I have my 1st vct tile cleaning job next week - never did one before, but landed a 3,000ft job! (LOL beginners luck)...luckily, I have a friend who is going to share the job w/ me who's a pro at it, so I get some hands-on training...My question is: the vct tile is freshly laid, and they want the factory finished removed, 2 coats of wax applied, and burnished. How can I use the cimex on this job? I assume from the post below that I can use it to strip only...can I use the regular grey carpet pads to remove factory finish, or do I need the lightning strip pads? As I understand, the factory finish is thin and doesnt take much to remove...

Thanks!

Joe

I do jobs like this every week and always use black or brown pads. Never put on 2 coats and burnish. I have 3-5 companies making finish for me and none of them make a finish where you would apply 2 coats then burn the floor. (This is only my opinion)

Please send us before and after pictures if you have time or e-mail them to me at kjacobs@coswaysupply.com

thanks

Ken

The "factory finish" is applied to keep the tiles from sticking together in the box. It's usually paraffin and very thin. I found it now cleans off really easy. Green scrub pads and strong mixture of neutral cleaner has worked well for me.



CleaningSuperman
alter ego: George Barnett
Owner: G & G Services,LLC
http://www.CleaningSuperhero.com

Joe, you need to STRIP the "factory seal". If you don't remove the "factory seal" the new finish won't adhere well to the floor. Also, stripping the new floor helps to open up the surface of the floor and enables better adhesion of the floor finish. Stripping new "factory seal" is pretty easy. I usually just use a light solution of rinse free stripper and a normal strip pad. But you MUST apply more than 2 coats. A minimum of 4 coats is needed, and 6 coats would be optimum.

For some additional info, take a look at my recent post on this topic below...
http://www.network54.com/Forum/228309/message/1216142032/Re-+Hey+rick%21%21%21







Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com

Rick, you mentioned using normal strip pads for this job - do you mean the lightning pads or something else? I dont want to be too aggresive and damage the floor...

Thanks

Joe

The Lighting strip pads will work perfectly.






Rick Gelinas
rick@excellent-supply.com

I have to disagree with you Rick. The "factory seal" has been in the past a stripping problem. After reading a manufacturer's bulletin and over the past several years of hands on experience, I have noticed how easily this coating can be removed leaving the floor ready to refinish. The most recent service on new vct required only a couple of hours worth of autoscrubbing with a greeen pad and neutral cleaner for about 15,000 sq.ft.

Also note, when applying finish, you will take a risk of hazing the floor for every coat past the third.

CleaningSuperman
alter ego: George Barnett
Owner: G & G Services,LLC
http://www.CleaningSuperhero.com