Rejuvenating Your Sports Hall This Summer
05 September 2024
Sports halls are versatile, serving not just for P.E. but also as venues for assemblies, events, and more.
They even open to the community post-school hours. Maintaining these spaces is key to keeping them functional and clean for student use.If not properly maintained, sports halls can become health and safety risks. Accumulated grease, sweat, and dirt create slip hazards. Regular cleaning prevents accidents, making halls safe and welcoming.
Summer breaks offer the perfect chance for deep cleaning and maintenance. The tasks may range from full overhauls to simple upkeep. With a 6-week window, there’s ample time for thorough work, including broader school maintenance.
We’ve compiled a guide with tips for effective floorcare, ensuring you’re ready for the upcoming school year.
Guide: Rejuvenating Your Sports Hall This Summer | Step 1: Vacuuming
You should always start by removing any loose dirt and debris. Loose dirt can act as sandpaper, causing scratches and marks which damage the surface of the floor. To optimise the vacuuming process, you should think about using an industrial vacuum. Commercial vacuums have much more powerful suction and capacity, allowing you to vacuum in half the time compared to using a domestic vacuum.
Victors Commercial Vacuum Cleaners
Step 2: Floor Scrubbing
After vacuuming, the next step is to clean the floor with an industrial Scrubber Dryer. Much like a commercial vacuum, a Scrubber Dryer is capable of cleaning a significantly larger area in a shorter amount of time than a traditional mop can manage.
The advantage of using a Scrubber Dryer extends beyond efficiency. Also ensuring that minimal water is left on the floor’s surface. This feature is particularly crucial for timber sports hall floors, where excessive moisture is a concern. Mopping can introduce too much water into the wood, compromising the sealant and leading to potential swelling, shrinking, and subsequent warping or discoloration as the wood dries. By effectively removing water after scrubbing, Scrubber Dryers mitigate this risk, ensuring longevity and preserving the appearance of your flooring.
It’s still vital that whichever chemical you choose will efficiently sanitise. Bodily fluids such as sweat, contain high levels of protein and salt which builds up and forms a residue which cannot be penetrated by water alone.
When selecting cleaning agents for sports hall floors, including those made of polyurethane, vinyl, and timber, it’s essential to opt for a gentle, pH-neutral detergent mixed with water. Harsh chemicals like ammonia and vinegar should be avoided; despite their strong cleaning power, they are highly abrasive and can accelerate the wear and tear of the flooring. Your best option is to purchase a floor cleaning solution specifically made for your floor material. For absolute clarity, you could check with your floor manufacturer.
Victor Scrubber Dryer Range
Timber Floors Only
Step 3: Sanding
When it comes to maintaining timber floors, the complexity increases significantly. For those looking to breathe new life into their sports hall, sanding and polishing are essential steps for a comprehensive rejuvenation. Sanding is a process whereby the wooden floor is completely stripped of any old lacquers and paint, taking the floor back to the original timber.
Given the expansive area of a sports hall, industrial-grade machinery is the most efficient choice for sanding. As we mentioned previously, this is much more complex, and you should consider hiring someone experienced or acquire some foundational level training. If you attempt to use a sander without any experience, you could end up damaging the floor. Once you’ve completed the sanding process, you should vacuum the area thoroughly to remove all traces of sawdust and debris. Finally, you should apply a sealant or varnish to protect the timber and enhance the appearance.
For all Sports Hall Floors
Step 4: Buffing and Polishing
Now you can move on to the final stage of refurbishing your sports hall floor, using a Rotary Machine. This is the most effective way to achieve a smooth and shiny finish.
A Rotary Machine paired with a buffing pad will smooth out any imperfections & provide further protection to the floor. There are a variety of different pads, which can provide a different finish so it’s important to explore different variants to see what would work best for you. For polishing floors you typically want to use a white pad, which is less abrasive and ideal for polishing without causing damage.
If you do choose to polish your floor using a Rotary Machine, it’s important to be aware that you’ll require basic training to operate the machine safely and effectively. Remember, while it’s possible to undertake this task yourself, hiring a professional can ensure the job is done efficiently and to a high standard, especially if you’re not confident in operating the machinery.
Consult your Rotary Machine manufacturer as they should be able to provide guidance and support. If you happen to choose a Victor machine, one of our experts can visit your location or alternatively you could visit our office for a full demonstration & training. Watch our training video
Now you’ve finished using your Rotary Machine, you should carefully inspect the hall and if you can see any marks or scuffs, use a microfiber cloth to gently rub the areas in a circular motion. Also, you may not have reached the edges of the hall using the Rotary Machine so you could consider polishing with a smaller hand-held buffer or edge machine.
Victor Rotary Machine
Victor Cordless Rotary Machine
Step 5: Applying Markings
While not always necessary, reapplying markings is crucial if the refurbishment process has led to their damage or removal. Begin by accurately plotting out the lines with a chalk line. This preliminary step allows for adjustments before any permanent markings are made, ensuring precision without the stress of irreversible errors. For enhanced accuracy, consider utilising specialised line marking machines and precision tools designed for this purpose. If the task seems daunting, given the variety of sports and corresponding markings required—such as for football, basketball, or badminton—hiring a professional line marking service is advisable. They bring expertise and efficiency, ensuring that your sports hall meets both regulatory standards and the demands of gameplay.
Other Press Releases By This Company
- 06/09/2024 - Scrubber Dryer 5 Easy Maintenance Steps
- 03/09/2024 - Buy Now Pay Later for Commercial Cleaning Equipment
