Every so often, any commercial floor that is sealed or waxed will need to be stripped. That’s because over time the wax will begin to break down. Too much wax can become an eyesore and not enough won’t protect the surface well enough.
When stripping commercial floors, it’s important to do the job right in order to not only protect the floor surface itself, but to also ensure that you remove all of the wax so that you can reapply the new coat and return those floors to almost new condition.
Here are 10 of the more common mistakes people make when stripping commercial floors.
1. Learning skills on the fly. Stripping floors is an acquired skill. If you decide to try and learn as you go, you’re going to damage the floor. The best way to learn is by being supervised by an experienced and skill professional.
2. Not understanding the type of floor you have. Chemicals and machines may be more suited to a different type of flooring than you have. If that’s the case, it could damage the floor surface.
3. Not having access to the appropriate tools from the beginning of the project. If you don’t have all of your tools on hand when you start, it means you’re going to have to stop, go get them, and that can cause problems in stripping the floors.
4. Using dirty equipment. If you decide to use an old mop, bucket, or any machine or tool that isn’t clean, it can impact the quality of work you do.
5. Skipping safety clothing. It’s important to have property safety equipment on at all times, including gloves, goggles, and non-slip shoes.
6. Not protecting the work area. Whether or not you expect anyone else in the area, make sure the work area is duly marked so any potential visitors won’t slip.
7. Trying to do the entire floor at once. It’s best to focus on a more manageable area, then move to the next instead of the entire floor.
8. Not diluting the stripper. In many cases, the stripping agent needs to be diluted. Failing to do so could lead to damage of the floor surface.
9. Not allowing enough dwell time. If you try to rush the job and don’t allow the chemicals to work, this could lead to poor results.
10. Not relying on a defoamer with a wet/dry vac. If you don’t get the chemicals and wax up properly, it can leave a residue behind, which is what you don’t want.
Avoiding these common mistakes will help to ensure clean, safe, and great looking commercial floors.