Resilient Tile Floor Care Terms and What They Mean

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Steve Hanson

Resilient tile is defined as a durable floor cover that has the ability to resume its original shape. The most common type of resilent tile flooring is VCT tile (vinyl composition tile). VCT tile usually comes in 12" squares and are typically found in commercial and retail settings.

There are many resilent floor care services that you can provide your customers - spray buffing, burnishing, polishing, and stripping... Just what does each of these terms mean? Here are brief descriptions of many common types of resilient tile floor care services:

1. Polishing - For this process you can use a 175 rpm up to a 1500 rpm, floor machine and a soft pad or brush. The idea is to remove some of the soil and return some of the shine to a floor that has finish applied to it.

2. Spray Buffing - For this process you will probably use a 175 to 300 rpm, slow-speed floor machine and a soft pad or brush. Spray buffing solution is contained in a spray bottle, so apply a light mist onto the floor directly in front of the machine. Move the machine over the area to remove soil, scuff marks and scratches from the finish. Some of the shine will also be restored as you move over the area.

3. Burnishing - For this process you'll use a 1500 - 2500 rpm high-speed floor machine and a pad. Before taking the machine to the floor, you'll mop on a restoration chemical, which will help restore the gloss to the existing finish. Let the floor dry before burnishing. Burnishing helps to extend the time between scrubbing or stripping services.

4. Scrubbing - For this process you'll use a 175 rpm slow-speed machine to remove soil, scuff marks, scratches and some of the floor finish. You'll use a more agressive floor pad or brush and a detergent to remove one or two coats of finish. After scrubbing the floor and neutralizing it, apply one or two coats of new finish to the floor.

5. Stripping - For this process you'll use a 175 rpm slow-speed machine to remove all the finish and sealer on the floor. You'll use a very agressive pad or brush along with stripping chemical. After stripping and rinsing the floor of all finish, neutralize the floor and apply new finish. Stripping is a service that should be prolonged for as long as possible. By offering the other services listed above on a regular floor service schedule, you should be able to prolong the need for floor stripping.

As you can see there are many resilent tile floor services that you can provide to your customers. Start slow by learning how to use the equipment. Check with your janitorial supplier to see if they'll demonstrate the equipment for you and allow you to use it yourself. Find out what lines of product they carry and try them out to see which lines you like best. Before you know it, you'll be offering floor care services to your customers and adding profit to your cleaning company's bottom line!

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.