Cleaning a Quartz floor

[Big Barn]

I kind of hijacked another thread regarding cleaning a garage floor so I thought I would start my own. We have a 36x60 quartz floor that is pretty dirty. The usual suspects..auto fluids, dirt and tire marks. My son and I bought a good brush and tried a couple of different products including dishwashing soap and a floor cleaning product by ZEP. Both did ok in removing some of the dirt but I think we are going to need a new plan.

We plan to rent an automatic scrubbing machine (like they use in Home Depot etc) but what I don't know is what kind of product should I use. I know to use the red pads (will have a black pad on hand just in case) but I'm not sure what would work best on quartz flooring.

I'm pretty certain if it comes out well, I will be back to ask about replacing the urethane top coat.

Thanks in advance guys. Any and all guidance is greatly appreciated. My FIL passed away and I'm helping take care of the place.

 

[Milton Shaw]

The scrub pads on a power floor buffer will take the dirt up very well. Use any powered soap even TIDE works great on floors. The big problem is removing the dirty water and rinsing with clean water often enough to keep it from drying with white soap marks on it. Make sure you know how to use a buffer and don't fight it. Just adjust the handles until it is right at your belt line and then a little up motion to move one way and a little down motion to go the other way. Start out in the middle of the room so that you can get used to it before you crash it into walls etc. A good wet dry vacuum is handy to remove the dirty water/soap liquid.

 

[Big Barn]

Thanks. I'm talking about renting something like this. It ***** up the dirty water as you go, or at least that is the plan.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...9vv0Pnc8PNxLhCHB7lJupd0w&ust=1419039667253354

 

[OJ Bartley]

Big Barn, this sounds interesting, and I'd really like to see some before and after shots to see how it works out!

 

[Big Barn]

I would love to. I just need to figure out how to post pics!!

I've almost emptied the space and figured out what equipment and pads I need. All I need to do is figure out what cleaning product to use and I'm good to go. Hoping to get this done right after Christmas while my son is still home from school.

 

[tncatadjuster]

I would be very careful about using an abrasive pad, if you penetrate the membrane on top of the quartz it will look bad.

I use a slow speed buffer with a piece of long pile carpet turned pile down, simple green and garden hose to rinse. If your stain remains try Krud Kutter.

 

[Big Barn]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that the 3M red pad is a cleaning pad rather than a scuffing pad.

 

[tncatadjuster]

I don't have enough experience with pads to help you, I have seen where the top clear layer was removed from a floor so was giving a "heads up" that it could happen.

Bet you will be happy when its clean.

 

[Shea]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that the 3M red pad is a cleaning pad rather than a scuffing pad.

That's correct. The next color, white, is more of a buffing pad (for acrylic wax floors) and blue is more aggressive than the red pad. As tncatadjuster was saying, you need to be careful about burning through the top coat to the quartz. It all depends on what type of clear coat was applied and how thick, so you will want to monitor it as you go.

Generally you don't need to worry when scrubbing a top coat this way in terms of wear. They are extremely tough and stand up well to buffers, though it's a great way to dull up a finish. In fact, it works well to rough up a top coat to apply another coat. However, with an older floor that you don't know the history of, there can be wear that has taken the top coat down near the base. This is when you need to be careful.

 

[Big Barn]

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! The quartz is a 1/4" thick and has never been scrubbed before. The urethane looks kind of iffy in some spots. In a perfect world I would scrub it and then add a coat of urethane to bring back the shine, but I'm not sure of that process.

The barn is in a rural area and finding somebody with this kind of expertise has been tough. The company that installed it is no longer in business. I had a company come out and they wanted to sand the thing down and add a layer of quartz. Besides being quite expensive, I think it is overkill as a good cleaning is what is needed for most of the building. The reality is I don't need it to be showroom new, I just need it to be presentable. A couple areas with staining isn't going to kill me. I'm going to try to post a pic so everyone can see what I am talking about.

Thanks again everyone. I really do appreciate it.