Why Floors Deserve the Spotlight in Facility Care

If you’ve ever walked into a building and felt something was “off,” chances are your eyes went straight to the floors. Dull finishes, tracked-in dirt, or stained carpets instantly signal neglect. On the other hand, gleaming, well-kept floors create an immediate sense of professionalism and care.

And here’s the kicker: floors account for nearly 80% of your cleaning budget and custodial time. It’s not just an industry saying, it’s a hard truth. Every day, floors take the brunt of heavy foot traffic, spills, salt, dust, and debris. If they’re not maintained properly, the costs skyrocket. In fact, studies show it can cost $600–$1,200 to remove just one pound of dirt once it’s been ground into your carpets and floors.

At Evergreen Building Maintenance, we’ve seen how a well-structured floor care program pays for itself. From automated scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to entrance matting systems that trap 90% of incoming dirt, the right approach means fewer cleaning hours wasted, healthier indoor air, and floors that look brand new year after year.

Understanding the 80/80 Rule

So, what exactly is the 80/80 Rule? It’s the idea that floors demand 80% of your cleaning budget and 80% of your custodial team’s time.

Why do floors take so much? Simple:

• They cover the largest surface area of any facility.
• They absorb the most daily wear and tear; think shoes, carts, spills, and weather tracked in.
• They require consistent upkeep to stay safe, clean, and professional.

Industry groups like the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) note that floor maintenance often represents the single highest cost in a janitorial program. Add in the reality that most custodians spend the majority of their shift vacuuming, mopping, or running floor machines, and the numbers make sense.

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) also emphasizes that first impressions start with your floors, and neglecting them shortens their lifespan dramatically. You can see more here.

At Evergreen, we use this rule as a guiding principle. By allocating time and resources where they matter most, your floors, we help clients avoid costly replacements, reduce liability risks, and maintain an environment that feels polished every day.

When you break it down, the 80/80 Rule isn’t just about cost. It’s about impact. Floors are the stage on which everything else in your facility plays out, and giving them the care they deserve sets the tone for everything else.

Why Floors Matter More Than You Think

Floors are more than just surfaces you walk on; they’re one of the most powerful signals about how a facility is cared for. Visitors might not notice spotless windows or dust-free vents, but they always notice the floors.

First Impressions Count

Shiny, well-kept floors say “professional, organized, and cared for.” Scuffed tile or stained carpet says the opposite. A survey by Cleaning & Maintenance Management found that 83% of people say well-maintained carpet gives them confidence in a facility’s cleanliness.

Safety is Non-Negotiable

Slips, trips, and falls aren’t just minor accidents; they’re among the leading causes of workplace injuries. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) highlights that clean, well-maintained flooring significantly reduces risk. A small puddle or loose debris can quickly turn into a costly liability claim.

Longevity Pays Off

Floors are expensive to replace. Proper care, like daily cleaning, scheduled scrubbing, and using high-quality finishes, can extend flooring life by years. According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), planned maintenance not only saves money on replacement but also lowers annual operating costs.

At Evergreen, we see floors as an investment, not an expense. Protecting them means protecting your brand image, your staff, and your financial bottom line.

The Hidden Costs of Poor Floor Care

Skipping or cutting corners on floor care doesn’t just affect appearances; it hits your budget, liability, and even staff health. Here’s how:

Premature Replacement Costs

Floors aren’t cheap. Carpet replacement can run $5–$7 per square foot, while vinyl, tile, or hardwood can cost even more. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, finishes wear down faster, fibres trap dirt, and flooring materials break down years ahead of schedule.

BOMA’s resources demonstrate that buildings with strong preventive maintenance schedules see longer lifespan for flooring and less need for early replacements. For details, see BOMA’s Preventive Maintenance Guidebook: Best Practices to Maintain Efficient and Sustainable Buildings.

Liability and Legal Risks

Slips, trips, and falls are consistently among the leading causes of workplace injuries. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) warns that wet or dirty floors significantly increase risks. Each claim can cost thousands in direct expenses, not to mention the damage to your company’s reputation.

Employee Health and Indoor Air Quality

Dust, allergens, and chemical residues often settle on floors before being kicked back into the air. Over time, poor floor care can worsen air quality and increase sick days. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that better cleaning methods like HEPA vacuuming help reduce indoor allergens.

At Evergreen, we’ve seen facilities cut both replacement costs and liability claims simply by committing to a structured floor care plan. It’s one of the clearest examples of how a small daily investment leads to huge long-term savings.

Evergreen’s Floor Care Strategy: More Than Just Mopping

Mopping floors at the end of the day isn’t enough. At Evergreen, we’ve built our floor care programs around efficiency, safety, and sustainability, because your floors deserve more than a quick wipe.

