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Post by ganluin on Oct 31, 2005 13:34:27 GMT -5
Hi all, Got some questions for you. First off, this is a strip and finish for an existing client. It is my first floor job, and it is on the small side, only about 400 sq. ft. Hehe, so much for small jobs, it was a real learning experience. I started Saterday night, and after several hours could not figure out why the wax was not coming up. Came home checked the forum, went back last night, finaly, stripper is working. Had it too diluted, not enough stripper so wasn't working. Next problem, we are in Washington state, it's raining, go figure! Dry times were all out of wack. Finally got it sealed and two coats of finish laid down.
Floors are looking real good right about now.
I start buffing the floor and notice the floor is getting duller, not shinier! Fortunatly, this floor is a bathroom and you don't notice it as much. So anyway, I stopped buffing. I spoke to the client and am gonna go back in about a week and a half and lay down another coat of finish.
So enough background, now for the questions.
1) What is the difference between a red buffing pad and a white buffing pad?
2) Would the red (what i was using) pad cuase the finish to dull up?
3) Did I try to buff too soon? Is that why the floor dulled?
4) If so, can I buff it out in the next time I go in? Before I lay the next coat of finish.
or .. 5) Do I have to strip it and finish again?
Sorry, all, for the book and the bombardment with questions, I am just very frustrated right now and need to figure out what to do to make it right for my client.
Thanks, Gene
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Post by Kevin on Oct 31, 2005 16:22:01 GMT -5
Where you using a hi- speed or just a scrubber? Sounds like a scrubber. Yes the red pad would cause finish to dull up, also if you buffed to soon or used a low speed. You should be able to get away with just laying one or two thin coats of finish, but do not wait a week. Do ASAP, as the floor may become dirty in the meantime. Before you do lay anymore finish regardless do a nice mop with neutral cleaner. What type of wax did you use? This is a nice link that tells you the difference between pads. www.parish-supply.com/floorpad.htm
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Post by monayuki on Oct 31, 2005 19:04:29 GMT -5
White Pads are for High Speed Burnishers. For Quality Stripping use a Black Pad. After Stripping all the Floor Finishes lay a Coat of Sealer before the Finish.
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J4K Cleaning
Full Forum Member
[M:-60]
J4K Cleaning Company
Posts: 237
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Post by J4K Cleaning on Oct 31, 2005 19:23:07 GMT -5
Red pad is more aggressive then the white pad. White pads can be used to buff or to burnish a floor. Red pads are mainly used for buffing or cleaning with an auto scrubber. The red pad should not have caused the finish to dull, were you using any type of restorer or spray buff with it? Sounds like maybe some moisture coming up through the finish, did you allow for enough dry time between coats? How much time between laying the finish and buffing? You should as Kevin stated do this asap. Good luck Also, some finish now a days does not need a sealer put down first.
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Post by Kevin on Oct 31, 2005 19:36:15 GMT -5
Until Gene comes back, the answers are unknown. What I think he did was immediatley after he applied the wax, without proper drying times and curing startedto attempt buffing with a floor scrubber, red pad attached. Which will muck or dull the shine.
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Post by ganluin on Nov 1, 2005 4:59:30 GMT -5
Hi all, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. After the frustrating weekend, I just crashed big time and slept today, Monday, away. When I woke up, took care of the few acounts I had to and here I be. Thanks for the link Kevin, it shed a lot of light for me.
Any way, to answer the questions that have come up..
I was using a scrubber. A black pad for stripping and a red pad for the buffing. I did lay down a coat of sealer. I laid down two coats of finish. I was not using any kind of restorer or spray buff. I waited approximately an hour between coats of the finish. It was raining here both nights.
Hind sight, and with a somewhat fresh, sleep refreshed brain, I think the last coat was not quite dry as some of you are indicating. I am going back tomorrow morning to look at the floors. The good news is I stopped when I noticed it so the other bathroom and lobby have not been touched by the buffer. They were looking good when I left, it was only the one bathroom that I may have to do over.
