Streaks in the Floor Finish?

Streaks in your floor’s finish are a common problem and there are several reasons it could be happening. Understanding why they are occurring can help you reduce the chances of streaks coming back in the future.

One common cause is applying a finish that’s too thin. To fix this, coat the floors with more floor finish on a wax applicator mop. Slow down the stroke as the finish is laid on the floor. Use a painting-type stroke rather than a spreading-type stroke to work the finish into the floor. This procedure will help you achieve great results with a smooth, even finish.

Another cause of steaks is recoating before the previous coat is totally dry. If you run into this problem, burnish the floor to remove streaks. If the streaks do not burnish out, you’ll need to re-strip and recoat. Make sure each coat of finish is completely dry before applying an additional coat or burnishing. Finish smaller areas at one time. Edging long aisles then coating the middle may cause the edge towards the end of the aisle to streak or haze because the finish will start to set around the edges before the rest is done.

A simple fix for streaks caused by dirty equipment is simply to clean the equipment. Always make sure to use clean mops, and rinsed out mop buckets and wringers when applying finish. If there is any stripping solution, degreaser, or soap residue left in the mop bucket, it can ruin the floor finish before it is even applied to the floor. If any foreign material is introduced to the finish, it will cure on your floor.

Also check: Why You Need to Consider a Concrete Floor Polisher for Your Commercial Facility

Using previously frozen floor finish will also produce streaks. Sometimes your floor finish will freeze in storage or during transport; if this happens you must buy new finish. If you have already applied it to the floor, you’ll need to strip the area immediately, rinse well with neutral cleaner and water, then reapply the new finish. Once any type of finish is frozen, it cannot successfully be applied to your floor.

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