|
| Thursday, July 29, 2010 |
 |
|
|
|
| [Monday, February 06, 2006] |
| I have a client who is requesting a strip and finish of their VCT. In the men's restroom, under the urinal, there are large areas where the finish is gone due to bad aim. Would it be best to leave this area unfinished when strip the floor and apply the new finish?
|
| Hard & Resilient Floor Care - Jerome Logan |
|
|
|
|
Answer # 1:
No. A better choice would be to clean and neutralize the area, and apply several coats of finish to protect the VCT against future damage.The damage to the finish may be from infrequent cleaning of the tile, uric acid or acid bowl cleaners or a combination of unfriendly spills. In time, bacteria will change urine from a weak acid to an alkaline and that can soften the finish the way stripper does.
Strip the floor, use an acid rinse to neutralize it, and apply the finish after a complete drying. Be aware that the tile may be discolored and, if so, the new finish may not fully restore it to its original appearance. Even so, some protection is better than leaving it unprotected, and the finish will make it easier to clean.
Lynn E. Krafft, ICAN Associate Editor for ATEX
lekrafft@juno.com
Answer # 2:
You should leave the rest room floor in a sanitary condition by going ahead with a strip and finish process. In most cases, the stripping operation lightens urine discoloration. By using a wet vac and squeegee, the bio-contaminates can be removed from the tile edges and indentations. However, it is not uncommon to see re-staining within 60 days in a high traffic restrooms. A ceramic, quarry, or porcelain tile with epoxy grout will help prevent urine staining. A less desirable approach is to cover the area with a rubber mat, which in turn is difficult to keep clean. Frequency of cleaning also plays a key role in keeping this area clean and odor free.
Gary Clipperton
National Pro Clean Corp
(719) 598-5112
www.nationalproclean.com |
| ICAN representative |
|
|
|
|
|
