Why A Floorcare Expert Is Well Worth the Cost
A seasoned project manager from a well-known, reputable commercial flooring company reached out to me regarding an installation he was managing. He noticed the construction project was in somewhat of a chaotic stage with deadlines looming to complete the job and a lack of sufficient protection being used on finishes, specifically the carpet and tile and grout. Understanding that it was beyond a final construction clean (a.k.a., final interior clean-up), he asked me to take a look at the job and provide a proposal for an in-service floor cleaning per the flooring manufacturer’s guidelines or industry standard. Flooring professionals know there is a difference between a final construction cleaning and what the flooring industry considers proper cleaning to put a new floor into service.
The Job Scope:
When I arrived on the job, I immediately noticed the excessive heavy soiling and lack of properly installed flooring protection. I also noticed that the company on site doing the final construction cleaning didn’t have the equipment necessary to perform a proper floor cleaning, specifically the tile & grout, which needed to be hydro-cleaned.
I submitted a proposal for an in-service cleaning and shortly thereafter was informed by the project manager that we didn’t get the job. The customer felt we were “too high” in terms of cost and opted to go with the company doing the final construction cleaning. Both the project manager and I didn’t lose any sleep over it since we comprehended the complexity of the task and were certain that the services we recommended, coupled with the value we deliver, surpasses all others.
The Follow Up:
Two months later, the same project manager lets me know he’s been contacted by the general contractor requesting assistance to correct a final construction cleaning that went wrong. In his words, “Really, really wrong.” It was the same job for which I had originally proposed an in-service cleaning. As I noted, it was obvious the final construction cleaning company did not have the necessary tools, which led me to the conclusion that they also lacked the knowledge and skill to properly perform the floor cleaning task at hand.
Unfortunately, after an unsuccessful attempt to clean the grout, they proceeded to “color seal” the grout to conceal the sheetrock dust and red clay slurry created during the cleaning by encapsulating it with a grout colorant product. In addition, they applied a topical sealer on the tile. I assume to increase the sheen to conceal the residues along with the extremely poor application of the grout colorant.
Once again, I walked the job, devised corrective procedures, completed a successful test area for customer evaluation, and submitted a revised proposal.
We’re still awaiting approval of our second proposal, but the question is were we really too high cost-wise originally? The corrective process is more than triple the cost of the initial cleaning I proposed.
When it comes to floor care, the price paid for skill, knowledge, and expertise may seem premium, but the value and high level of technical experience customers receive far outweighs the dollar amount spent.
