New VCT should i strip or scrub

Danv1212

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Daniel Villavicencio
Hey guys,

You’re all great I have used this site before but never posted. I mostly worked with hardwood floors. Got a job coming up for new vct to achieve wet-look. Please help me with best practice guideline. Should i strip first or just scrub with red pad? Is it ill advised to use red pad on a 2000 rpm? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,
Dan
 

DAT

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Bill Cheryl
2000 rpm? That's buffer machine.

Use 175 or autoscrubber if large sqft. I believe it is good to strip it to get the factory finish off and put down new layer of wax coat.

Let see what other have to say as well..
 

DAT

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Red is buffing pad. Blue and green is scrubbing pads, and brown to black is stripping pads.

You can get by with blue to scrub and strip.
 
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Matt Ross
Newly installed vct should sit for a couple days before you scrub or strip it. I've done both, and you can get good looking floors either way. If the pay is right then go ahead and strip it with a mild stripper dilution and a black pad. If you choose to scrub them to save time or chemicals I'd use a green or blue pad. Not black. I recommend a coat or two of sealer, then wax. Use good wax, dont think you are saving money by getting cheap home depot wax or something like that.

You cannot use a 2000 rpm machine for any of the above. You need an autoscrubber or 175.
 
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Old Coastie

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Bingo on the few days. I’d use a 175 with a brown abrasive pad and water to strip the factory finish (no stripper residue) slurp it very clean and start layering it first N-S, then E-W.

Something high solids, NOT Zep. Get with your local chemical pimp.

Don’t buff for a few days.
 
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dealtimeman

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175 Blue pad, if it is dirty the strip it ( cut your dilution ratio way down as you aren’t really emulsifying any real solids just some dirt, glue residue and the bit of factory finish.

More important to hit with a light acid before and I mean very light, before refinishing as this will allow the floor finish its best result when it comes to self leveling, and the smother/level it goes down the shinier it will be.
 
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Danv1212

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Daniel Villavicencio
Thanks everyone. I am going to use diversey premia ultra high speed as my finish after the blue pad scrubdown. What acid do you recommend before putting the diversey premia down?
 
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Old Coastie

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Michael, I did not know about the vinegar thing. What does it actually do, and could one just add a few drops to a gallon of finish?
 

dealtimeman

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Michael, I did not know about the vinegar thing. What does it actually do, and could one just add a few drops to a gallon of finish?

No, it just does a light final Cleaning on the acid side before laying finish. If you have never done it before laying finish you will notice a difference.

The vinegar is used after the floor has been rinsed to a still clear bucket of water after mopping . In other words you need to mop or rinse untill the bucket of water is still clear after a pass, then you are ready for the final acid wash.

Most finished will build clarity/shine faster as well.
 
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I use white vinegar, maybe one half cup per 4 gallons, depending on alkalinity of cleaner.

The solids: solid what? Not all are equal, meaning more isn't always better.
 
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I may use the vinegar for the first rinse only, if I used anything stronger than mild dish soap to scrub. Keep it simple because your are just trying to remove or neutralize any undue alkalinity.
 
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dealtimeman

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Guys it’s not a miracle or anything like that, it is just a very good step that is missed by most floor techs, as most just say they’ve never done it and it still looks good.
 

Kenny Hayes

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Lee gave the correct way for 21 century floors. They all say not to strip with a black pad out of the box. Just telling what they recommend. I do 175 with the tank filled with neutral cleaner, and an spp. Easy as pie, flooding the floor like stripper. By the way, no 2000 rpm with red pad!!! 2 coats of finish with flat finish mop is sufficient. The Janitor
 

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