FLOOR CARE MANUAL
TYPES OF FLOOR PADS & BRUSHES AVAILABLE & THEIR USAGE
FLOOR PADS
HIGH PRODUCTIVITY PAD
A relatively new pad on the market used for heavy stripping and sanding or keying in of timber floors.
To remove seals on vinyls it will virtually remove the sealer without having use stripper – just water. Never use on domestic or soft type vinyls as it will damage them.
Used to sand back timber floors prior to recoating.
The pad is made from nylon and coated with a carborundum abrasive. It has a long life and is easy to clean after use.
PAD COLOURS USAGE
Pads are more aggressive than brushes, are relatively cheap to replace and last a considerable time. In most instances pads will do the job quicker and easier than a brush by choosing the correct pad for the application. You can also scrub or strip wet and if you wish to polish change the pad and polish rather than waiting 24 hours for the brush to day out.
QUICK REFERENCE FLOOR TREATMENT GUIDE
RECOMMENDED LIQUID CLEANERS FOR USE ON TREATED & UNTREATED SURFACES
NOTE : For cleaning of acrylic sealed floors the product used should never be over the pH of 10 or contain a strong pine oil base as these will destroy the sealer finish by softening the coating, allowing dirt to get in easier and dulling the gloss.
FLOOR SEALERS
FLOOR TYPES
Hard floors are divided into three main types : porous, semi porous and non porous or dense. They are categorised as follows :
1) Porous Floors
Floor types : wood, cork, granwood, magnesite, concrete.
These floor surfaces are absorbent and susceptible to becoming ingrained with dirt particles, liquid, grease etc. and should be treated with semi permanent seal..
2) Semi Porous Floors
Floor types : PVC (vinyl) asbestos, vinyl (or flexible PVC), thermoplastic, rubber and linoleum.
These floors do not have the same dirt absorbing properties as the porous floors and it is not necessary to apply a semi permanent floor seal which could damage the floor when removed.
3) Non Porous or Dense Floors
Floor types : terrazzo, quarry tiles and marble.
These floor surfaces require less specialised treatments than those recommended for the porour and semi porous groups.
Porous Floors
Wood
Wood floors are found in almost every type of building, particularly in schools, gymnasiums, dance halls etc. Wood is usually laid in strip and board or wood block. Wood looses its colour if treated with water over a period of time and in dry conditions water will evaporate from the wood. This causes the wood to swell and shrink and cause gaps to appear in the floor.
It is best, therefore, to protect the wood with a semi permanent seal. Wood floors which have previously been treated with liquid or paste wax should have all the existing wax removed with a solvent based cleaner before applying a semi permanent seal. This is sometimes very difficult to achieve and unfortunately, if there is any residual wax this will prevent the seal from “keying” properly to the floor. Under these circumstances it is better to use a quick drying barrier seal prior to sealing with a semi permanent seal.
Cork
Cork is normally produced for floors in tile form and because it is very quiet to walk on is found in a wide variety of industrial areas like libraties, art galleries, museums, hospitals etc. It is not generally suitable for areas subjected to heavy industrial traffic because the tiles have a limited resistance to pressure and heavy furniture can cause indentations which can only be removed by sanding.
Cork tiles are made from granulated cork bark with natural or synthetic resins moulded into blocks under pressure at a very high temperature and then cut into tiles. Cork is extremely porous and will readily absorb dirt, oil and stains. It is essential therefore that cork should be sealed with a semi permanent seal. If the cork has been treated with a manufacturers dressing this should be removed with a solvent based wax remover before sealing.
Cork tiles which have become discoloured or worn can be renovated by using a fabricut abrasive mesh disc under a balck pad and a scrubbing machine. These discs are graded according to their harshness – 60 grit, 80 grit, 100 grit and 120 grit. 60 grit being the most abrasive and 120 grit being the least. For cork renovation an 80 grit is recommended, followed be a 120 grit for finishing off and giving a nice smooth surface. These fabricut abrasive mesh discs are very expensive and if they are used without a black pad between the machine and the disc can be very quickly torn to shreds.
Granwood
Granwood is made of a mixture of portland cement with fillers of wood flour or sand and sawdust. It is usually found in schools and colleges. The small, oblong tiles are often laid in basket weave or herringbone pattern and the colours are red, cream, light or dark brown. It is a very porous floor and dusts badly. New granwood will usually be sealed by the flooring contractor, but if not should be sealed with a semi permanent seal.
Magnesite
Magnesite is also known as magnesium oxychloride, jointless flooring or composition flooring. It is laid in-situ and one advantage is that it can be laid over an existing rough floor. This type of floor is resistant to oil and grease and is therefore used in the type of areas where this is important, e.g. kitchens.
It consists of magnesium oxychloride with fillers of wood, flour, sawdust or ground silica or powdered asbestos. Pigments can be added to make them coloured and plasticisers are also added sometimes for flexibility. Because of the wood flour and sawdust magnesite is hygroscopic (readily absorbes water) and if the floor is unsealed and washed regularly with water will swell and crack.
It is essential therefore to seal with a semi permanent seal. Most flooring contractors however seal magnesite floors soon after they have been laid. Because magnesia, which is the main component of magnesite, is an alkaline material acids must never be used on the floor as they may scar the floor permanently. Strong alkalis and sweeping compounds should be avoided.
