Bob Rudow (1); (1) Argelith Ceramic Tiles, Inc., Anaheim, CA, U.S.A.

Brewhouse Operations
Poster

There are many choices to be made when building a brewery. However, one of the most important choices is often overlooked. The floor covering that you choose can be the difference between a floor that you never have to think about and one that is constantly presenting challenges. Purchasing and installing the best brewing equipment on top of an inferior floor can end up costing you far more than installing the proper floor in the first place. Because many brewers typically know little about construction and/or how important floor coverings really are, I’d like to go over all the options. The floor is the one finish item that if done incorrectly or using the wrong solution can end up costing a ton of money and, even worse, may interrupt production! Everything in the brewing process relies on a solid floor. I would like to present floor covering solutions for many different situations and needs within the brewery. There are many factors that will come into play for this choice—new construction, remodel, installing slope in a flat floor, desired longevity of the floor, foot traffic, forklift traffic, slip resistance, ease of cleaning, and durability are but a few. All options will be covered, so attendees will know the advantages/disadvantages of all options.

Bob Rudow is a 1985 graduate of Southern Illinois University. He’s been working in the construction world since the late 1980s, including commercial concrete construction, residential construction and general contracting. He has been working in the floor-covering world since 2007.