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Spring
1996 - Article 1
From
The Lab
Stripping Sensitive Floors
Floors such
as linoleum, rubber, marble, and old asphalt tile are extremely difficult
to strip. The use of high alkaline strippers can cause bleaching, fading,
checking, and salting.
To
help you understand how to maintain these floors it is important to
know what can happen when improper stripping procedures are used. Below
is an outline for each floor.
-
Rubber is a soft, flexible material that becomes
brittle and hard when attacked with an aggressive stripper. This occurs
because the softening agents (plasticizers) can be "washed out"
when stripped.
- Linoleum
is a sheet vinyl floor with a UV acrylic resin coating that is applied
over a color/design scheme. If this coating is removed or disturbed
through stripping, the color scheme can bleach and fade.
- Marble
is sensitive to both strong acids and strong alkalis. High alkaline
strippers damage the natural minerals (calcium and magnesium) of marble
and increases its alkalinity (pH), leading to adhesion problems with
coatings.
- Old
asphalt has always been prone to bleaching because its color
binder (resin) is easily removed from the tile with high alkaline
strippers.
Now,
the good news. Your chances of successfully stripping one of these floors
can be greatly increased by following the suggested procedures listed
below.
- Do
not use a high alkaline stripper such as Super
Stripper (#2900) and Problem
Wax Stripper (#470). Instead, we recommend using Speed
Stripper (#2888) which contains no alkaline builders, only fast
evaporating components.
- Use
the lightest dilution rate possible to get the job done. Testing in
an inconspicuous area first can help determine the ideal dilution.
- Do
not use hot water. This can cause softening on resilient floors and
the alkali in the marble to over-react. Warm water works best.
- Strip
small areas. This keeps the stripper from drying and keeps you focused
on one area at a time.
- Lessen
dwell time. Allowing the stripper just enough time to work reduces
the likelihood of damage.
- Mechanical
agitation is important but, be careful. Do not use black pads on any
of these floors. Use red or green for rubber and asphalt and only
red for linoleum and marble.
- Rinse
thoroughly - then rinse again. Using Nu-Tral
Cleaner (#507) at 2 ounces per gallon aids in residue pick-up.
- Maintain
the floor after refinishing. The best defense against tile damage
is not to strip. This is accomplished only through good maintenance
and proper recoating.
Even
with the above procedures it is important to remember that if you strip
these floors, there is the potential for some damage. Make sure your
customer is aware of these pitfalls before you begin a strip job.
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