At a time when many facilities are deciding not to apply a finish to their floors - or are selecting floors that do not need a finish - there is one type of floor that should be finished for a variety of reasons. And it's a floor that is usually at the bottom of the totem pole even in those facilities where floors are stripped, refinished, and burnished on a regular basis, according to Doug Berjer, a floor care expert with Tornado.
 
The floor Berjer is referring to is the cement floor typically found in warehouses and other industrial areas of a facility.

There are actually several reasons cleaning contractors and jan/san distributors should advise their clients to apply several coats of finish to a warehouse floor. Among them are the following:
 
Address repair issues. Typically when a cement warehouse floor is just cleaned and not finished, cracks and irregularities in the floor are allowed to develop, which get worse over time. These cracks and irregularities can become a safety issue. Typically, these problems are addressed and corrected before the floor is finished.
 
Improves safety. Applying a floor finish with a high coefficient of friction (COF) rating can help prevent slip-and-fall accidents.
 
Brightens the location. A floor finish is designed to reflect light. This light reflection can make a warehouse area look brighter which provides a number of benefits: reduces lighting needs, promotes safety, and brightens worker morale.
 
Easier maintenance. In general, it is easier to clean a floor that has a finish applied to it. The finish acts like a plate of glass, preventing soiling, stains, grease, and oil from penetrating the cement and making them easier to remove. Battery-powered sweepers and other floor care equipment are often more effective at collecting and removing dust and debris on a finished floor as well.
 
Neater. Warehouse and other industrial locations have a tendency to get a little sloppy. However, with a high-gloss shine on the floors, workers tend to have more respect for the warehouse work area and ensure it is kept cleaner as well as better organized.