Refinishing tile floors is a job for the experts!
Too often unqualified floor maintenance providers win jobs to restore or refinish tile floors. Tile floors can be found in both residential and commercial but for this blog I will be talking about refinishing tile floors in commercial facilities.
Tile flooring comes in many shapes and sizes and can be used in a variety of different areas in schools, hotels, condominiums, office buildings, theme parks and transportation facilities. For the most part you see:
- ceramic tiles,
- vinyl tiles (VCT),
- porcelain tiles and finally
- marble/granite tiles.
All of them need to be treated by cleaning experts to get the best durability and appearance levels. Some are directly glued down onto sub-floors, some are attached together using a thin set mortar and grout while others use a thin set adhesive to set into place . Each present different installation, sealing and maintenance/restoration guidelines
Stripping and waxing a floor can be tedious. A few small hairs or dust ball left in a topcoat can cause damage requiring a total redo. 
Understanding the procedures and importance of choosing the correct waxes/finishes can make or break a job. As technology improves training becomes more important.
- Should we use an acrylic or polyurethane wax
- Does the old finish need to be completely removed
- What is the most eco friendly way to remove a finish?
- What prep needs to be done to protect other flooring ,walls or furniture?
- What causes the yellowing in waxed surfaces?
- How many coats and how long does it take to dry?
Refinishing ceramic tile floors can also be very tricky. Many do not realize how to properly seal a floor after installation. Often it is not even done. The grout is very porous and can absorb oil & water based soils that can permanently stain grout if it is not sealed properly. Restoring a poorly protected ceramic can be difficult. Sometimes contractors or end users will paint the grout causing even more potential future issues for building service providers.
For any additional information contact Strategic Maintenance & Restoration Services operating out of Orlando covering central Florida. Written by commercial cleaning consultant Doug Bradford, LEED AP,CR
