Author: Thomas Ferraioli, Jr.    eHow Contributing Writer

VCT, vinyl composition tile, is found everywhere from supermarkets to factories to hospitals to residential kitchen floors. When polished to a high shine, few floor coverings can compare to the clean, fresh look of a VCT floor.

Since VCT is covered with wax or floor finish, maintaining the floor is more about preserving the brilliance of the wax coat. For this, a buffing machine, mops and above all, a routine schedule are needed.

1. Basic Cleaning

Grit, dirt and dust are enemies of a waxed floor. If not removed daily, the debris will work like sandpaper under foot, dulling the wax finish. Therefore, daily dust-mopping, followed by wet mopping with a neutral pH cleaner are important steps. A putty knife is a valuable tool to gently pry off gum, candy and other sticky items.

2. Machine Buffing

The amount of foot traffic the floor sees will dictate how often the floor should be machine buffed. Busy hospital corridors and supermarkets may need nightly buffing to maintain a high shine. A small office with only a few employees may only need quarterly service.

There are two options to buff a VCT floor covered with floor finish: low speed spray buff or high speed burnishing. High speed burnishers spin a buffing pad at several thousand RPMs over the floor. The result is a glass like finish. However, the service requires a build up of several
coats of high quality floor finish.

Spray buff may be done with a traditional low speed machine (175 RPMs). The cleaning technician sprays a light mist of cleaner onto the floor. Next, using a mild abrasive pad, he works the cleaner over the floor using a left to right motion. Over lapping and turning the pad to a clean side are essential for optimum results. For a superior shine, add a new coat of floor finish after buffing.

3. Stripping and Waxing

A complete removal of old wax and application of several coats of new finish are summed up by the term strip and wax. A low speed buffing machine and wet vac, plus mops and buckets are needed for this operation. While some facilities, such as schools, like to strip and wax floors annually, it is possible to go several years in-between service if the floor is well maintained.

Start by mixing floor stripping solution. Apply a liberal amount to a small section of floor (about 50 to 100 square feet). Allow the solution to sit for about five minutes. Next, scrub the area with a black stripping pad on a low speed floor machine.
Vacuum the used solution off the floor. Finally, rinse with a mop dipped in clear water. Floors that have not been stripped in many years may require two or three rounds of stripping to remove all the old wax.

Once the old wax has been removed and the floor has dried, it is time to apply one coat of floor sealer. Mop the floor sealer evenly on to the floor using overlapping, figure-eight strokes. Allow the sealer to dry for at least 20 minutes.

Finally, apply two coats of floor finish in the same manner as the sealer. As with the sealer, allow each application to dry for at least 20 minutes in between coats or walking on the floor.

UBM VCT Polishing Service

The most common flooring found in Kansas City commercial facilities are VCT floors. Dry soil removal and wet mopping are sufficient only for daily maintenance, but UBM understands it takes more than that to preserve their longevity. Kansas City has trusted UBM to schedule floor maintenance programs for many buildings in the area. Don’t be left out!