How to Strip and Finish Tile Floors

Procedures for Stripping Vinyl, Vinyl Tile, VCT and Terrazzo Floors

Prior to stripping any floor, you need the proper Tools and Equipment

Personal protective equipment (rubber gloves, eye protection, stripping boots)
Two mop buckets w/ wringers
Two mop handles w/ 20 oz wet mop heads
(rayon mops are preferred, avoid cotton fibers)
Utility pad holder w/ black pad
Long handle scraper w/ blade
Putty knife

Floor machine w/ pad driver (175-300 RPM)
Black stripping pads PT-2000 (Heavy Duty)
Green scrubbing pads
Wet floor signs
Cleaning cloths
Scrubber splash guard
Wet vacuum w/ hose, wand and squeegee tool

Floor Stripper: (available options)
Pour-N-Peel
ONYX
One Pass
Elements Low Odor
pH Neutral

Floor Finishes: (available options)
Ultimate II
Flex
X-Cel Plus
All American
Floor finish mop w/ Mop handle
Floor Finish Applicator (optional)

An overview of the procedures used in floor stripping and floor refinishing operations, how make that old floor look new again.

refinishing tile floors using conventional floor stripping methods.

Dust mop or sweep floor area and remove any foreign debris, i.e. gum, stickers, tar etc.

Mix proper solution of floor stripper with the correct amount of water in your mop bucket with *COLD water.

Post wet floor signs. The signs must indicate which areas are being stripped.

Apply an adequate amount of floor stripper to the perimeter of the are you plan on stripping (this is usually the most time consuming aspect in floor stripping). Begin to remove the built up layers of finish by using a long handle razor scraper first and follow up with a utility pad (commonly know as a doodlebug pad). Mop the diluted stripper over the area to be cleaned (approximately 12' x 12') and allow adequate time for penetration of the stripper. Under normal conditions the diluted stripper should remain on the floor surface for 7-10 minutes. Do NOT allow stripper solution to dry on the floor surface!.
After a period of proper chemical reaction has passed (approximately 7-10 minutes), agitate the floor surface with a standard speed floor machine (175-300 rpm) equipped with a PT-2000 stripping pad. Work with a small circular motion moving about the area you are stripping. Use a utility pad holder with handle, equipped with a black pad and agitate the perimeter of the room i.e. baseboards.
Recover all stripper solution with a wet vacuum equipped with the proper floor squeegee tool. In this example a wet/dry vacuum cleaner equipped with a 24" front mount floor squeegee expedites the time required to vacuum the floor. This combination proves to be a valuable asset and will reduce your overall cost. It's fast and it works.
If heavy build-up is present, reapply diluted stripper and allow 7-10 minutes dwell time and re-agitate with floor machine and stripping pad. Recover all stripper solution with a wet vacuum equipped with the proper floor squeegee tool.
*Alternate Rinse Process. After floor has been completely stripped of all old finish, change floor pad to a clean green or black floor pad (color of floor pad is not nearly as important as is the condition of the floor pad). Flood floor surface with clean water (approximately 12’ x 12’) and agitate with floor machine and appropriate floor pad. Recover water with wet vacuum and floor squeegee tool.
After floor has dried, check to insure that ALL the stripper residue has been removed by running your hand across the floor surface. If there is residue present on your hand repeat step. Damp mop floor with a CLEAN mop and CLEAN rinse water. Clean your equipment and return to its appropriate area. Do not remove the wet floor signs until floor is completely dry.
Why do we recommend COLD water you ask?. Simple. Much of the active ingredients in floor strippers will become very active (create a vapor) if mixed with HOT* water and you therefore begin to weaken the strength of the stripper.

Applying Floor Finish