How to Refinish Vinyl

With big chain-hardware stores all over, and many good deals to be had on new flooring, it might not make sense to invest in refinishing an existing vinyl floor, whether in the kitchen, bathroom or another room in your home.But if there isn’t any damage (rips, tears, holes) to the floor, you’re still enamored of the pattern and colors, and you’d like to restore it, you still can. Commercial vinyl restoration services strip floors, and then apply a no-wax finish, which they claim, make the floors look and wear like new.Simply put, you apply stripper and let it set for the time allotted. Then remove the dirt and residual stripper. Rinse and neutralize the floor. Use a clean mop or pad to apply the finish. Be sure you clean edges and seam joints of any residual debris that may have accumulated.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two mop buckets
• Block Applicator
• Two "wet" mops
• One "dry" mop
• Stripper
• Finish

How to Refinish Vinyl Floors

1. Consult the manufacturer of the floor to be sure that the product you’re going to use is suited to your floor.

2. Prep the floor for finishing.

3. Clean the floor removing as much dirt and debris as possible.

4. If the floor has had more than five coats of finish strip the floor first. Several layers of finish dull a floor. You must strip the floor if you see yellowing has already developed.

5. Vacuum or dust mop the floor to remove any dust. Spray dust mop with dust mop treatment. Be sure to remove anything stuck to the floor. Remember that anything on the floor when you finish it will become part of the floor finish and you will have to strip your floor and begin again.

6. Generally allow 12 to 24 hours for it to set and do not allow anyone to walk on the surface at this time.

7. Cordon off the area, warning everyone to stay off the floor.

8. Prepare two mop buckets, one to keep the finish mop damp and the other to apply the floor finish. Tip: line the floor-finish basket with a trash can liner so it’s easier to dispose of when you’re done.

9. Fill one mop bucket 1/2 way up with water

10. Fill the lined mop bucket 1/4 full with floor finish.

11. Dip your finish mop into the water bucket and wring until the mop is damp and water does not drip from the end.

12. Dip the damp mop into the floor finish and wring until the finish mop does not drip.

13. Divide the floor into sections so even amount of floor finish is applied everywhere.

14. Begin applying the floor finish at the furthest corner from the entrance.

15. Use a block applicator to apply floor finish to the baseboard area first.

16. Work away from the corner.

17. Make sure the floor finish is going on to the floor in a thin even coat.

18. Move the mop head in a figure eight motion overlapping mopping sections by about an inch.

19. After the finish has been applied evenly to the entire area, let the floor dry. The floor should look glossy with no raised areas or drip marks.

20. Allow floor to dry based on the manufacturers specifications.

21. Dry between coats of finish.

22. Consider buffing the floor in between coats so that the second coat adheres better to the first coat.

23. You can burnish with a burnishing floor pad (based on manufacturer’s specs)

24. Wait 12 hours before anyone walks on it; it should be fully cured by then.

25. Rinse the floor thoroughly with fresh water. If water isn’t sufficient, use one tablespoon of liquid dish-washing detergent to one quart of water or use one tablespoon of clear ammonia to one quart of lukewarm water. Make sure you rinse the surface to avoid leaving behind a film.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using abrasive scrubbing tools as they will leave scratches.
• Never use abrasive cleaners, soaps, paste waxes, or solvents on your vinyl floor.
• Use the manufacturer’s recommended floor polish to restore your vinyl floor to its original gloss level.
• If you purchased a PVC vinyl floor you should consider placing two to three coats of the manufacturer’s recommended floor polish on the floor immediately.
• Any vinyl floor with a PVC wear layer will show scuffs, scratches and other marks very easily. By adding the coats of floor polish you will make the floor easier to maintain.