Stripping & Waxing
The objectives of a strip and wax are to:
• Remove dirt, debris, and old finish from the surface of the VCT (this is the “strip”)
• Apply new coats of finish to the VCT (this is the “wax”)
First Step
Technicians remove surface debris such as gum, trash, and dirt. Then they apply a solution that dissolves oils and wax. The solution is agitated with an aggressive scrubbing pad driven by a low speed buffer or an autoscrubber. The dissolved wax and other buildup are removed in a rinsing step that generally employees an automated squeegee.
Second Step
The technician typically applies a coat of sealer, followed by several coats of floor finish.
Removes construction debris and scuff marks from new VCT
Buffing
In the spray buff process, a technician removes all surface debris such as gum and dirt, then sprays a very mild wax solvent while the floor is being buffed. As a result, the top layer of finish is momentarily softened and can be restored to a gloss finish.
Floor Scrubbing
A top scrub is midway between a spray buff and a strip and wax. The technician removes all surface debris such as gum and dirt, then mops down a mild cleaning solution. This is followed by a low speed buffer utilizing an aggressive pad that mechanically removes the top layer of wax. This is rinsed and squeegeed as with a strip and wax, and then a few coats of finish are applied over the remaining base coats, restoring the original finish without a full strip and wax.