Preventing Slips & Falls on Wet Floors

There are many causes of wet floors, including mopping, melting snow, condensation, leaking pipes, and of course spills. Wet floors are a common problem that can damage the floor itself, but they can also be one of the biggest dangers in your workplace or home.

Wet floors are a major cause of slip and fall accidents, and falls can be deadly.  In fact, some reports have cited that up to 15% of all accidental deaths are caused by trip, slip and fall accidents.  Over 540,000 slip-fall injuries requiring hospital care occur in North America each year, accounting for over 300,000 disabling injuries per year.  The danger to seniors is particularly alarming, with one in three serious bone breaks for seniors resulting in death within one year of the accident.  According to the 2006 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, the annual direct cost of disabling occupational injuries due to slips, trips and falls is estimated to exceed $11 billion.

Because wet floors can be dangerous, as well as potentially damaging to the floor itself, they should be taken care of quickly. The following are five things that can help you take care of wet floors and prevent costly injuries and accidents:

1. Safety cones and A-frame safety signs can help alert customers and employees to slip and fall hazards.  You should have these safety items on hand to keep people safe, and to keep your business in compliance  with ANSI ad OSHA standards.
2. Chamois cloths and paper towels are absorbent and can be used to clean up small spills quickly, or to dry floors that are damp after mopping.
3. Mops and mop buckets are important to keep on hand for cleaning up larger spills, and for general purpose floor cleaning.
4. Wet and dry vacuums can make short work of puddles from broken pipes and large spills.

A small investment in safety signs and clean up supplies will help you manage wet floors and prevent accidents.  Your customers and employees will thank you for it.

Ten Flooring Contractors You Should Run From

I regularly inspect floors on behalf of customers that have had their flooring project go horribly wrong. In almost every case, I have heard stories about how the flooring contractors hired by these folks started out very nice and professional, only to turn out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing after they signed on the bottom line and the job began.

It’s hard to hear about all the bad apples in my industry, as they make us flooring professionals with integrity look bad.  Therefore, I wanted to share a few tips on how homeowners can prevent some flooring disasters before they occur.

Flooring contractors to stay away from:

1. Sanford and Son

If the contractor rolls up in a beat up truck with duct tape holding the fenders on, run.  I have found that contractors that don’t clean and maintain their vehicles and equipment are not that detail oriented. Details are everything when it comes to a successful flooring project.

2. Two Drunks in a Truck

If a contractor comes to a bid smelling like a brewery or like a homeless guy, run.  This should go without saying, but it happens all the time.

3. Need a Loan

If a contractor asks for money to buy equipment needed to complete your job, run.  I have heard about this happening several times.  The contractor will have a sob story about how they were a talented contractor fallen on bad times and will do your project at an amazing price, but they just need you to rent them a sander from a big box store or buy them an edger.  I can tell you, not once have I run across a contractor like this that was skilled and they will disappear like the wind once your project goes bad.

4. Tower of Babel

If you can’t understand a word the contractor says, run. This is not a dig at immigrants; some of the most talented floor guys I know have come from other countries.  However, you should stay away from contractors that you can’t communicate with.  The main issue is that you can’t properly convey what your expectations are as a customer. Communications problems make it even harder to work out problems when they arise.

5. Fly By Nights

If the contractors have out of state licenses plates, run.  This is very common with hurricane chasing roofers, and driveway sealing “gypsies,” but it happens with flooring contractors as well.  If a contractor is from another state, you can expect that they will be in that other state when you need some warranty work done.  Often, they are back in the other state before the polyurethane dries.  Worst case, these guys will simply take your deposit and run.

6. Full Payment Up Front

If a contractor wants full payment up front, run. This applies to all contractors.  Never hire a contractor that needs full payment up front. If contractor is in such bad economic shape that they need all of your money up front just to get the job started, there is a good chance that the money will be spent before they even buy your materials, or they will run out of money before the job is completed.  If the job is actually completed and requires warranty work, the contractor may not have any money left to fix the problems and you will have to pay another contractor to get the problem fixed.

7. Salesman in a Cadillac

If the sales guy shows up in a suit driving a Cadillac, run.  You will pay too much as this guy probably is a third party sales rep, working on commission.  You won’t get the best deals or value with these guys and they are very persuasive and smooth talking.  They will try and sell you the products that give them the best commission, which is not usually the best product for your project.

8. Sign, Sign, Sign

If a contractor pressures you sign a contact on the spot, run. High pressure salesmen are something to avoid.  High pressure sales tactics work by increasing your stress levels, which reduces your critical thinking and ability to say no.  This puts you at a disadvantage to the skilled high pressure salesman.  Once you get put under pressure, these guys will lock you into a contract which prevents you getting comparable bids from other contractors.  Another problem with being pressured to sign on the spot is that you don’t have time to check references or compare bids with other contractors.

9. All or Nothing Project Bidders

If a contractor writes a total project bid that is vague, run. Most projects in the flooring business are bid by the square foot and most contractors will give a bid that spells a per square foot price. Flooring contractors that avoid giving a per square foot price often bid this way so you can’t easily compare their bid with other contractors’ bids.  Often, these contractors will be higher priced than their competitors. They also could be hiding the true square footage of your project.

10. Superbowl Sized Marketing

If the contractor spends Superbowl type money on TV and radio ads, run. I am all about sensible marketing, but be careful when hiring the contractor that is running tons of TV and radio ads.  TV and radio ads are quite expensive, and the cost of those ads will be reflected in the price of your project.  These guys may be good to work with, but they will probably be at the higher end of the price range spectrum.

 

The Advantages of Installing Glass Flooring

By John Dorren

Glass floors are typically common in boats and large buildings. Their purpose was to provide a rider or visitor with an improved view. However, the installation of glass floors is a great addition to a home as it is affordable and provides many benefits.

Aesthetics

The installation of glass floor in a home is a great way to incorporate elegance, style and beauty. They allow light to flow easily throughout the room. The glass adds an attractive feature to any room in your home. Floors constructed of glass enhance the atmosphere of a home from rays of natural light coming in through exterior windows. Natural light shining through the glass floors also make the rooms appear much bigger and more spacious. If natural beauty is desired, then glass floors are a great way to obtain a fantastic view from a second story.

Customization

The glass used for the floor in any room in your home is available in custom sizes and shapes. You can have glass installed in a large area or a small section of an existing floor. The choice of where to install a glass floor depends on preference and the desired result. Measurements of the room are used to make the a custom piece of glass that will be used for the floor. Companies providing glass floors strive to meet the needs and expectations of the customer. The end result is exactly what the customer expected in a new glass floor.

Insulation

Glass is not the best material to use for conducting heat. This means glass floors are able to retain heat in a room by acting as insulation. The insulating properties of glass floors will save money as there will be less energy used for heating the room. Homeowners who install a glass floor will see a return on their costs from a reduction in heating bills. Leaking will also not be an issue as the floor is watertight.

Cleaning

The ease of cleaning glass floors means that are simple for anyone to maintain. You can use a cloth and even a dust mop to remove dirt from the floor. A simple wiping motion with a cloth and glass cleaner is all that is necessary to clean glass floors. There is little effort required to keep glass floors looking clean and sparkling. However, the floor will need to be cleaned more often if it is frequently used.

NYCGlassWorks.com offers a wide selection of glass flooring options for residential and commercial applications.