Common Floor Finish Problems and Their Causes

Providing floor care services for your customers not only enhances the value of your cleaning company as a “one stop shop” but can also be very profitable. Whether you are a rookie or seasoned veteran, when it comes to floors and finishes, you need to have a ‘good eye' for those unexpected floor finish problems and the affect of the appearance of the floor.

Common floor finish problems and their causes

These problems can be the result of using unsuitable or dirty tools and equipment, improper application techniques, contamination of water or finish, or surrounding environmental factors. Understanding what could or has caused floor finish issues and correcting the problem(s) (hopefully before they happen) will help save time and money.

Here are some common floor finish problems and their possible causes:

Finish is discolored under the floor mats

• Floor mats were placed back on floor before finish had proper time to cure.  Not allowing the chemicals to evaporate correctly will cause the finish to dry improperly.

•  There was a chemical reaction between the floor finish and the rubber backing on the floor mats.

TIP: If at all possible, keep floor mats off a newly finished floor for at least 12 hours.

Swirl marks

• Your burnishing pad may be too aggressive for the floor finish.

•  You're moving the burnisher too slowly or not using a high RPM machine.

•  Poor contact between the pad and the floor.

•  Dirty or wet floor pad was used.

TIP: Always match the maintenance procedure to the right equipment (RPM) and pad being used.

Streaks in the floor finish

• Floor was not properly prepared before finish was applied.

•  Floor finish didn't thoroughly dry before applying additional coat.

•  Too thin or heavy of coat applied.

•  Application mop, bucket/wringer, water was dirty or contaminated.

•  Floor was too cold when finish was applied.

•  Floor finish contaminated or was improperly stored. Floor finish that has been exposed to extreme cold or hot temperatures should not be used and will need to be replaced.

TIP: Check floor temperature with a Raytek MiniTemp thermometer. Point the gun at the surface, pull the trigger, and a laser beam shoots from the gun to the surface and the temperature of the surface will appear on screen.

Powdering

• Finish coats applied too thin.

•  Fans pointed directly at wet floor finish.

•  Poor adhesion of the floor finish.

•  Contaminated mop head or finish.

•  Floor not rinsed properly after stripping.

TIP: If you use fans to help dry the finish, do not point the fans directly on the floor. Fans should be pointed away or upwards to help circulate the surrounding air.

Room temperature can have an effect on the final appearance when applying finish. The recommended temperature should be around 70°F and no colder than 50°F but always check with the manufacture or finish label to verify the proper temperature to apply. Applying finish in high humidity, high temperature or cold temperature can increase or delay the drying time, resulting in poor adhesion and appearance.

Match the finish for the type of floor. Make sure the finish you select is intended for the type of floor you will be working on. Check with your Jan/San supplier or with the manufacturer if you are not 100% certain.

In most situations, the problems can be corrected by stripping, rinsing, and reapplying new finish. Check the floor for soil and finish build-up that may have to be reworked. Watch for debris, such as hair or bugs when putting down finish as well as ‘skippers' (areas missed when applying finish). Work on small areas that you can manage and keep foot traffic and matting off the floor as long as possible.

As you have noticed, a lot of the problems associated with floor finish applications are duplicated. With proper training, using the correct products, and using clean water and equipment, most of these situations can be resolved before they happen.

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