According to research, homeowner has five unfinished DIY projects in their home at any one time. Lack of skill, time or money can delay work at home, but as the study suggests, we’re happy to live with an unfinished wall or floor for a while. The same cannot be said for professional contractors, who must consider how to complete jobs quickly and cost effectively.
When walking into a building, how often do you look at the floor first? While it’s not always the most visually interesting part of the space, the floor is integral to the structure.
Hard goods, such as tile and wood flooring are popular in many residential and commercial spaces. Both offer durability and resistance. These hard goods, if properly prepped, will need little maintenance during its lifespan. To prep the surface, contractors must remove the existing floor and adhesive, prepare the substrate before laying a new coating.
Removal
While contractors invest in tools & equipment to improve productivity in some areas, we often find that they still try to remove residential flooring manually. Labor, therefore, is often one of the most expensive elements of surface preparation. Utilizing a walk-behind or ride-on scraper to remove residential hard goods will save time and money.
Investing in equipment reduces strain on your team and cuts labor costs, helping contractors complete the job more efficiently. This is true for hard goods like wood, and ceramic tiles, which are applied directly to concrete using strong adhesives. Floor scrapers can remove the floor covering and adhesive easily — but with so many models on the market, which is the best to use?
Walk-behind Scrapers
Walk-behinds and ride-ons are the two main types of floor removal equipment. The size of the project, accessibility and power availability will often dictate the size of the machine. These differ by international region. In the UK, for example, industrial, commercial and residential buildings are often smaller than in the US, and elevators and vehicles have stricter weight restrictions.
While smaller scrapers can effectively remove hard goods in above ground jobs or tighter spaces, such as residential areas, it is not the best option for every application. If contractors regularly work on medium to large jobs removing heavy duty materials, it will take a long time to complete the work using a walk-behind scraper, increasing project time.
Ride-on Scrapers
Ride-on scrapers are built for large scale applications — they can cover up to 4,000 square ft an hour. The weight of the machine also directs more pressure to the coating being removed, increasing production rates when removing heavy duty materials such as wood and tile. If contractors are reluctant to invest in a larger machine, they can consider rental. Consulting with a surface preparation equipment expert enables contractors to find the best tool for each job.
Even when we have the best intentions to finish a DIY project, barriers such as time, money and skills can stop us from getting the work done. Contractors cannot be afforded the same luxury in surface preparation. Facing pressure to deliver work as quickly as possible to reduce downtime and costs, they need a reliable solution. By assessing the job site and existing flooring material, contractors can select the best machine for the job.