Here’s how we do it:

Automated Scrubbers

Automated floor scrubbers and other mechanized equipment deliver consistent, deep cleaning while reducing staff time and labour costs. As ISSA notes in The Future of Floor Care, new floor-care technologies are helping facility managers increase productivity and reduce total cleaning costs.

HEPA Vacuums

Floors aren’t just about looks; they’re tied directly to indoor air quality. High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuums trap fine dust, allergens, and pollutants that regular vacuums miss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that HEPA filtration reduces airborne contaminants, making workplaces healthier.

Eco-Friendly Finishes and Products

We use ECOLOGO and Green Seal-certified products to protect both your floors and your people. This reduces chemical exposure and supports sustainability goals, aligning with Evergreen’s Green Cleaning Services.

Strategic Matting Systems

It may surprise you, but 70–90% of dirt and debris enters buildings through the front door on shoes and wheels. Strategic matting traps this dirt before it spreads, dramatically reducing cleaning costs and extending floor life.

Scheduled Maintenance Cycles

From daily cleaning to interim scrubbing and restorative care, Evergreen builds maintenance cycles that fit your facility’s traffic and flooring type. The result: floors that look new for years, not months.

Floors by Facility: Tailored Care Plans

Every building has its own flooring challenges. What works in a busy retail store isn’t what a healthcare clinic or industrial warehouse needs. That’s why Evergreen customizes floor care plans to the environment.

• Offices – Quiet vacuums with HEPA filters to improve indoor air quality, plus scheduled polishing for lobbies and conference areas.
• Retail – High-traffic scrubbers to keep walkways spotless, reinforced by entrance matting systems that trap dirt before it spreads.
• Healthcare – Disinfectant-safe protocols for seamless flooring, preventing cross-contamination and supporting infection control guidelines (Public Health Agency of Canada).
• Industrial – Heavy-duty scrubbers and slip-resistant treatments for concrete and epoxy surfaces where dust, oil, and debris are constant.

This tailored approach ensures facilities get exactly what they need, no wasted effort, no under-protection.

The ROI of Professional Floor Maintenance

Investing in floor care isn’t just about appearances; it’s about saving money and protecting people.

Extending Floor Life

Replacing floors is expensive. Proper maintenance can double or even triple a floor’s lifespan, according to the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). That’s a direct return on investment.

Reducing Accidents and Liability

Slips, trips, and falls are among the leading causes of workplace injuries. According to OSHA, slips, trips, and falls result in around 700 fatalities annually in the U.S., and they account for a significant portion of all workplace deaths. Clean, well-maintained floors lower these risks dramatically, saving businesses from costly claims. (Source: OSHA Slips, Trips & Falls Handout for Safety Committee Meetings)

Healthier Workplaces

Dust and allergens trapped in carpets and hard surfaces can lead to respiratory issues and increased sick days. Using HEPA vacuums and eco-certified products directly improves indoor air quality (EPA Indoor Air Quality).

Case Example

One Evergreen client, a mid-sized office complex, reduced carpet replacement costs by 40% simply by implementing a matting system and quarterly deep cleans. Those savings went straight back into their operating budget, proof that prevention is cheaper than repair.

“Clean floors aren’t a luxury. They pay for themselves by lowering replacement costs, cutting liability risks, and creating healthier workplaces.” — Evergreen Client Services Manager

The Evergreen Advantage in Floor Care

At Evergreen, floor care isn’t an afterthought; it’s one of our specialties. We know how much of your cleaning budget and reputation is tied directly to what’s underfoot. That’s why we invest in the right tools, training, and eco-friendly products to protect your facility’s most visible asset.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• Advanced Equipment – From ride-on scrubbers to high-filtration HEPA vacuums, we use technology that delivers better results in less time.
• Eco-Certified Products – All finishes and cleaners we use meet ECOLOGO and Green Seal standards, helping clients meet sustainability goals while protecting indoor air quality. Learn more about Evergreen’s Green Cleaning Services.
• Specialized Training – Our crews are trained specifically in floor protocols, including stripping, waxing, buffing, carpet care, and infection-sensitive cleaning for healthcare settings.
• Proven Results – Clients consistently report reduced replacement costs, fewer slip incidents, and better visitor satisfaction after switching to Evergreen’s floor care program.

Conclusion: Floors Are the Foundation of Your Facility

Floors eat up the majority of your cleaning budget and your custodians’ time for a reason; they’re high-traffic, high-maintenance, and high-impact. The 80/80 Rule proves that giving them proper attention isn’t optional; it’s the smartest way to protect your investment, your staff, and your reputation.

Neglect leads to higher costs, liability risks, and negative impressions. But a professional, proactive floor care program extends floor life, prevents accidents, and keeps workplaces looking polished and safe year-round.

At Evergreen, we make sure your floors reflect the quality of your entire facility. From automated scrubbers and matting systems to eco-certified products and tailored care plans, our approach delivers measurable results.

Discover how Evergreen can keep your floors in “like new” condition year after year. Contact us today.