Project Managers & Estimators Guide to Profitable Entrance Grilles |

Project Managers & Estimators Guide to Profitable Entrance Grilles Posted: Feb 2019 Posted by: Mats Inc.

Many architectural firms specify deep recessed entrance foot grilles because they understand the important benefits for building occupants, such as improving indoor air quality, extending the life of interior flooring and reducing slips and falls.

Less understood is how to ensure the foot grille project goes smoothly from beginning to end.

Flooring sales reps, project managers and estimators are tasked with the challenge of winning the business with a competitive bid, securing the details and relying on other trades to adhere to specifications and schedules to maintain profitability.

As a recognized leader and provider of entrance solutions, we know a thing or two about foot grilles.

We have the expertise to ensure your success.
There are many individuals on our service team with knowledge and experience to provide support on entrance systems and we also have two dedicated foot grille project managers. Our project managers have decades of foot grille experience and are available to help you prepare quotes, answer questions, offer recommendations and provide guidance. In some areas, we have field technicians that can work with your team to produce templates and even assist with installation when needed.

The Best Products for the Job
While some architects and specifiers still use the old fashioned welded aluminum grilles and others may be partial to stainless steel, the Pro Track series of aluminum foot grilles is the proven winner. We have all types of foot grilles and with decades of installations, we have found that Pro Track offers the best combination of both outstanding performance for the building owners and the easiest process for installers.

Shape Matters When Quoting
With foot grilles, there may be more to a quote than the product name and square feet.
If the entrance area is anything other than a square or rectangle, a template may be required. This is a critical component that can impact your resources and profitability.

Templates are essential to the success for irregular entryways that require unusual angles or circular areas (revolving doors, for example). They prevent costly, time-consuming and frustrating jury-rigging on site after the panels have been produced. Or worse yet, shipping the material back to the manufacturing plant to be re-fabricated, incurring additional freight and production charges, and losing face with the GC and building owner when you are unable to install on time.

Your quote should include the Masonite (1/8”) or plywood (¼”) that must be used to produce the templates, 1-2 days of labor and the freight cost for shipping.

If you’re not sure whether or not a template is necessary, contact a Mats Inc. foot grille project manager.

Project Delays
We all know that schedules can get pushed out due to circumstances beyond our control. Since foot grilles are the last thing to be installed, a quick temporary solution may be required for the building owner to obtain the certificate of occupancy. This is imposed more often than one might think. The provisional entrance typically consists of a day or two of labor, plywood, matting and adhesive. You may want to take this into consideration when you are working up your quote.

Measuring and Templating
The timing for measuring and templating is key for the grilles to fit properly and to avoid rework or laborious modifications. Complete accuracy can only be accomplished when everything else in the space that abuts the foot grilles is already in place. All walls, doors with thresholds and glazing must be installed. If the system is not to extend wall-to-wall, the recessed area must be in place, shaped and formed to the specific size needed. Not only with this help ensure accuracy, it will also help avoid multiple trips to the site – and time is money. The area should also be clean and free from any construction debris, materials, tools or equipment.

Ordering and Coordination
Manufacturing foot grilles generally takes 4-6 weeks. Extraordinary size or complexity may take longer. Coordinating the responsibilities is easier when you’re the one pouring the concrete for the entrance system. Otherwise, close communication with the general contractor or concrete subcontractor will help you keep things on track.

The Process in Action
For each project, a project manager will provide instructions for templating, timing, installation and any other information that you need along the way. This 3-1/2 minute video provides a great overview of the templating and installation process.

After Installation
Once the building is occupied, connecting with the facilities director to review maintenance procedures and answer any questions can go a long way in obtaining future business. The maintenance is easy when you know what to do and how often it should be performed. The instructions are available on the product pages of the Mat Inc. website and you can always contact a project manager if you have questions or need additional information.