Concrete and Granolithic
The advantage of concrete is that it has the ability to support considerable weights and this has made it a popular flooring for industry where heavy machinery is present. It is also relatively low in cost.
Granolithic floors have a normal concrete base with the addition of granite chippings to give them a less porous surface. Both concrete and granolithic floorings tend to be noisy, cold and prone to dusting which makes them difficult to keep clean. It is preferable to seal these floorings with a semi permanent seal. Various pigmented seals are available usually red, grey or green and have either a gloss or matt finish. Both types – concrete and granolithic – should be “acid etched” prior to sealing to give better adhesion and durability.
Semi Porous Floors
PVC (Vinyl) Asbestos
PVC (vinyl) asbestos consists of a blend of polyvinyl chloride polymer, asbestos fibre, fillers and pigments plus plasticisers and stabilisers. It is available in tile form only. The tiles are moderately hard with more flexibility than thermoplastic tiles but with much less flexibility than flexible PVC.
Flexible PVC or Vinyl
Flexible PVC or pure vinyl as it is sometimes called is made of basically the same materials as PVC (vinyl) asbestos but without the asbestos fibre and is sometimes finished with a coating of PVC to give it a smooth surface. Solvent based seals or polishes should never be used on PVC because of detrimental effects. Both kinds of PVC can be polished with a water based emulsion if desired or spray buffed. some of the latest kinds of flexible PVC do not require polishing because of the manufacturer’s dressing as previously mentioned.
Thermoplastic Tiles
These tiles are amongst the cheapest types of resilient flooring and are therefore quite popular. They are made from asphalts or synthetic resisns, asbestos fibres, pigments and mineral fillers. Thermoplastic tiles are rather hard and noisy to walk on. they have a moderate resistance to diluted acids and mild alkaline detergents but can be affected by alcohol which can give the floor a bleached appearance. Very hot water should not be used on thermoplastic tiles as it could soften them and similarly solvent based polished or strippers should never be used.
Rubber
Rubber is made from natural or synthetic rubber or a mixture of the two with mineral fillers like china clay and pigments. It is usually laid where quientness is desired like hospitals and libraries etc. Ribbed or ridged rubber is used in places like shopping centres and airports and stubbed rubber is used extensively in new buildings to give a slip resistant surface.
Solvent based polishes or seals must never be used on rubber as the solvent will soften the rubber. Also excess water should be avoided as penetration of water between the seams could cause lifting at the joints. A fully buffable water based emulsion is recommended for rubber as they contain a higher proportion of wax. The dry, bright or metallised types of polish dry to too hard a finish and do not bend with the movement of the rubber thus resulting in the polish flaking and chipping off.
Linoleum
Linoleum is made of linseed oil, cork or wood flour with mineral fillers, pigments and a resin binder compressed on to a hessian backing. It is available in sheet or tile form. Specially hardened linoleum which is resistant to stiletto heels is now made under the trade names Armourflor, Armourtile, Heelmaster and Heelguard.
Excess washing and using strong alkaline solutions on linoleum should be avoided as washing removes the oil leaving the surface bare allowing dirt to penetrate the floor and strong alkalis will remove the oil causing the linoleum to become hard and brittle and can also make the colours “bleed”. It is better to seal linoleum with a water based acrylic seal and then two coats of a water emulsion polish. Solvent based seals are not recommended because they tend to react with the manufacturers’ dressing and sometimes chip and flake off the surface of the linoleum after a very short period.
Non Porous or Dense Floors
Terrazzo
Consists of marble chips set in a matrix of Portland cement. It is widely used in operating theatres, toilets, halls, lobbies and entrances. Neither acid nor alkaline cleaners should be used on terrazzo. Acid Cleaners dissolve the cement matrix leaving a pitted appearance, alkaline cleaners leave a fine dust layer on top of the terrazzo. Therefore a neutral detergent only should be used. Terrazzo responds well to buffing.
Quarry Tiles
These are moulded from clay and fired in a kiln, then laid on a cement bed and grouted. Found extensively in kitchens, toilets and changing rooms. Are very easily maintained by mopping.
Marble
Marble is limestone hard enough to take a polish. It is resistant to water but like terrazzo does not like acids or alkalis. It should be mopped with a neutral detergent and buffed up.
Maintenance Schedule
Acrylic Floor Sealer Finishes
Initial Treatment – Stripping
1.Apply a liberal coat of stripping emulsion Floorstrip undiluted or diluted with up to 5 parts water over a workable area, around 16 sq metres. Allow to stand for a few minutes to assist to dissolve the old sealer.
2.Using an industrial type polishing machine fitted with a brown or black pad, scrub the area, make sure the edges and corners not reached with the machine are completed by hand using a centre out of the floor pad, grade 3 steel wool, doodle bug or eager beaver floor tool.
3. When scrubbing the floor it will be necessary to add water to the area to give the pad lubrication over the floor and prevent the slurry created from drying too quickly.
4. Pick up the solution before it dries using a wringer type bucket and mop or wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
5. Always rinse off the floor with clean water and allow to dry, with some applications it may be necessary to neutralise the floor by adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse water. Ensure all stripping solution is removed and the area is totally clean then allow to dry.
Sealing/Polishing