Content about building materials

Parking lot maintenance is taking top billing in retail, as a growing number of facilities managers realize that extending the life cycle of an existing parking lot paves the way toward reduced expense in the long run.

Chain Store Age talked with Rose Paving’s C.B. Kuzlik about retail’s renewed focus on maintenance in today’s cost-conscious climate.

What role does weather play in parking lot management?

Taking over an existing retail space can be a good move, as long as you have all the facts from the get-go, especially with regard to the floor. Lee Eliseian, president of Independent Floor Testing & Inspection, offers the following tips to prevent flooring issues from arising:

Blain’s Farm & Fleet knows all too well the misconception about conventional construction versus construction with a metal building system. In fact, the chain’s director of engineering, Neal VanLoo, recently was challenged by an architect when building a new store.


“The architect was against using a metal building system because he thought the design would be a square, fixed-dimension tin box,” VanLoo said. “We had to sit down and review the plans with him in order for him to realize the benefits of a metal building system.”


Proper and consistent floor maintenance is a critical component in retail facilities management. Effective maintenance maximizes a retailer’s investment by extending the life of the flooring surface and providing optimum performance. It also contributes directly to employee and shopper safety and to a store’s overall image. Chain Store Age talked with Russ VanderZwaag of Minneapolis-based Tennant Co. about trends in floor maintenance and tips for keeping floors looking their best. 


What trends do you see in flooring solutions?