Protecting vinyl flooring will extend its longevity and keep it looking newer for longer. Using scissor lifts, scaffolding, or other heavy equipment can sometimes damage flooring, so it’s important to protect it wherever possible. This is especially true when you’re using heavy equipment on a regular basis, such as when accessing score boards, basketballs nets, or ceiling lights in your gym space.
Our #1 tip for protecting vinyl flooring
When it comes to protecting vinyl flooring from heavy equipment, it’s crucial to ensure that its load is adequately distributed. In this way, you can avoid damage to the sub-layer of the floor.
Here are some other tips and tricks that can help you with protecting vinyl flooring:
Protecting vinyl flooring from scissor lifts & scaffolding
If you need to use scissor lifts or scaffolding, then use sheets of plywood or Masonite to protect your floor surfaces. Laying down panels underneath will disperse the load (so the pressure isn’t concentrated) and avoid direct impact damage from the equipment.
Use the sheets to create a pathway from the entrance to the location where the equipment will actually be used. This will ensure the floor isn’t damaged as you transport it in for use.
Depending on the size and weight of the equipment, you may need to change the thickness of the plywood sheets. A minimum of ½” thickness (or equivalent) is recommended for medium equipment or ¾” thickness for larger machinery.
You can also reuse plywood sheets by moving them from behind the machinery to in front, as it moves along. You should also follow this process when bringing in scaffolding.
Preventing damage from cleaning machinery
Cleaning machinery can be extremely heavy so it’s important to evaluate it prior to usage. Manually driven or ‘walk-behind’ machines tend to be lighter, so are preferable from a care perspective. Since ‘ride-on’ machinery tends to be heavier, it is best avoided.