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Advertising supplement provided MFMA

The use of 33/32 flooring

With recent advances in flooring system technology, many specification choices have been simplified. “Over-engineering” of wood flooring systems is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Years ago, architects and specifiers required this product to be used on many installations to ensure structural stability and to add years to the floor’s life span. Over the past twenty years, MFMA manufacturers have invested heavily in the research of structural stability and performance issues for maple flooring applications. As a result, most of the integrated flooring systems produced today do not rely in large part on the surface maple for structural stability and system performance. Subfloor design is the key. MFMA statistics showed that less than one percent of replacement floors were necessitated by depleted wear surface on the existing floor. Simply stated, the specification and use of 33/32-inch thick maple flooring is in many cases a waste of a natural resource.

FACILITY MAINTENANCE:

Equipment maintenance

Check and clean wheels — Nylon, plastic and metal wheels on storage carts, bleacher wheels and portable backstops can cause scuffmarks and scratches. Cleaning wheels, removing rocks and other hard debris, and making sure that the wheels roll easily will minimize potential damage.

Maintaining furniture

The type of furniture used in a facility should be carefully selected. Folding chairs and tables that are set up and taken down frequently can be a nightmare for any type of flooring in multipurpose spaces. Maintenance personnel should ensure that rubber caps are maintained and in place on all legs before use or the maple flooring can be scratched.

Daily maintenance

Follow MFMA recommendations in the Caring For Your MFMA Maple Floor pamphlet. Always keep your floor free of dust, dirt, abrasive particles, and debris. NEVER USE WATER TO CLEAN YOUR FLOOR and never use dust mops treated with silicone, wax, or acrylic-based products. Your floor finish manufacturer has dust mop treatments specifically designed for compatibility with the finish used on your maple floor. Clean up spills when they happen.