The top ten hints for re-coating resilient floors

Why resilient only?

Simple answer...

Resilient floors are at least somewhat predictable.  

If you are a Floorcare professional.  You most likely know these answers.  

Why did I do top ten?

I liked Letterman.  Oh and "Top ten lists" do very well on social media.

1. Floor finish success is all about pH. Most finishes range from 8.5 to 9.5.  Far from neutral which is 7.  Finish will not adhere to a surface that strays from the above range by much.  

2. There is no such thing as a permanent floor finish.  Permanent means a couple of years by Floorcare standards.  It doesn't mean that it will not wear.  Often permanent finishes result in more work in the long run.

3. Floor finish is like paint.  When you view it as it were paint surface preparation becomes far more important to you: The PROFESSIONAL

4. Different finishes have different results on different floors.  A floor finish may not look perfect on every floor.  Long term success depends upon the right finish for your floor. Not the finish that is the shiniest out of the gate.

5. Remember the rule of 100 plus one.  For the maximum number of coats that you can apply.  Multiply the floor finish solids content by whatever number of coats it takes to get closest to 100 hundred but not more, and allow no more than one additional coat.  

I.E.  If a finish is 24 percent solids. 4x24=96.  Therefore only 4 coats plus one.

Or... If a finish is 26 percent solids 3x26=78.  Therefore only 3 coats plus one.

6. To quote one of the best floor guys I know: Paul Hopkins, from Betco.  "Thin to win". Not his words he will say, but he said them to me first.  Thin coats give you the best success.  

7. Start with a smooth surface end with a smooth surface.  That one is obvious.

8. If a coat of floor finish has not dried in 40 minutes.  Stop.  Call the manufacturer.  Get advice on your next step.  

9.  Never put another coat of finish on your floor until the prior coat or the surface is 100 percent dry.  Squeaky socks are my best indicator.  I never wear shoes after my first coat.  Way less risk of contamination.

10. If it doesn't look right after your first coat. It will look worse after any subsequent coats.  Stop!

There are lots of other rules.  These ones just hit home for me.  I will probably do more as my readers remind me of my oversights.  Next issue....   Stripping for success.  No brass pole required.  Stripping or deep scrubbing far out weights finish application where results are concerned.

Please let me know what you think?

Ok rule number 11

Never pour finish back into the bucket.  

Some people suggest to Use it up on a concrete floor that is clean. It will help to control dust.  

Arrrgh 12.   High humidity 90% or higher almost always results in floor finish failure.  High temperature and high humidity are a dreadful combination.  

Lucky number 13.  A cold floor.  Mostly near a store entrance or floor mounted freezer means that you need to coat thin and or not coat until weather or ambient temperature improves.

More to come I am sure.  

Where did I go wrong with my floor.

Just recently I had a run in with one of my largest contract cleaning clients.  "The floors look like garbage" , "The finish is powdering, it looks like it is starting to flake off.  Your finish must have gotten frozen" he said to me.  One of my competitors brought in a Technical Floorcare specialist from one of the largest finish manufacturers in the country.  Of course seeing opportunity the "Technical Specialist" immediately solved the problem.  My floor finish had been frozen.  How kind of him to decide this was the issue without even getting close to a microscope or even running pH tests as well as 22 other "technical" tests that could have diagnosed the real answer.

Why wouldn't my competitor go in that direction?  It's a clear cut opportunity at more business.  All other thoughts must have left his head at that very moment.  After two weeks with the tests that we ran, we arrived at a conclusive answer.  Our finish had not been frozen damaged and it was not defective.  Just to prove it to ourselves we applied finish from the same batch and pallet to a convenience store floor.  No issues.  Great results....

So where did things go wrong?

We have our suspicions.  In fact we were able to surmise that one of three things had occurred.  

Rather than digging in any deeper I decided to write down what I have learned about what causes floor finish failures.  

What do I need to avoid?

Contamination: Often floor finish is contaminated in one of three ways.  It is applied with a contaminated application device.  Or storage and application device.  The surface can be contaminated, but we will talk about next paragraph.  Here is the trick.  Always scrub your mop bucket, mop handles and dispensing containers before you use them.  Never use a pad or mop that has been coated in finish for more than 72 hours.  In fact for the cost of a new mop or wax pad.  Buy new!

Residual floor finish or improper rinsing:  If you have gone to the lengths to strip a floor.  Make certain that you have removed all of the old floor finish from your floor.  Take an extra couple of minutes to make sure that you have rinsed your floor 100 percent.  Just a tiny amount of floor stripper can easily destroy an entire floor.

Application errors:  recoat go too quick , too high humidity, too many coats,  coats that are too thick

Low quality floor finish:  make sure that you research the quality and customer reviews of the product that you will be using.  Not all finishes are created equal.

Temperature or moisture issues can definitely prevent adhesion, cause cloudiness and greatly affect the overall results and longevity of your, efforts.  

Stale dated product:  It happens.... Don't get me wrong.  Although most finishes are made with a two year shelf life.  Many can be applied up to three years after date of manufacture.  Always be certain of your finish manufacturer's shelf life commitment.  

Floor finish is every bit as permanent as paint.  No matter which way you slice it.  The better you do the job, the better the results will be.  We will do everything we can to get you the best results and longevity from your hard work.  Be sure to talk to us before you do your floor.  If you are concerned please look at the resources section of our website for more advise.

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Results may vary....  Just kidding.  We can get you amazing results we promise.