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When it comes to vinyl flooring, there are several major subgroups that are all generally referred to as vinyl. It evolved from linoleum and is typically a mixture of cork powder or other wood dust, pigments and binding agents that are pressed into sheets. They are then covered with a transparent wear-resistant layer to seal the vinyl underneath and give the tiles a finished look that varies from matte to glasslike shine. Vinyl has always been popular, because it boasts excellent qualities - it's durable and affordable, looks appealing and is fairly easy to maintain. Of course, one of the greatest things about vinyl flooring is that it comes in great deal of colors and patterns and ultimately, there is no look that cannot be mimicked by vinyl flooring.
Have you just laid new vinyl that has no sealer on it?
When choosing new vinyl, the average person would not be aware that most vinyl surfaces do require regular maintenance such as stripping and sealing. If you do not know to ask your supplier, they may not automatically tell you this information. If your new vinyl has a matte look to the surface and when wet the water seems to almost "absorb" into the floor, then there may not be any sealer on your new floor surface and you may need to contact your supplier and find out if you need to strip and seal the vinyl. If there is no coating on them you will need to have them sealed immediately in order to protect them from damage due to regular daily wear and tear.
Have you just laid new vinyl that has a small amount of sealer on it?
Your new vinyl when purchased may have a small amount of sealer on it; this is to make it look shiny and new when first laid and to also protect it from getting dirty or damaged during transit and storage. Once the vinyl is laid on your floor it will not take long, despite regular sweeping and mopping, for the shine that was on your floor to disappear. This occurs as there is normally only one or two coats of sealer on the surface which with daily foot traffic would soon be "sanded" away after a couple of months of use. In this instance your will need to have your floor either stripped and sealed immediately after laying or within a couple of weeks/months of laying, depending on the degree of use the floor gets.
The polish is the uppermost layer of your vinyl or linoleum flooring that prevents dirt and liquids from penetrating and staining the floor. It should be reapplied regularly. While some companies recommend that this be done once or twice per year, others once every several damp cleanings and the rest as the appearance dictates, the truth is it should be done periodically, at least twice a year. This involves stripping the previous polish using manufacturer's approved products and applying a new layer. In most cases dry buffing to achieve maximum shine, surface gloss and durability. While the latter technique is not always necessary, it's the only option when it comes to dealing with permanent stain, burns and deep scratches. Finally, a freshly stripped floor requires that a minimum of 3 layers of polish for acceptable gloss and surface protection.
Cleaning of vinyl floors is relatively unsophosticated. Without polishing, vinyl floors appear dull and matted and become progressively susceptible to getting dirty, stained and damaged. Some of the advantages of proper polishing is the floor surface becomes shiny and protected against wear and tear and stains. Generally, vinyl floors need more regular maintenance than flooring that features protective coating layer applied by the manufacturer during production. A proper maintenance routine typically includes stripping and re-polishing at least once or twice per year, especially in areas with high foot traffic. You will know it's time to have you floors polished once they start looking dull and matted even after proper cleaning.
You must remember never to pour down polishing agents directly onto the floor, because this may lead to undesirable effects like uneven surface gloss, streaking etc. The use of proper, clean applicator pads is of utmost importance. Always wring the pad and never use it while soaking wet with the polishing agent. Remember that rubbing over the same area repeatedly may cause floor marks looking like paint bruch strokes. Generally, several layers of polish need to be applied to attain a smooth, glossy surface finish. It is important that they are allowed enough time to dry and the more humid the weather is, the more it takes for a layer to dry. Depending on the polish itself, 40-60 minutes per layer is enough in most cases. Finally, you better wait for one to two hours before allowing foot traffic on the newly polish floor and 24 to 48 hours for the polish to harden and reach its maximum toughness.