Thank you all for your suggestions and any more you can think of with the new info.
Gene
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Post by colin on Nov 1, 2005 5:07:01 GMT -5
I normally don't burnish or buff my floors after I've refinished. I usually wait between 24 hours and 48 hours, I like to use a propane burnisher so, if I were to be forced to use a low-speed machine. I would definitely use a white pad with a buffing solution if I had to wait a week to a week and half to refinish the floor. I would probably do a light scrub with a red pad 2 ounces of neutral cleaner to 1 gallon of water. Put two very thin coats of finish on there and run before I eat up all my profit.
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Post by monayuki on Nov 1, 2005 6:15:44 GMT -5
We are quite the Same in procedure Colin. But we always use a High-Speed coz thats what we have and White Pad for it. Though there are lots of Finishes that doesnt require Sealers it is still best to Seal the Floor for Deep-Shine look and Protection. As a Floor Only Maintenance and Restoration Company I send Individual Family Crew Chiefs Twice a year to Seminars on Hard Surface Cleaning Maintenance and Especially in Restoration and Structural Drying to Keep us State of the Art in Every Performance and is a Requirement for us as a Cleaning and Restoration Company by the Insurances, Alacrity, Crawford and CCR. This also in Connection with our Fed and State Building Floor Maintenance Contracts. We just signed a 5 year Floor Maintenance Contract and Water Damage Service with Piscerne Military Housing in Fort Meade Maryland. A 3000 Unit Military Housing inside Fort George Meade.
There are hundreds of how to articles in our members area along with business support services and advertising for janitorial and cleaning services- Not a Member Yet? Learn more about an IJCSA Membership--Click Here-
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Post by colin on Nov 1, 2005 14:31:50 GMT -5
That's great advice. Congratulations on your signing of a five-year floor maintenance contract is your company certified in water damage as well? Where did you get your hard floor certification? I'm curious, would it be being available to Canadians, because I wouldn't mind being a certified technician then I would know what I'm talking about. Being a owner and operator of a small business it is extremely difficult for me to travel out of town or out of province to get certified because I'm always on the job. Thank you for your reply in advance.
C.
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Post by ganluin on Nov 1, 2005 23:13:12 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replys! I checked the floors today and was extremely surprised and pleased. The bathroom floor that I was worried about does not look bad. The other floors I had not touched with the buffer so they look great! I am gonna try and buff the bathroom floor with some spray and buff and a white pad and see how that works out. If that does not work out I will do the procedure Colin brought up. I would really like to thank yo all for your input. This has been a learning experience for me and I am coming away the better for it. Especially with your help! Thanks, Gene
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Post by Kevin on Nov 2, 2005 0:11:00 GMT -5
After the first floor job, that nervousness fades away. Let the money start rolling in ! Actually thinking about it more I still get that gut feeling like something can drastically go wrong on floor jobs.
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Post by rclllc on Nov 2, 2005 3:06:37 GMT -5
hey jude... you signed a 5 year agreement?!!!!SWEET! I have never got more that a three year contract.
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Post by colin on Nov 2, 2005 3:41:31 GMT -5
Gene;
Would you be interested in a cleaning tip manual. It's by Rochester it covers from clean a washroom to stripping and refinishing floors to burnishing, scrubbing auto scrubbing carpet-cleaning you name it's got it and it tells you exactly what the procedures are to take and what floor pads to use as well. That's a bonus....it's a definite for any floor care professional and the best part it is free. If you're interested, let me know and I can e-mail it to you.
Cheers C.
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Post by ganluin on Nov 2, 2005 5:28:55 GMT -5
Colin, Sure! I am always on the look out for more information.
Email is Gene@MillerServicesNW.com Thanks, Gene
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Post by Kevin on Nov 2, 2005 8:24:22 GMT -5
I would also like to see it, Gene email me a copy when you get it.
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