Stripping Job

[dlamontm98]

I have a strip job on a daycare facility coming up in April. The floor has not been stripped in 2 yrs. Some parts of the floor has built up wax. What type of stripper, wax and sealant would you use for this job?

Your recommendations would be great.

[One Tough Pressure]

Use a good quality sodium or potassium hydroxide stripper. Application will vary by manufacture, so follow directions on label and wear safety gear, as this is lethal stuff when not handled correctly. Make sure to rinse well. Mix ratios as described on label, as making it stronger or weaker than reccomended will really upset you when you have to start over.

As far as wax goes, you can use acrylic liquid wax, which includes the sealer. What you need to look for is the SOLIDS content. Regardless of what the label says for the amount of coats, you want 100% solids on the floor. So lets say the wax you pick out is 25% solids. The label may say use two or three coats, but you really want 4 coats. Going over the 100% does not mean the floor will shine more, but the finish will hold up much better.

When applying wax, make sure to allow the coats to dry well before putting on more, if it is dry to the touch, you can put on the next coat.

Do not load up the wax near the wall and in corners, as this area does not see much traffic, so does not need to be thick.

Go different directions with each coat, so you get a uniform finish, they call this crosshatching.