How a Floor Can $ave Millions

Designing, specifying and constructing a typical concrete industrial floor for a moderate-size distribution center can easily cost $1 million. Sometimes, building owners overlook the role of the floor in saving money. A concrete floor with superior flatness and levelness characteristics -- a superflat floor -- can save millions over the life of the building. This kind of floor reduces the risk of vehicle and equipment maintenance, less-than-optimum inventory turns, shrink (inventory damage) and healthcare costs from worker injuries. There are two ways to get a superflat floor -- construct a new floor or grind the existing one. Although it can be challenging to determine exact superflat floor specifications, type of grinding needed and costs to remedy bumpy floors, time spent with a qualified concrete consulting company before work begins is worth the effort. Initial investments will be returned through increased throughput, vehicle operating time and productivity and decreased maintenance costs for vehicles, pallets, racks and operator fatigue.