Each year, Floor Focus Magazine’s “Top 250 Design Survey” highlights what designers identify as the biggest problems they face in completed commercial flooring projects. In the 2025 results, poor maintenance once again ranked second, cited by 18% of designers, just behind improper installation.
The percentage shifts slightly from year to year, with 24% in 2024 and 16% in 2023, but the concern itself remains steady. The article states, “Poor maintenance is typically second on the list, and it’s a sore point for designers because while they see it as an essential process to maintain the look and performance of the interior, it’s not a process they control, and correct maintenance protocols are often not followed.”
That loss of control is exactly where the flooring maintenance community can make a difference. Proper care protects the product, the investment, and the design vision. When maintenance is inconsistent or uninformed, flooring systems fail early, performance declines, and the original intent of the design is diminished.
At XL North, we believe the solution starts with education. Through XL Academy, an IICRC-certified school, we train flooring professionals in the science, chemistry, and systems of maintenance so they can extend the life and appearance of commercial flooring. By raising the level of technical understanding in the field, we help bridge the gap between specification and performance.
The annual survey reinforces a simple truth. Maintenance is not just a follow-up service; it is a professional practice that determines how long a space looks and performs as it was designed to.
Learn more about XL Academy and schedule on-site IICRC-certified training for your team here.
