needs to be aesthetically pleasing and slip-resistant. Lastly, you need to budget for any maintenance or cleaning your floor may need during the holidays. 

What aspects of a commercial floor should be prioritized throughout the busy season?

Ron: The two main aspects that you need to keep an eye out for are safety and damage when it comes to your floor. At QuestMark, we can inspect your floor and repair all necessary damage. As for safety, open communication is key so we can learn about your needs, identify concerns and determine what safety measures we need to implement to keep your building safe and secure during the seasonal rush.

How can facilities minimize interruptions to operations if they need any flooring work?

John: The goal is to keep your operations running smoothly while floor work takes place. We recommend scheduling flooring projects during off-hours or at night to minimize downtime. Optimal planning and clear communication with facility management is crucial to ensure restocking of the store can be accomplished. Another way to avoid disruption is by using quick-curing, low-odor materials to speed up our work and maintain a comfortable environment for any staff members or nearby customers. 

How can facilities prevent slip-and-fall incidents with increased foot traffic?

John: My advice is to build an employee culture centered around safety at all times. Whether it’s a small spill that needs to be mopped up or a giant hole that needs to be marked until it can get patched, everyone should be on the lookout for potential hazards and address them accordingly. You also need to pay attention to the first 15-20 feet of the flooring near the entrance, known as the “landing area”. This space collects 85-90% of the dirt and debris that’s brought into your facility, keeping that area clean is crucial.

Ron: I agree! With polished concrete, it’s already slip-resistant; however, the key to ensuring safety is by keeping your floors as clean as possible.

When the holiday rush is over, what immediate cleaning, maintenance or repair tasks should facilities prioritize to restore their floors? 

John: After the holiday rush, most facilities will need some level of restoration whether it’s deep cleaning or high-speed burnishing. Yet, every facility is different and may require unique restoration tasks based on their location. For example, in places like Minnesota, debris from the salted and/or sanded parking lots paired with any snow dragged in may cause damage. Yet, if you’re located in dryer areas like Arizona, dust could be the main issue. The amount of restoration needed really comes down to how much daily maintenance was done throughout the season. If you commit to consistent upkeep, your floor may not require any additional care.

Ron: I want to add that when the rush is over, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on your experience or challenges and take them into consideration when next year’s holiday season rolls around. Planning for repairs or cleaning ahead of time will ensure smoother operations and having an idea of what’s coming will help with this.

What products would you recommend for a facility that needs to restore its floor after the holiday rush?

Ron: Each facility will need different products depending on the abrasion, contaminants and damages they saw during the holidays. One solution that can be used in a wide variety of commercial spaces is our Low Modulus Fast Set Gel. It’s perfect for quickly repairing the cracks in your concrete so your business doesn’t face downtime. 

John: Another one that comes to mind is specialized scrubbing pads! We have diamond-infused floor maintenance pads that fit right under your existing scrubber to bring the shine back to your floor for future guests.

Can you share any success stories from a flooring project that made a significant difference for the business?

Ron: Of course! One of the most rewarding projects was with a warehouse facility that faced consistent issues with joint construction, leading to frequent repairs to their equipment AND floor. We stepped in with a tailored solution that fixed the problem, stopped the repetitive repairs and saved them money down the road. Since then, we have had a great relationship with them which is a great example of how a well-executed flooring project can lead to a lasting partnership.

About our panel:

Ronald Pritt |Director of Global & Strategic Accounts | QuestMark

With over 30 years of experience, Ron has extensive knowledge of all things flooring! He has held a lot of different positions within the industry,  gaining a deep understanding of commercial flooring and our growing company. 

John Kasik | Director of Retail National Accounts | QuestMark

John has been in the industry for 28 years. Working in diverse regional territories, John has truly seen it all! From putting down buckets of floor patch to overseeing National Accounts, he has worn many hard hats over time. He brings a wealth of experience to his role and has focused on the retail side of flooring for years.