When embarking on a facilities renovation project, what lies underfoot can be an effective route to efficiency savings, both financially and environmentally. Picture this scenario. The floor has seen better days. It’s badly damaged and scattered with rips, cracks, holes and stains, and is becoming a health and safety hazard. Alternatively, the floor may be in relatively good shape, but its style doesn’t fit the rest of the renovation project. Often in these cases, surfaces are ripped out and thrown away. In both situations, regardless of the condition of the surface, a brand-new installation – likely to be costly and time-consuming – is promptly earmarked as part of the plans.

An alternative to brand-new flooring

An expensive brand-new installation is, however, completely avoidable, as any damage on a resilient surface is reversable through flooring renewal. What’s exciting for the physical activities industry is that it’s totally possible for a floor to still meet the highest sports requirements without being replaced. Renewal of a resilient surface is feasible in almost any set of circumstances. Resilient materials are, of course, used extensively in the industry. Vinyl, PVC, linoleum and rubber are the go-to surfaces, and highly regarded for their durability, cost-effectiveness and health and safety attributes; all of which are important features for sports, fitness and leisure centres. With many being unaware that this is an effective way to bring a floor back to its original condition, the decision to renew a surface can fall under the radar. The good news is that resilient surfaces, whatever their condition, can be renewed to look just like a brand-new installation. The results are so exceptional that the difference between the two is virtually impossible to see.

The future of resilient renewal

The sports, fitness and leisure industry is up against the same challenges currently experienced across many industries. As budgets are tightened, there is a greater need to secure value for money. With sports surfaces covering such large areas, brand-new installations are an expensive option and costs can quickly spiral. Renewal on the other hand is up to 50% cheaper – a significant saving, be it a stand-alone project or part of larger renovation plan. Another money-saving aspect to consider is that, in some instances, there may be additional fees for removal and disposal of an existing sports surface when opting for a brand-new installation. If possible, it’s always advisable to consider and calculate the costs across the entire lifecycle to establish a better understanding of future as well as current costs. For example, think about maintenance costs – it’s an area that is easily overlooked, but the costs of maintaining a floor every few years can very soon mount up. Lengthy downtimes, again associated with new installations, can cause substantial upheaval in the sports and leisure industry. The affected areas are out of action for notable periods of time, causing inconvenience and disruption to both staff and visitors. Renewal avoids this challenge as it is a quick and easy process in comparison, which requires 50% less downtime. This means that areas can be up and running again in rapid time, and business can resume as normal.

Green credentials

Making better choices for a more sustainable future is of major importance and, thanks to innovations in the flooring industry, modern surfaces today offer a longer life span while reducing the frequency of replacement. Whilst there are programmes in place that facilitate the recycling of old floors, most are inevitably disposed of in landfill which impacts the environment significantly. Floor renewal successfully bypasses this stage as the old floor remains in place and is renovated. It is an environmentally sustainable option which enables organisations to reduce their carbon footprint by more than 92% compared to floor replacement. As an eco-friendly choice, renewal helps to safeguard the earth’s finite resources. In fact, a research study from the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, an environmental agency founded by the Swedish state and the business sector in the 1960s, confirms that renewing hard floor surfaces is more sustainable for the environment than replacing the flooring itself and, as a result, contributes to a circular economy.

First-class performance

Huge strides have been made in the development of resilient renewal solutions and now there is a range of finishes, paints and cleaners specifically created to ensure longevity and the highest standards in sports floors performance. Extending the lifetime of a surface in this way delivers top sports floor performance. Think restore, renew and upgrade as the key to locking in the look and performance of a brand-new floor, without the high costs.

About Bona

Bona is the Official Technical Partner of FIBA, the worldwide governing body for basketball, and plays an important role in ensuring the highest standards in sports floor performance for venues such as Olympic courts and professional league arenas. The Bona SuperSport range is a total system of premium finishes, paints and cleaners.

www.bona.com