Applying wax to vinyl composite tile flooring is a great way of protecting the vinyl and enhancing its aesthetic appeal by giving it an elegant light shine. You don’t need to be a professional in order to learn how to wax vinyl composite floor tile, and doing it yourself can save you some money. However, if your vinyl floor is very damaged or too much wax has accumulated over long years of use, you may need to first strip the original finish before applying wax. If this is the case, you will need to use harsh chemical substances and buffing
What is Vinyl Composite Floor Tile (VCT)
Vinyl composite floor tile, or VCT for short, is a synthetic floor covering made from coloured vinyl chips shaped into square tiles. It is low cost, easy to maintain and comes in any imaginable colour and pattern, which makes it a favourite for high trafficked areas. This type of vinyl commercial flooring is easy to install, and can be refinished as many times as necessary to extend its useful life and keep it looking good, which makes it perfect for commercial and public locations, but it has also found its way to the floors of many consumer houses along with vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl composite floor tiles are glued to a smooth and level sub-floor using vinyl adhesive.
Preparing to Wax Vinyl Composite Floor Tile
The first thing to keep in mind if you are learning how to wax vinyl composite floor tile is that wax will seal in any dust, dirt or particles on top of the vinyl. You will need to first wash or strip away the existing finish, using a low power bufferer or a chemical stripper depending on how much finish has accumulated. Use your regular vinyl composite tile cleaner and a damp mop to thoroughly clean the floor, and let it dry before using a VCT stripping product and a floor buffer to fully remove any trace of the old finish. Use a dry mop to remove the liquid and mop the floor again with really clean water before letting it dry thoroughly. Once the floor is fully dry it’s time to wax vinyl composite floor tile.
How to Wax Vinyl Composite Tile Floors
First of all, vacuum the floor again to make sure no particles or debris remain on the vinyl. Pour vinyl composite finishing liquid on a bucket, and dip a wax mop on it until it’s fully saturated. Never let the mop dry off, as that would make the finish layer too thin. Working side to side, apply the finish to the floor carefully treating a small area after the other to apply an even coat of wax to the entire surface. Leave the wax to dry, making sure that nobody steps on the floor until the finish is fully dry.
After the first coat of vinyl wax is dry, repeat the process but choose a different wall to work from. This way this coat and the previous one will overlap more and the chances of an area getting poor coverage are much lower. Apply three to five coats following the same procedure, alternating the direction on which you move and leaving the previous coat to dry undisturbed. Do not feel tempted to crank up the heating to speed up this process as the surface of the finish may look dry but the finish isn’t done yet.
How to Wax Vinyl Composite Tile Floors Video
Tips For Waxing Vinyl Composite Floor Tile
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the floor needs to be spotless and free from any residue before you apply a new finish, or you’ll get a patchy finish and trap dirt between the finish and the vinyl tiles. When moping, make sure to refill the bucket with clean water as needed and don’t skimp on cleaning products. The stripper that you used to get rid of the old finish needs to be rinsed out completely before you apply the new finish, or it will just not stick. You may need to change the water a few times, particularly if you are treating a large surface, because the old finish will be making the water grey.
Keep your tools clean and use them only to wax vinyl floors. Any particles left on the mop will end up dampening the shine of your vinyl tiles when they get stuck on the finish, so don’t use just any other fiber mop. Buy a mop that is prewashed and suitable for the application of wax finish to floors, and use it only for that purpose.
Also make sure you wait the required time in between coats, and don’t let anybody step on the floor when the old finish has been removed or while the new one is drying. If you want a spotless and shiny vinyl floor, be prepared to spend a few hours maintaining it every so often.
And remember to put a sign about the newly waxed floor, as it will be slippery!