PROTECTED TILE FLOOR CASE STUDY

Images courtesy of Adsil Corporation

Project: Abbott Laboratories
Location: Chicago

The Building: The very prestigious Abbott Laboratories facility in Chicago has a mindset that is all about cleanliness. This makes its staff driven to a continual upkeep process and pristine maintenance of its facilities.

The Challenge: The restrooms in this facility were built with ceramic tile floors using very small tiles, thus exposing a lot of grout lines. While ceramic tile is known for its smooth, fairly easy-to-clean surfaces, grout can be problematic in high-use areas since it can absorb dirt and grime or promote the growth of mold and mildew in wet environments. Hence, at this facility, keeping the tile and especially the grout clean and looking good was a constant, ongoing challenge requiring considerable labor and harsh cleaners.

The Solution: The owners of the facility sought out manufacturers and installers of clear floor treatments that could help the restroom floor resist dirt and microbial growth, be easier to clean, offer slip resistance, and provide a better overall appearance as well. They selected an inorganic, clear, hard-surface finisher that was applied in a single coating.

The Results: Following installation, the hard-finish tile and grout provides a gloss finish that mitigates microbial growth, is extraordinarily abrasion and water resistant, and provides high traction whether wet or dry. The tile and grout is effectively sealed and is now stain resistant. Most significantly for the building staff, the treated surface now cleans easily with water and neutral pH green cleaners, thus saving notably on material and labor costs.

PROTECTED TERRAZO FLOOR CASE STUDY

Images courtesy of Adsil Corporation

Project: Mainland High School
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida

The Challenge: The main entry area to the largest high school in Volusia County was designed and constructed with a durable epoxy terrazzo floor surface. However, as part of the regular cleaning process for this floor, school maintenance staff were engaged in a continuous cycle of waxing, buffing, stripping, and re-waxing in order to keep it clean and maintained. Over time, the wax caused the floor to look darker and discolored compared to the original vitality that it displayed.

The Solution: A local contractor was brought in to strip off the topically applied wax layering and then deep clean the epoxy terrazzo floor. This revealed the original, vibrant colors that were designed into the floor and allowed for a new appreciation of its appearance. Since the contractor was also a certified installer of a clear, hard-coat finish system, it applied a single coat of the appropriate hard-coat finish over the epoxy terrazzo. This allowed the colors to come shining through while protecting the surface without the need for waxing.

The Results: The ‘wax-on, wax-off cycle’ of the maintenance staff was broken. Nightly buffing with swing machines was terminated, reducing cleaning costs, and five years after installation, the floor continues to look great. The school maintenance staff and school administration promote this clear finish to others while they continue to enjoy the protective benefits of having it in place in their own facility.

PROTECTED BRICK PAVER CASE STUDY

Images courtesy of Adsil Corporation

Project: Mass Transit Station

The Building: For more than a quarter of a century, this transit authority has moved more than 3.5 billion people throughout its covered territory. Today, it is one of the top 10 transportation agencies in the United States.

The Challenge: Built in 1978, this busy, open-air, multilevel mass transit station with ramps and escalators faced mounting problems. Although the station was under a roof, it was open to the elements and susceptible to dewpoints, outside atmospheric conditions, dirt, and exhaust. More than 40,000 square feet of 40-year-old brick tile flooring was in bad shape and in need of refurbishment or replacement. Granite walls placed in the station after it was built were unsightly from years of accumulated dirt. Consistently damp or wet flooring created a dangerous slip-and-fall hazard. Most mornings, the floor had dew settled on it, and any spill created an additional slip risk and potential liability. Cleaning and maintenance was costly and time-consuming. Riding scrubbers with metal brushes and harsh chemicals had to be used to clean the floors.

The Solution: Several million people pass through the station per year, so durability was a crucial factor in choosing a flooring solution. Swift application was also a key factor, as the trains only rested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Replacing the old floor was not an option, so a quick-dry coating product was chosen to solve the aging, hard-surface issues. The selected product met the need for a long-lasting, high-traction, beautiful, and sustainable finish that protects hard surfaces from corrosion, abrasive wear, mold, odor, chemical attack, and graffiti.

The Results: After cleaning and coating, the brick floor regained its original color, and the beautiful, high-gloss finish reflected light, improving the overall aesthetics inside the station while providing high traction and reducing cleaning costs. A section of granite wall was also cleaned and treated with outstanding results. The walls no longer show wear and tear and are now anti-graffiti and chemical resistant.