I don't personally have VCT down in my garage. I do however have extensive experience with the stuff!
After spending the last 17 years in the United States Navy I have come away with the knowledge that if all else fails for me jobwise, I have a career in Janitorial Services locked up!! When I was going through my initial schooling, I spent a lot of *quality* time stripping and waxing.
The best way IMHO to strip and wax a large (or even small) VCT floor is to do the following:
Assemble the following supplies: (2) Large mop buckets, (3) mops, (swab!) floor stripper of your choice, buffing wax and a high speed stripper/buffer (rental).
#1 - Sweep floor
#2 - (1) Mop bucket full of clean, hot water. Mix proper ratio of floor stipper with water.
#3 - Apply a liberal amount of stipper solution to floor.
#3 - Use High Speed buffer w/ stripping pad to remove old wax. (ooks like a big, round, over-sized green sink scrubbing/scouring pad)
If you have never used A High Speed Buffer before, they can be a pain the first few times. They have a mind of thier own! To set it up properly do the following:
#1 - Stand behind the buffer
#2 - Locate the handle level adjusting knob (located at the base of the handle before it meets the body of the buffer)
#3 - Loosen knob and adjust the level of the buffer handle to the height of your waist (beltline)
#4 - Let the buffer do the work! Work using a side to side motion.
Back to the main directions!
#4 - Run the buffer back and forth taking your time to ensure that you get up all of the old wax. It should only take a couple of passes. For harder to get spots like corners, use a regular green abrasive sink scrubber and work it the same way.
#5 - Using a fresh, clean mop and your 2nd unused mop bucket with clean, hot water, mop the floor to pick up the old wax/stripper solution. Change the water often. You don't want to leave behind any residual wax/stripper.
**THIS STEP IS CRITICAL!! IF YOU LEAVE ANY STRIPPER OR OLD WAX BEHIND THE NEW WAX/BUFF JOB WILL LOOK TERRIBLE!**
After the floor dries (30-40 mins) it should look dull and hazy. This means that you have successfully removed all of the old wax/finish, good job! Onto the next step!
#6 - Pour wax into a clean bucket.
#7 - Using a new mop (or the same mop that you used to pick up the old stripper, just make sure that it is super-clean with no traces of stripper left behind) Apply the wax to the floor using a back and forth sweeping motion ensuring that you get full coverage between sweeps. Don't push and pull the mop back and forth like nature (or mom) would have you do!
#8 - Wait the recommended time, about 30 mintues, for the wax to set-up.
#9 - Remove the stripping pad from the buffer. Make sure to wipe the buffer wheel down to ensure that there isn't any stripper on it that could drip on your floor. Replace the stripping pad with a soft, buffing pad.
#10 - Remove shoes (sock feet only during this step!) Go to the furthest corner of the room and start buffing the wax out! Use the same back and forth motion letting the buffer do the work. The buffer works the same with either pad except the travel is a lot smoother with the buffing pad. Don't hover in one spot to long. If you like, you can walk the buffer from one side of the room to the other, Left to Right, Front to Back. Don't work yourself into a corner. You will be amazed at results!!
When it comes to product selection, I would use commercial grade. The stuff you find at Wal-Mart or the big box stores are for Suzy Homemaker.
If you have any questions, ask away!!
). Jack stands will leave an impression on the tile surface. I have some 8" square thin metal plates I lay down on the tile first.
I was beginning to think that I wasn't going to get any resposes!
