Spray Buffing Tile Floors

Spray buffing is an important element of hard floor maintenance program. Spray buffing is done to clean the floor as well as help to revive a “like new” look.

The liquid spray buff is applied to the floor using a floor machine or burnisher, which helps to remove dirt from the floor and revive a glossy “wet look” in the floor, repairing any scuffs or minor scratches at the same time.

Spray buffing can be labor intensive and is generally only best-suited for small areas and hallways. Many building service contractors perform spray buffing simply because they already have the necessary equipment – a low-speed floor machine or burnisher and floor pads.

But to maintain larger areas, Jon-Don recommends contractors use other, more efficient floor maintenance methods.

Basic Spray Buffing guidelines:

• Prepare the area and your equipment. Set out wet floor signs and cordon off your work area.
   
• Apply the spray buff in a fine mist. Do not apply spray buff directly to the floor in a solid stream as this can lead to buildup on the floor and pad. Remember: a little goes a long way, so try not to over-apply the product.
   
• Make two passes with your floor machine on each section of the floor. After you apply the spray buff, move your floor machine back and forth across the floor in small sections of about 2-3 feet wide. Pass the floor machine back and forth, then step back and repeat your passes. Always work backwards to ensure you aren’t walking on your newly buffed floors.
   
• If using a low-speed floor machine (175 RPM), you will need to go over the floor twice to achieve good results. On the first pass, apply the spray buff in a light mist and then go over the floor with a red pad to remove the dirt. Next, go over the floor once more using a white pad to bring up the gloss.
   
• If using spray buff with a burnisher (a high-speed floor machine over 1,000 RPM), be sure to clean the floor first to remove dirt and soil. If the dirt is not removed first, it will only be ground into the floor by the burnisher, which will ruin the machine and cause the floor to look yellow and dull.
   
• Linger over scuff marks. Sometimes going over scuff marks with your floor machine can remove them. Other times, you may need to use a little elbow grease and a hand pad to get rid of the mark. 
   
• Dust mop the floor after you have spray buffed. This will ensure any residue or lingering dirt is completely removed.

Recommended Procedures:

1. Dust mop entire floor.
    
2. Using a putty knife or Matrix Chewing Gum Remover, remove gum or any other sticky substance from floor.
    
3. Using a mop wringer and bucket set dilute Unitex Daily Clean at 2 oz per gallon of water. Mop the entire floor. Corners and edges may need to be cleaned by hand. Let floor dry.
    
4. Using a pump-up sprayer apply the spray buff solution to a 10' x 10' area.  
   Low-Speed:  Unitex Rebound Spray Buff undiluted.
   High-Speed: Unitex Vitalizer Cleaner and Restorer diluted at 2-8 oz per gallon of water.
    
5. Run machine with pad over area until the area is dry.
   Low-Speed Buffing Pad Color:  White
   High-Speed Buffing Pad Color: Champagne
    
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the entire floor area is spray buffed, replacing pads when necessary.
    
7. Dust mop entire floor to remove small particles and enhance shine.

Always follow product use instructions, and never mix product unless specified in the label directions. Each situation reacts differently and results may vary.