Wednesday''s Ask the Experts question from a cleaning professional on the
International Custodial Advisors Network (ICAN)
"Ask the Experts" page:
In a daycare setting, is it safe to apply 5 coats of finish or will it create a safety hazard for the kids and the staff? This school used a contractor who only applied one coat of finish when the VCT tile was laid. They have been open now for 3 months and after nightly mopping and daily traffic the floors are dulling out and looking scratchy. Is it too late to offer monthly spray buffing on the floors? I offered this to the owners in my initial bid, but at the time they could not afford it. Now, they may consider it.
The answer:
Most VCT warranties recommend 2-3 coats of a commercial floor finish to protect new tile from abrasion and stains. One coat will not provide enough of a base to respond to buffing. By now, it is unlikely that any of the first coat is still remaining. Spray buffing will only produce a slight sheen, which will not hold up.
What you need to recommend ... — Gary Clipperton, president of
National Pro Clean Corp.
