Hospitality Surface Safety: Summer Prep Tips for Concrete & Pool Decks
Summer travel season is officially here! Since many hotels and resorts often reach their peak visitors during this time, let’s look at some of the surfacing challenges the hospitality industry faces.
Concrete Trip Hazards
Safety first, as always. Avoiding trip hazards should be #1 on any facility’s list when it comes to flooring, sidewalks, ramps, curbs, steps, and any surface on which guests or employees walk on.
The American Disabilities Act states that any vertical change greater than ¼” is considered a trip hazard. For context, a ¼” is roughly the size of a Tic Tac. Take a close look at all your surfaces but pay extra attention to exterior concrete areas. These areas will often crack and deteriorate faster due to the elements and frequent traffic. Don’t forget to look in employee-only areas too, like dumpster pads, loading ramps, and more.
Cracking is normal for concrete surfaces. The ground below shifts and changes, causing cracks to form. But when cracks become a trip hazard or become unsightly, it’s time to repair these or in some cases, resurface the area. Concrete resurfacing is a great solution when you need to blend repairs across the surface or when you have widespread pitting or spalling.
Rubber Flooring for Pool Decks, Walking Paths, and More
For certain areas, a rubber or flexible flooring is an ideal solution for safety, aesthetics, and easy maintenance. These floors are usually an application of tiny rubber granules, bonded together to form a surface.
Common areas for rubber surfaces:
- Pool decks
- Walking trails
- Fitness areas
- Splash pads
- Cart paths
Rubber flooring can be applied directly over most surfaces, even wood. It covers surface blemishes and other issues. Simon Surfaces’ rubber flooring has anti-skid and anti-slip properties for added safety and is resistant to mold and mildew.
Off-Season Surface Checklist for Hotels & Resorts
Stay ahead of costly repairs by inspecting key flooring and concrete areas across your hospitality property before peak season hits.
The floor and walking surfaces of a hotel or resort are often the largest assets to maintain. In the off season, perform a thorough and detailed inspection of all walking surfaces. Document any defects or issues with approximate size, location identification, and photos. This includes both guest-facing and employee-only zones.
Just because the floor or concrete is damaged, doesn’t mean it needs to be replaced. Tearing out and removing existing flooring can be extremely disruptive and costly. Simon Surfaces offers resurfacing and restoration options that utilize the strength of the existing floor. These solutions are applied directly over the current floor, with significantly less downtime and waste.
