With advancements in technology, Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) has grown in popularity in recent years, as facilities have sought an easier to maintain and cost effective option to VCT, stone, or hardwood surfaces. Floor technicians need to be aware, that while both LVT and the more familiar VCT both contain vinyl, that does not mean the maintenance of these two surfaces are the same.
LVT surfaces are typically protected with a top, polyurethane layer. It is because of this protective layer that many LVT manufacturers advise against the use of a floor stripper. This begs the question of how does one properly maintain a LVT surface. With VCT we know the cycle of finish application: daily maintenance, restorative buffing, scrub and recoat, and stripping, before starting the cycle over again. Not being able to use a stripper to remove worn down finishes throws a wrench into many a maintenance program.
To properly maintain a LVT floor, truncate the floor care maintenance schedule you are accustomed to with VCT. Dust mopping followed by damp mopping with a neutral cleaner should still remain as the key components of your routine maintenance. When the gloss on LVT starts to diminish, you may proceed to a buffing maintenance step, however most manufacturers recommend only using slower speed equipment (175 RPM) on the LVT surface.
On LVT, instead of stripping, treat the scrub and recoat step as the final step before starting the cycle over again. QWIK SCRUB™ from National Chemical Laboratories (NCL) is an example of a scrub and recoat cleaner that removes the top layer of coating without harming the integrity of the polyurethane surface. Once that top layer has been scrubbed off, the surface is properly prepared to recoat with a new layer of floor finish.
For more helpful JanSan maintenance tips, please visit our new blog, NCL TIMES, and all other features of our site, nclonline.com
