What the code requires
The FDA Food Code, which most state and local health codes are built on, requires floors in food areas to be smooth, durable, and easily cleanable (section 6-101.11). Inspectors and third-party auditors check kitchen floors against that standard.
Why damaged floors fail
- Missing or eroded grout: open joints hold water, grease, and food debris. A floor full of open joints is not easily cleanable.
- Broken or missing tile: cracked and missing tiles leave rough, uneven spots that collect debris and cannot be cleaned properly.
- Gaps at the cove base: broken cove base leaves an open seam where the floor meets the wall, another spot that traps grime.
- Standing water: low joints and broken areas hold water instead of letting it drain.
How to clear the write-up
Cleaning harder does not fix a damaged floor. The failed grout has to be removed and replaced, and broken floor and cove base tile has to be replaced, so the floor is sealed and cleanable again.
We cut out the failed grout with our wet saw, replace broken tile, and regrout overnight with fast-setting materials, so your kitchen opens on time and the floor is ready for your next inspection.
Need it repaired?
Send photos of the problem areas and the rough size of the kitchen. We will quote it and schedule the work overnight. See package pricing.