(Dayton, NJ – June 2017) Summer vacation took on a new meaning last year for The Gillespie Group: the veteran NJ-based commercial flooring company completed a major flooring installation at Elizabeth Elementary School.

Lewis Millanis, Facilities Director for the Elizabeth School District, wanted a fresh look for the school’s corridor floors that could withstand heavy foot traffic from students and faculty. In addition to durability, other important requirements for the school included slip-resistance and low maintenance. The Gillespie Group, a member of the New Jersey State Approved Co-Op of The Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ), was awarded the project and provided a flooring recommendation based on extensive experience in the education sector.

John Gillespie, Vice President of Operations for The Gillespie Group stated, “Whenever working on a school flooring project, we always look beyond the immediate functional requirements and consider factors such as long-term durability, heavy foot traffic, aesthetics and safety, which all have an influence on the recommendations we make.”

The Gillespie Group recommended the AcryliCon® Flake system, a 2mm-to-3mm thick flooring containing decorative flakes within its chemically-bonded coating. It has a similar look to Terrazzo flooring, but at a lower cost and with less maintenance required.

AcryliCon is mainly designed for heavy foot traffic and moderate industrial environments, and can last up to 30 years. It also is the only industrial flooring authorized to incorporate Microban® antimicrobial chemistry into the resin formula for a lifetime of bacteria fighting properties. AcryliCon features a cure time of less than two hours, minimizing downtime, a key issue for most school projects. As a result of these properties, more and more schools are considering AcryliCon flooring. The Elizabeth School was one of three New Jersey school projects recently completed by The Gillespie Group using AcryliCon flooring. Flooring projects for Bedwell Elementary School and John F. Kennedy Elementary School were completed last summer.

Unique Challenges
Gillespie worked with Millanis to develop a comprehensive logistics plan to address three key issues during implementation: First, students in the building were attending summer classes, which required working the project in sections and shifting the students to alternate areas of the school as each section was completed. Second, the project required removal of the existing epoxy flooring system, and prefilling of cracks prior to the AcryliCon application. Finally, the installation timeline had to revolve around the school’s schedule; the project had to be completed before fall classes began.

High Marks
The new flooring in the school hallways was completed well in advance of the start of fall classes, and Millanis and Elizabeth school board administrators were very pleased with the results. Millanis commented, “The AcryliCon flooring gave us a modern, updated look. Students, faculty, and even parents have commented favorably on it. The high levels of professionalism, organization and capabilities of The Gillespie Group from inception to project completion were evident. They did an outstanding job.”

The Gillespie Group is one of only a few certified installers of AcryliCon® in North America. The company works on projects throughout the eastern half of the United States. An authorized AcryliCon® installer since 2011, The Gillespie Group has successfully completed more than 60 AcryliCon® projects in the past five years.

About The Gillespie Group
The Gillespie Group, with headquarters in Dayton, NJ, has been a family-owned New Jersey-based business since it was founded in 1985. A leading nationwide commercial flooring and carpet company, The Gillespie Group offers a unique combination of consultation, product knowledge, industry experience, technical expertise, responsive service, and proven reliability. All company representatives have a deep knowledge of carpet and flooring materials and their performance characteristics. The company offers one of the strongest carpet warranties in the industry. The Gillespie Group team of expert technicians and installers are trained and certified by major manufacturers to ensure the highest quality workmanship. For more information on The Gillespie Group, please visit: www.thegillespiegroup.com.

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