When school is out for summer, it’s the perfect opportunity to tackle the essential flooring projects that are hard to schedule during the academic year. Whether you manage a K-12 school, university campus or technical training facility, now is the time to address the wear and tear caused by heavy foot traffic, daily custodial cleaning and multipurpose use of spaces. Let’s explore key areas on your campus and how you can improve them while foot traffic is at its lowest.

Locker Rooms and Restrooms

Locker rooms and restrooms experience heavy moisture and daily foot traffic. Hygiene compliance is essential and these areas are prone to various contaminants, including mold, mildew and biohazards. What can you do to prep for the next semester?

Step 1: Check Floor Drainage

Standing water is a problem. Whether we are talking mold, microbial growth or slip harzards. Inspect floor drains and surrounding surfaces to prevent those issues. Clean, repair or replace damaged drainage areas to maintain a safe, hygienic environment.

Step 2: Check for Cracks and Damaged Joints

Heavy use and moisture can worsen cracks and joints, increasing slip and trip risks. Repair these now for smoother, safer floors that comply with ADA accessibility requirements. Check out these industrial-grade products you can purchase online to address those issues.

Step 3: Explore Floor Coatings

Cracks in your floor tiles? Especially in older buildings, damage to bathroom floors can be challenging, posing tripping hazards and creating a perfect environment for bacteria and mold growth. Did you know you can recoat your existing floor system with a seamless coating that lasts for years, withstands rigorous cleaning, improves slip resistance and prevents water from seeping into the rooms below? Watch this quick video to learn how a seamless floor coating system can deliver all these benefits and how it can be installed in-house using your existing maintenance team.

For larger projects, check out our turnkey solutions such as urethane systems and other commercial floor coatings.

Kitchens and Food Service Areas (Including Freezers)

Kitchens are one of the most critical areas on your campus, where maintaining strict hygiene standards and ensuring USDA and FDA compliance are essential. Risks like cross-contamination and lapses in food safety can lead to food poisoning, allergic reactions and other health issues for both staff and students. During busy rush hours, unnoticed tripping hazards may pose a serious injury risk. A safe, clean floor is the foundation of great kitchen operations. Here’s how you can make sure those facilities stay safe and hygienic.

Step 1: Deep Clean and Repair

A deep, thorough cleaning removes stubborn food residues and grease buildup, boosting both floor hygiene and safety. Summer downtime offers the perfect window to tackle this without disrupting daily operations. It’s also the ideal time to repair any flooring issues in your kitchens and freezers, eliminating potential tripping hazards before they become a problem. To help you get started, here are some top-quality industrial-grade DIY products designed for lasting results:

Cleaner and Degreaser
Food Grade Epoxy Patch
Sub-Zero Epoxy Patch

Step 2: Check Out Commercial Grade Coatings for Floor and Walls

Food prep and washing areas demand floors that resist chemicals, moisture and temperature shock. Protective coatings not only simplify maintenance and prevent slips but also stand up to harsh cleaning agents. 

Concerned about contamination on your walls? Many commercial facilities choose seamless wall coating systems, especially around sinks and washing stations, for added hygiene and durability. If this sounds like a needed solution for your facility, talk to your QuestMark representative about the options customized to your needs.

Hallways, Corridors and Multipurpose Areas

High-traffic areas such as hallways in educational facilities are constantly exposed to heavy foot traffic and the risk of food or beverage spills. It's essential to prevent slip hazards, maintain accessibility and support easy wayfinding to ensure a safe and navigable environment for students, staff and visitors.

Step 1: Clean, Repair and Rejuvenation

High foot traffic areas benefit from deep cleaning and polishing to maintain appearance and durability. This preserves the floor’s life and contributes to a welcoming campus environment. Check out our commercial floor maintenance solutions, repairs, resurface, rejuvenation and VCT Strip and Wax solutions. 

Step 2: Line Striping and Demarcation Refresh

If your common areas rely on floor demarcation for wayfinding, traffic flow or safety warnings, summer break is the perfect time to assess their condition. Faded, worn or peeling markings? Let’s fix that. Our high-durability floor paint is built to last, unlike traditional peel-and-stick options, it stands up to heavy foot traffic without wearing out. Watch this video to see the difference in action. 

Exterior: Parking lots, Walkways and Sidewalks

Outdoor areas take a beating from weather, vehicle traffic and constant foot traffic. Summer is the ideal time to repair pavement damage, improve durability and ensure your sidewalks, parking lots and walkways are ADA compliant and accessible for everyone.

Step 1: Repair Damage

Accessibility is essential for educational facilities and removing trip hazards or obstacles that hinder wheelchair access is a critical part of maintaining safe, inclusive grounds. Watch this quick video to see how you can address ADA compliance in-house.

Step 2: Look into Traffic Coatings

Did you know you can restore your existing pavement with a specialized industrial-grade coating? These systems waterproof your parking areas, just in time for summer storms, and provide long-term protection and durability. Watch this video to learn how it works.

Step 3: Refresh Line Striping

UV exposure, temperature extremes and traffic wear are gradually fading your exterior demarcations whether we are talking parking spots, directional markings or warning areas. Use this time to refresh those demarcations and get your parking areas ready to shine! Contact us today to get started!

Not Sure Where to Start?

Let’s get your campus ready for the new school year. Schedule a free, comprehensive floor inspection with our QuestMark specialists. We’ll help you identify hazards, prioritize maintenance projects and build a customized plan for your facilities’ specific needs. We work around your schedule—including evenings, weekends and school breaks—to minimize disruption and maximize results. Get ahead this summer with floor upgrades that last well beyond the school year. Contact QuestMark today to schedule your school’s summer flooring projects!