When baking a cake, not adding baking powder may seem harmless in the moment. But it is only when you remove a flat cake from the oven that you realize the error of your ways.

In flooring jobs, there are numerous steps to removing a floor covering, preparing the surface, and laying the new floor — and doing them in the right order is integral to the finished floor. Ultimately, it is crucial not to cut corners when completing a floor preparation project.

Often when undertaking a construction job, contractors must juggle an overwhelming number of tasks and a looming deadline. Given the pressure of meeting deadlines and client expectations, contractors may find themselves looking at ways to speed things up, potentially rushing steps, or skipping them all together.

Flooring is often one of the last steps in a building project. As a result, it is commonly an area that is rushed. It can be tempting to miss surface preparation steps, since the client will not see the substrate under the new covering. However, whether you are working on a renovation project or completing a new build, creating an optimal base is key to the success of a new floor.

Level Up

New builds often require concrete levelling before the floor covering is laid. Surface imperfections, such as uneven or sunken concrete, can affect the application and appearance of new floor coverings.

Planetary grinding machines are equipped with three grinding plates and ensure that the grinding head consistently follows the floor, thereby levelling the uneven floor with minimal damage. Creating a flat surface provides ideal conditions for a new floor covering. So, when scraping a floor, contractors should always consider if they need to grind the substrate, as well.

Remove It All

Alternatively, renovating a building may reveal multiple floor coverings laid upon each other. Although the floor has been left in this condition previously, all of the layers must be removed and levelled in order to prepare the surface and make it effectively ready for a new material.

If carpet is laid over tile, for example, then as the carpet ages, the tile can be felt and become visible. In turn, this decreases the carpet’s lifespan.

Once the previous floor coverings are removed, adhesive residue can remain. This can affect how the new floor covering adheres, and it can also potentially cause bubbling. Single-headed grinders can remove these substrates using horizontally rotating discs that remove paints and thin coatings.

Take Your Time

During a floor preparation job, skipping steps such as grinding can decrease efficiency. In some cases, it can require the removal of the new flooring. This can set a contractor back to square one.

Not only does this extend the job timeline, but it also escalates costs. If the new flooring is not laid properly because the substrate was not thoroughly prepped, it can shorten the lifespan of the floor covering. In turn, this creates issues for the end user and increases maintenance costs.

Similar to baking, taking your time to complete all the required surface preparation steps can avoid costly rework and satisfy customers.

While air bubbles are desirable in a cake, no one wants bubbling in their floor. While scraping removes the floor covering, grinding is key to achieving the best substrate for a new covering. Thus, contractors should take the time to find the best combination of both methods.