FLOORING
PREVENTING REFURB AND RENOVATION HEADACHES
Dave Bigham, Director of Global Training at surface preparation expert National Flooring Equipment, explains how contractors can limit disruption to bystanders during a surface preparation project.
Construction work, while necessary, can disrupt various aspects of the surrounding environment. In urban residential areas in particular, noise, vibration and dust can disturb the public as they pass by. Construction work in large commercial buildings can also be disruptive for those in other areas of the facility.
Equipment disturbances Surface preparation requires heavy machinery and power tools to remove existing flooring and prepare the substrate for a new covering. The scrapers and grinders used to complete these steps generate vibrations that travel through the ground. Vibration can help loosen and break up materials, like adhesives and floor coverings, while also reducing friction between the blade and material. While vibration can help increase machine productivity, it is one of the key reasons machines are disruptive.
Vibration generates noise, which can disrupt nearby workers or residents. If not managed properly, this noise can lead to complaints, and excessive vibration can even impact the integrity of the building and nearby structures. To mitigate disruption, as well as limit the fatigue to operators caused by using vibrating equipment, construction companies will implement a range of measures. This can include using materials to dampen vibrations, installing noise barriers and most commonly, limiting particularly noisy work to specific hours.
Machinery upgrades Scheduling work thoughtfully will keep neighbours to the job site happy, but it can also limit productivity — so is there an alternative? Fortunately, advances in equipment can help reduce disruption during peak hours. In floor scrapers, for example, vibration occurs because the machine, and therefore the attached blade, will oscillate to help the blade cut through the material. Some floor scrapers, such as the Rogue, enable operators to adjust the oscillation of the machine, giving them the choice of whether vibration is needed.
When working on tough, thick materials like ceramics and wood, an oscillating blade is best to easily cut through the material. Turning the oscillation down, or completely off, allows the blade to keep in constant contact with the surface to more effectively remove thinner coatings such as an adhesive or epoxy. Reducing the movement of the blade caused by vibration can also overcome floor preparation challenges. Walk-behind scrapers, for
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example, sometimes skip over the lines of adhesive left by floor coverings, making it difficult to fully remove the material. Limiting blade motion makes it much easier to remove these materials.
Switching off oscillation not only improves productivity in some instances, it also means that large equipment can operate in near silence. Contractors can use equipment like this to expand their operating hours, enabling them to switch off oscillation and work quietly in busy spaces such as residential areas or office complexes during the day. Contractors can work more efficiently and for longer without fear of complaints of noise or disruption.
Construction projects can be noisy and inconvenient — no one wants to hear construction equipment while they are trying to concentrate. However, these projects are also crucial to the upkeep and development of infrastructure. By using equipment where operators can better control vibration, contractors can enhance productivity, minimise noise and continue working on vital projects with little disruption.
The Rogue is an all-electric walk-behind scraper with an infinitely adjustable blade angle, simplified toggle and oscillation control.
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