|
Post by tatclean on Sept 2, 2008 10:24:32 GMT -5
or is their a better alternative when it comes to floor treatment and polishing. thanks
|
|
|
Post by northstardave on Sept 2, 2008 19:39:16 GMT -5
I prefer to use High and Mighty 2, and Ultrawear for VCT floors. They are water-based urethanes formulated for VCT have gloss meter readings at 93. I have some floors that have had required no resurfacing work for 4 years in a commercial setting. Typical life is 1-2 years on a high-traffic setting such as hospital corridors and entries. Both can be stripped if needed; 1 which can be stripped with a green stripper. I have ran into others such as Glosstek that were a pain to work with, and didn't have a stripper.
|
|
|
Post by northstardave on Sept 2, 2008 19:40:26 GMT -5
One more thing I forgot to mention
|
|
|
Post by northstardave on Sept 2, 2008 19:41:24 GMT -5
These products do not require buffing or scrub/recoats.
|
|
|
Post by logan5127 on Sept 3, 2008 7:28:32 GMT -5
I have over the past tried a couple of these low to no maintenance finishes. I was not happy with them at all. They did not hold up without maint. Even though sales reps said they would strip off easy with their strippers , they did not. Every finish that has urethane in it has been a hard strip job for me. We one time came in behind another service who had several accounts and went out of business. They had used urethane fortified finishes. We tried several different strippers and none did the job. We ended up hand scraping every tile on most of them. On a further note , why would we even want such a finish? I like making money from buffing the floors as well as stripping and waxing. If they lasted 4 years without maintenance then I would not have a floor cleaning business. Also why does the big boys like Wal-Mart; Targets; Malls and so on do not use these type products. They have the resources to research these products yet they choose to service floors seven days a week . They spend millions on buffing and stripping. Why would they do that if there were a finish that needed no maintenance? Another product that has been a joke for me is the no scrub; no rinse stripper. Just mop it on and mop it off. Maybe it would work in a residential kitchen with nothing but mop and glo on the floor , but not in the commercial side of business.
|
|
|
Post by northstardave on Sept 9, 2008 21:41:03 GMT -5
:(All valid concerns and points. I will attempt to address all the points brought up in your post. There are some terrible "no-buff" finishes out there. Believe me I have scraped a floor until my fingers bleed. Some urethane finishes level poorly, they have long dry times, and if not prepped properly, you are destined for an expensive mess. 4 years is obviously a higher-performing scenario. Like I said, 1-2 years. THese finishes are not perfect for every scenario. A salesman with a vested interest in the product may sell you the snake oil, but I won't. As an owner of a business, wouldn't make sense for you to acquire a contract that pay you 1.50 per sq. ft. in 1 trip, versus 1.50 annually with 1 strip, monthly buffs, and quarterly scrubs? The cost savings is great for you and the customer. I am aware of organization including Target that are paying 2.35 a square foot. THe reason some of the big players are staying away was the dry time, the poor strip, improper directions of application from the manufacturer and their rep. Unfortunately, I have come across plenty of ES Directors, Facilities Managers, and Housekeeping Managers that have been burned in the worse way, The product that I use has a green stripper that you can remove the product with (manufacturer found this by accident), and I have tested it with great results. THe other finish has a stripper that takes an hour of dwell time, then is an easy strip. The dry time is 30 minutes for the wear coat, then 30 minutes for the finish coat. THis is the newest product, and it is making significant gains in the hospital market, and school districts.
In summation, these finishes are not the end all be all. I still strip and refinish floors, scrub, and buff. I think all have there place; it just depends on the needs of the customer that I am working with. I appreciate the good feedback and the good info you are posting out there on the boards, they have been of help.
Thanks,
Dave
|
|
|
Post by northstardave on Sept 9, 2008 21:43:14 GMT -5
>:(there, meant to be spelled THEIR. Sorry, bad spelling and grammar night.
|
|