Selecting a Floor Finish
When selecting a floor finish, there are a few questions you need to consider. Should you choose a high-solids or a low-solids finish? Do you want a floor finish that can be burnished? Do you need Green Seal-certified products?
High Solids vs. Low Solids
Solids content builds the protective coating on the floor. Water, emulsifiers, and leveling agents included in floor finish help with drying and application. During the drying process, these ingredients evaporate, leaving behind the solids to form a polymer layer. Finishes with higher solids content leave behind a thicker layer of film on the floor. For example, it takes four coats of an 18% solids floor finish to build up a layer the same thickness as three coats of a 25% solids floor finish.
While it takes fewer coats of a high-solid floor finish to build up the final layer, it is also thicker and takes more skill to apply consistently. For some applications, a thinner, lower-solids finish may be preferable because it is easier to use.
Burnish vs. Burnish-Free Floor Finish
Burnishing is an abrasive process that removes the microscopic peaks from the floor finish. The result is a smoother coating that reflects more light and looks shinier. Burnishable floor finish provides a high-gloss appearance, but only with regular burnishing. If you’re not prepared to add regular burnishing to your floor care routine, a burnish-free finish might be the best choice. While easier to maintain, burnish-free floor finishes will have a lower-gloss appearance. Hillyard has excellent floor finishes in both categories.
Green Products
Some Hillyard stripper and floor finish products are specially formulated to meet Green Seal Standard GS-40 requirements, an essential consideration for some facility managers. Consider these products as part of your sustainable cleaning program.