By Rick Schott
CEO of Factory Cleaning Equipment, LLC
A contractor calls a big-box rental company for a floor scrubber. They need to keep a new concrete slab protected while the rest of the building goes up. The schedule is tight, several trades are still working, and the last thing the crew needs is a damaged floor to deal with before turnover.
The person on the phone just finished renting out a scissor lift and skid steer. Floor machines are just one more item on a long list.
The equipment arrives, but the brushes are too aggressive for the raw concrete, or they’re not tough enough to get the job done. The chemical isn’t effective for the dirt and grime. The crew runs the machine with little guidance and ends up leaving streaks or light scratches. Meanwhile, lifts keep tracking more dirt and grit across the slab every time they move.
I’ve seen how the wrong machine, brushes or cleaning solution can turn a routine cleanup into an expensive problem. Renting a floor scrubber or sweeper should make the job easier, not leave you paying to repair the floor.
As work continues around a new slab, construction dust, drywall compound and tracked-in grit can build up quickly. Keeping the floor as clean as possible throughout the project helps protect it.
Scissor lifts and boom lifts put a lot of weight on small contact patches. When grit gets caught under the wheels, it can act like sandpaper against the floor. Every trip across the slab can spread the damage.
Regular sweeping and scrubbing can remove the abrasive material before it works into the surface. But the cleaning equipment you choose matters, too. An aggressive brush or the wrong pad can scratch a concrete slab that was meant to stay smooth. Some chemicals can etch the surface or leave residue that interferes with later coatings.
I’ve seen cases where the work to grind, patch or recoat a damaged floor runs into tens of thousands of dollars. A little planning before you rent can help you avoid that kind of expense.
Construction sites change from day to day. Before scheduling a rental, think about the square footage you need to clean, how much equipment and material will still be in the way, and when the crew can access the space.
It also helps to consider:
The best floor scrubber rental companies like FCE will want more information, not less. The more we know about the site and the schedule, the better we can help you choose equipment that fits.
The right equipment depends on what’s on the floor, how much room you have to work and where you are in the construction process. Before recommending a machine, we look at the slab, the traffic and the debris.
A commercial floor sweeper helps remove loose material before it gets ground into the slab under lift and equipment tires. Depending on the machine, that material might include dirt, dust, small wood shavings or packaging scraps.
For example, a walk-behind sweeper rental such as the FactoryCat 34 may be a good fit when a crew needs to clear loose dirt and small debris from a building where equipment, materials and other obstacles limit the available space. It can also be useful for regular cleanup as work progresses.
For a much larger, more open area, a ride-on sweeper rental such as the Tennant S30 can help a crew efficiently cover more ground. It’s the kind of machine we might discuss for a large warehouse project or an outdoor paved area with loose dirt, grit and light debris, provided the machine and power source are appropriate for the site.
A commercial floor scrubber uses water and the appropriate cleaning solution, brush or pad to clean soil from the floor. It can be useful when the loose debris has been removed but the slab still needs cleaning before the next stage of work.
For a site with doorways, equipment or other areas to work around, a walk-behind scrubber rental such as the FactoryCat Mini-HD or Tennant T600 may fit your needs. For a larger, open slab, a ride-on scrubber rental such as the Tennant T12 would allow the crew to cover more square footage in less time.
The right brush or pad and cleaning solution depend on the condition of the concrete and whether the floor has, or will receive, a finish or coating. It’s important to work with a rental company that can assist with selecting the right accessories for the scrubber or sweeper rental.
On some projects, we may recommend removing loose grit first and then scrubbing the floor. In this case, a combination sweeper-scrubber rental machine may also be an option. The right approach depends on the space, the floor, and how much your crew needs to clean while construction continues or before the project hand-off.
Both battery and LP machines are available in larger ride-on styles, so the choice isn’t simply a matter of picking the biggest machine. Tell us about the size of the space, the work going on around it and what power is available. We’ll help you consider the options.
The floor cleaning machine is only part of the rental decision. The brushes or pads and cleaning solution need to fit the job, too, or you run the risk of damaging the floor when you’re trying to clean.
At FCE, we match the machine to the job, the brushes or pads to the surface, and the cleaning solution to the soil. Don’t rent a floor scrubber or sweeper for your construction site if you still have questions about how to handle the a floor finish or coating. Make sure you work with a partner who will help you get it done right the first time, and you’ll save in the long run!
When you rent from FCE, you get people who only focus on floor cleaning equipment. We look at the slab, the traffic and the debris before we recommend a machine. We also train your crew on how to use the equipment so they can get to work with confidence, not create new problems while you are trying to prevent them.
A machine that seems like a bargain isn’t much of a deal if it doesn’t clean the floor or leaves damage behind. Our goal is to help you get the right equipment and guidance for the job from the start, so you can stay in budget with no surprises.
If you’re working on a construction project in the greater Chicago, IL or Charlotte, NC area, talk with our team about your floor and what you need to clean. We’ll help you find a rental setup that fits.
Call (800) 793-3790 or visit our floor scrubber and sweeper rentals page to learn more.