After a visual inspection, we can give quotes for commercial flooring restoration and refinishing.

TILE FLOOR MAINTENANCE

STEP 1
Sweep, dust mop and damp mop daily with a neutral cleaner (pH of 7) mixed with cool to warm water. This is a very important step as it removes the fine abrasive soils that act as sandpaper on the finish and the tiles. Daily vacuuming of entrance and walk off mats to keep soils from spreading to the floor surfaces. Note: Main aisles and entry areas should be done twice a day.

(Do NOT use hot water and a high pH cleaner (Spic and Span, bleach, pine cleaner, degreasers, etc). The hot water will soften the finish. A high pH cleaner will, over time, dull and strip away the finish.)

STEP 2
The floors should be high-speed burnished with a 1500 to 2000 rpm floor machine and a spray buff product should be applied to restore the gloss and remove any dead finish and ground in soils. Recommended burnish schedule depends on the amount of foot traffic. If high traffic, burnish daily. If medium traffic, burnish once a week. If light traffic, burnish every 2 weeks or monthly. Remember to follow step 1.

STEP 3
Floor should be machine scrubbed, neutralized and re-coated with 2 to 3 coats of finish every 6 months to a year, depending on foot traffic and wear. Note: Urethane and acrylic finishes (hard finishes) provide the best protection against wear; Polymer finishes tend to be softer and “walked off” in heavy traffic areas.

STEP 4
Floor should be machine stripped, neutralized and refinished every 1 to 3 years, depending on traffic and wear. A properly maintained floor should not require stripping for at least 18 to 24 months. Note: Do not apply any over-the-counter finishes (Mop and Glow, Future, Brite, etc.) in an attempt to restore the shine as these finishes are not compatible with commercial floor finishes and will create problems that can only be corrected by stripping.

Remember, the main reason floor finishes are applied is to protect the factory finish on the tiles from wear, staining, pitting, etc. It is not to make the floor “look nice”, although they have been made to do this at the same time. Once the factory finish has worn off the tile, it will become very porous and is extremely difficult to keep a finish on.

With the advancements in todays floor care products, this maintenance schedule will keep your floors with a “wet look” shine and well protected when done properly. The use of a good walk-off mat system will reduce the wear and tear on all floors. A 12 foot length of mat at each entrance is recommended.