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Each of these substrates has its own properties and it's vital to understand what you're dealing with before you go to work. Here are special considerations based on flooring type: Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) 1.VCT is composed of clay, filler and color pigments with vinyl resin used as the binder. It is somewhat more flexible, resilient and stain-resistant than asphalt tile and is usually 12 square inches in size. New installations of VCT are particularly tricky. As a general rule, the new floor should not be scrubbed for at least four or five days after installation. In addition, stripping should not be performed within the first 30 days following installation. If your customer or facility manager insists the newly installed floors be stripped, steer clear of heavily solvenated or rinse-free strippers. Vinyl Asphalt 2.Usually nine square inches in size, asphalt tile is furnished in a grade designated as greaseproof. Avoid oils and solvents on all types of asphalt tiles. Solvenated strippers could bleach or discolor the floor. This flooring can be buffed or burnished however, there must be ample coats of finish on the floor to prevent the original tile from being damaged by an aggressive floor burnishing machine. Linoleum 3.Linoleum is made from natural raw materials including a mixture of wood, flour, resins, color pigments and oxidized linseed oil or a combination of drying oils. Modern linoleum flooring is frequently coated at the factory with a clear acrylic coating. It's designed to protect against liquid absorption and it should not be removed. If traditional wet stripping methods are applied, the linoleum itself will absorb the stripping solutions, causing color change, expansion and softening. Extensive damage can be done with a heavy duty stripping pad and softened linoleum. Even letting the stripper solution stand on linoleum for extended periods of time could cause damage. Follow the manufacturer's specific procedures for linoleum. Rubber 4.Rubber flooring varies widely in form and properties and is available in tiles and sheets with many degrees of hardness and flexibility. This type of flooring can be studded or have a safety traction surface. It is subject to deterioration from oils and solvents. Do not use solvent strippers or black pads on this type of flooring because they may damage the floor. Each of these substrates has its own properties and it's vital to understand what you're dealing with before you go to work. Terrazzo 5.Terrazzo is a highly polished surface composed of marble chips mixed with white porcelain cement. If the terrazzo is quite old, do not use a solvent-based stripper. Instead, use an alkaline stripper. If a solvent stripper is used, there is a chance that it may react unfavorably with the petroleum-based sealers that were used to seal the terrazzo in the past. Marble 6.While it's a common misperception that marble is so hard and durable that it can be installed and forgotten, the substrate is actually susceptible to acids and depending on the hardness and level of floor polish, foot traffic can also be damaging. In addition, marble is easily scratched and can discolor if a highly alkaline stripper or cleaner is used on a bare surface. Slate 7.Slate is a hard fine-grained, metamorphic rock that cleaves naturally into thin semi-smooth layers. Although it has a tough surface, it should be coated with a finish to prevent traffic patterns from developing. Scrubbing brushes may have to be used on slate, because it is not completely smooth. The brush will help to clean any of the ridges and uneven areas on the slate a scrubbing pad may not be able to reach. Quarry 8.Quarry tile is actually a type of ceramic tile. It is generally a mixture of clay and water that has been shaped and fired at high temperatures. When putting floor finish on a quarry floor in a lobby, a sealer coat may be needed. This coat acts as a primer for the floor finish so that the finish can adequately adhere to the floor. Don't coat quarry tile in a kitchen setting. Unglazed ceramic 9.Like quarry tile, unglazed ceramic may require a sealer coat. After applying the sealer, it's important to do an adhesion test (see Adhesion testing procedure in the sidebar) prior to applying floor finish. If the ceramic tiles are grouted, scrubbing brushes on the auto-scrubber or swing machine may have to be used to ensure all of the dirt particles have been removed from the grout. When dealing with any type of glazed ceramic tiles, it is not recommended to apply floor finishes in restrooms due to the amount of water spillage in particular areas. Helwig Daniel C. Helwig is a Customer Education Senior Consultant for JohnsonDiversey, Racine, WI. He's been with the company for 24 years and has extensive experience and background in sales, product management, marketing and training. He received his MBA from Cardinal Stritch University
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