Planning a Resilient Floor Renovation Program

Background

In this example, we will calculate the materials and labor needed to renovate a hypothetical school system with 400,000 square feet of flooring. In this example, we plan to strip and finish one-quarter of the area and plan to top scrub and recoat the remaining space. This is an important concept. By breaking the space into quarters, we maximize the working life of the floor finish while maintaining exceptional appearance and floor protection.

In addition to calculating the labor and materials required, we will compare two methods for applying floor finish, the Multi-Flo XP and a microfiber flat mop. Through this comparison, we can calculate the return on investment on the Multi-Flo XP. We will also compare the labor savings gained using an automatic scrubber while top scrubbing instead of a floor machine and wet/dry vacuum.

The 25% Method

First, we need to divide the total square footage into quarters. Each year, we will strip and refinish one-quarter of the space. The rest of the space will be renovated using a lower-cost scrub and recoat method. In this example, the total area is 400,000 ft², so 100,000 ft² will be stripped and refinished. 300,000 ft² will be top scrubbed and recoated.

Strip and Finish (100,000 Square Feet)

To calculate the materials and labor requirements for the strip and finish operation, we need to know the coverage rates for the materials and the productivity rates for the methods used. The experts at Hillyard can provide coverage rates for all our chemicals and coatings. We also use the ISSA standard cleaning rates for labor in this calculation.

Parameters

• Area to Strip and Recoat: 100,000 square feet
• Layers of Finish to Strip: 10
• Coats of Finish to Replace: 5

Stripping Products and Labor Required

Scrub and Recoat (300,000 Square Feet)

As we did for the Strip and Finish process, we will use Hillyard’s recommended coverage rates and ISSA cleaning times to calculate the required materials and labor. We will also calculate the labor rates using a 20” automatic scrubber and a standard floor machine.

Parameters

• Area to Strip and Recoat: 300,000 square feet
• Coats of Finish to Replace: 2

Scrub and Recoat Products and Labor Required

Total Labor Cost and Equipment ROI Calculation

Now that we've calculated the labor and materials required, we can take a closer look at the difference in labor based on the equipment used.

Total Labor (Highest vs. Lowest)

Equipment Cost

By using more efficient equipment, we can save over 500 hours of labor during this project. Assuming a labor rate of $18 per hour, we can calculate the labor savings and the return on investment for the equipment used.

Calculating Equipment ROI

Understanding the ROI Calculation

Based on this calculation, the labor saved will be greater than the cost of the equipment after 1.3 years. In other words, by the end of the second renovation year, the equipment will have saved more labor than it cost to purchase. Another way to interpret this calculation is to say that the labor saved each year equals 76% of the cost of the equipment.

This is an excellent example of how better processes can lower total costs. Since the equipment purchased can be used for several years, this one-year example is only a fraction of the total savings.

The Next Step: Get Into Envirologix

Planning a renovation program is a complicated process. Fortunately, Hillyard developed Envirologix to help you make better decisions. Envirologix is a web-based application built from decades of experience and a proprietary database containing information on over one billion square feet of cleaning programs. Your local Hillyard representative can work with you to build an optimized cleaning program to maximize your budget and deliver the results your stakeholders demand.

Use the “I’m Interested” form below to have one of our representatives contact you to learn more about using Envirologix to plan your cleaning program.