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Floor Finish Application
By Valan R. Martini
The proper application of floor finish is 99 percent science and 1 percent art. Following
correct procedures carefully can all but guarantee success, assuming that good quality
chemicals and equipment are used.
To prepare for a floor finishing project, direct your crew to remove all objects from the
area to be finished and place safety cones and barriers around it. Where possible, have
them lock doors leading to the area to prevent people from entering until the job is
completed. Devise a work plan that allows your crew to avoid crossing newly finished areas
for as long as possible.
Have your staff use duct tape and plastic sheeting to create "stop lines" to
prevent finish from reaching carpeting or other flooring that isn't going to be finished.
Follow tile joint lines to create invisible "splicing" where floors meet.
Place clean floor mats bottom side up between the work area and other flooring, so that
technicians may leave the work area without tracking wet finish onto floors or carpeting,
or tracking soil or lint into the work area when returning.
Safety Before the Start
Ensure that floor technicians have read the material safety data sheets (MSDS) and product
labels on each product used. They should also know how to operate all equipment used in
the finishing process.
Proper employee attire includes clean footwear without treads, to avoid making impressions
or soiling newly finished surfaces. Easily-removed, crepe-soled shoes are recommended to
ensure that no soil or grit is tracked onto newly finished floors.
Durable, waterproof gloves are needed for staff members who may handle mop heads or
equipment that are covered with wet floor finish. Whenever chemicals are used in a work
environment, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires
employers to provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to
protect against any hazards involved.
Have your crew place chemicals, tools and equipment near the work area, and instruct them
to place equipment on floor mats to prevent damage to floors or surfaces not to be
finished. If your crew is using a floor finish that requires a sealer, direct them to use
the finish and sealer full strength. Do not dilute either product.
Trash Bag Liner
Before your staff pours the finishing product into a mop bucket, have them place a plastic
trash bag in the bucket -- so they're actually pouring the finish into the trash bag -- to
ensure that nothing contaminates the finish. Provide them with new, large FINISH mop
heads (to avoid contamination from other chemicals) and direct your crew to follow the
manufacturer's instructions for proper application of the finish.
A technician should submerge the mop in the finish and agitate lightly for 15 to 20
seconds. Using a side-press wringer, they should place the mop head in the wringer far
enough to allow the tip of the mop to touch the bottom of the wringer (which is usually
about half of the mop head). Do not twist or double over the mop head.
Direct the technician to gently pull the wringer closed -- using only one or two fingers
-- to squeeze the excess finish from the mop. Remove enough finish from the mop head to
ensure that finish doesn't drip or coat the floor unevenly.
The mop head should be lifted clear of the wringer and swung smoothly away from the
bucket. With practice, your crew will find that each mop head will fan out to give a
smooth, even application. Have your crew apply the finish with a figure-eight pattern,
overlapping 2 or 3 inches onto the previous path.
Figure-Eight Application
This pattern creates an even, smooth flow that prevents mop strands from doubling back and
leaving a swirl pattern in the finish. Have the technician keep the mop head trailing
straight and evenly behind the mop handle.
Direct your crew to begin the finish application no more than 15 feet from the bucket,
laying the finish in an inverted "U" pattern. Have them fill the space within
the "U" before moving the bucket to a new area. Keep the crew close to the
bucket when laying finish to avoid having the finish dry too rapidly or
spread unevenly.
If dirt or other contaminants touch the mop head or get into the finish bucket, remove the
contaminants immediately. Your crew may need to replace the mop head or the finish.
Instruct your crew to measure the finishing product so that they have minimal amounts of
unused finish at the end of the job. Never pour unused finish back into the original
container. Unused product, when poured into the original container, will contaminate and
ruin the product within a short time.
How Much, How Dry?
Generally, 1 gallon of finish will cover about 1,800 to 2,000 sq. ft. of vinyl-composite
tile flooring with one coat of finish. Coverage varies according to the porosity of the
floor material. However, if you're crew finds that they are covering less floor than they
expected, they may be laying the finish too thickly, which may reduce the gloss and
prolong drying time. More coverage than expected may mean that they are laying the finish
too thinly, which may cause streaking and a dull appearance.
Most finishes will dry within 20 minutes and may then be recoated. Any finish must dry
completely before recoating. One approximate test for dryness is to brush the back of your
hand lightly across the floor. If you feel the finish catch or pull the hairs on the back
of your hand then the finish is still too
wet to recoat.
Have your crew test the floor for dryness in several areas before proceeding with the next
coat. Drying conditions will vary according to humidity, air flow, temperature and the
thickness of the finish coating.
Forced drying of a finish may damage the appearance. If fans or blowers are used, instruct
your crew to blow the air indirectly across the floor surface, instead of directly on the
floor. Direct air currents on wet finish may cause the finish to dry too quickly,
inhibiting leveling and gloss. When refinishing a freshly stripped floor, five coats of
finish is recommended, but always consider the manufacturers' label instructions.
Project Cycling
Always apply finish to a clean floor. The ideal time to refinish a floor is after it has
been stripped. If possible, plan a finishing job when planning a stripping job, to be
completed in one continuous procedure.
Planning a time-consuming procedure like continuous floor stripping and finishing can be
difficult in large facilities and 24-hour operations, such as hospitals. If your operation
doesn't allow you to plan for the entire procedure at once, have your crew lay three or
four coats of finish -- allowing ample
time for drying between coats -- and then later apply additional coats as needed. If
possible, break down the project into segments, which can be done completely at one time
without interruption.
Never allow traffic on a floor that has less than two coats. The finish will be too porous
and will readily accept soil and dirt, which will force your crew to start all over again,
including restripping.
When the floor finishing procedure is complete, the floor should be ready for traffic 20
minutes after the last coat dries completely. Some durable floor finishes may seem to have
less gloss immediately after application, but can be buffed to a glossy appearance using
ultra-high speed buffing equipment. Wait approximately 24 hours before burnishing a newly
finished floor. Proper maintenance practices will extend the life of a finish
and its glossy appearance
Valan R. Martini is president of Formula Technology, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial
chemicals and a distributor of maintenance equipment and supplies, in Atlanta, GA.
Copyright© 1995 National Trade Publications, Inc.
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