Use and Care Guide

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Vinyl Commercial Tile Use and Care Guide

Armstrong commercial vinyl composition tile is coated with the Fast Start Factory Finish. Fortunately the

Fast Start Factory Finish makes initial maintenance quick and easy and does not require removal after

installation. It is compatible with commercial floor polishes such as Armstrong S-480 Floor Polish and

reduces the need to strip the tile. BioBased Tile requires polishing for protection, ease of maintenance

and an attractive overall appearance.

All resilient floor coverings require maintenance. How frequently the floors must be maintained depends

largely on the factors described below. Following regular and well-planned maintenance programs

protects the floor by reducing wear, preserves the floor's attractive appearance and ultimately increases

its service life.

How to Determine Your Maintenance Program

Before establishing a maintenance program, there are a number of factors which must be considered in

order to determine the most appropriate, cost-effective methods to use. It is critical that the maintenance

methods for each floor and area be chosen only after careful evaluation and regard to the following:

Type of Flooring

It is important to know the type of floor before cleaning. Rubber or linoleum could be confused with vinyl

or luxury vinyl tile (LVT) confused with wood or laminate.

Resources/Equipment/Chemicals/Personnel/Budget

Are well-trained maintenance personnel available?

Are the appropriate pieces of equipment (scrubbers, buffers, mops, pads, etc.) available?

Are the appropriate chemicals available?

What is the budget?

End-User’s Expectations

What is the desired gloss (high or low gloss)?

What is considered an acceptable level of appearance by the owner, customers, staff or end-user?

Type of Facility & Location of Flooring

Entryways, lobbies and pivot-point areas may require more protection and more frequent cleaning than

lower traffic areas in other parts or upper levels of the building.

Volume and Type of Traffic and Soil

For instance, traffic types and volumes in entryways and corridors will vary greatly from those found at

nurses’ stations or in examination rooms. Dirt and grit carried in from outside can differ significantly from

the soils and chemical spills found in a laboratory or emergency room.

Special Traffic/Footwear

Areas subjected to frequent rolling loads provide a different environment than a children’s play area or

corridor in an elementary school.

Color/Design of Flooring

Color and pattern can have a significant impact on a floor’s appearance and when properly chosen, may

help mask soiling and staining. Mid-tones are better choices than light or dark colors. Busier/high contrast

patterns will hide better than solid/monolithic ones.

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
Vinyl Commercial Tile Use and Care Guide Armstrong commercial vinyl composition tile is coated with the Fast Start Factory Finish. Fortunately the Fast Start Factory Finish makes initial maintenance quick and easy and does not require removal after installation. It is compatible with commercial floor polishes such as Armstrong S-480 Floor Polish and reduces the need to strip the tile. BioBased Tile requires polishing for protection, ease of maintenance and an attractive overall appearance.
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For Best Results:       When performing wet maintenance always use proper signage and prohibit traffic until the floor is completely dry. Do not wet wash, machine scrub, or strip the floor for at least 4 days after installation. This is to prevent excess moisture from interfering with the adhesive bond. The use of aggressive strippers such as mop-on/mop-off, no-scrub and no-rinse strippers is not recommended on tile floors less than two years old because they may affect the adhesive bond.
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quality commercial floor stripper recommended for use on vinyl or vct . NOTE: The use of aggressive strippers such as mop-on/mop-off, no-scrub and no-rinse strippers is not recommended on tile floors less than two years old because they may affect the adhesive bond. 2. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove rinse water and allow it to dry completely. 3. Apply 3 to 5 coats of high-quality commercial floor polish such as Armstrong S-480 Commercial Floor Polish.
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2. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove rinse water and allow it to dry completely. 3. If there is sufficient (3 to 5 coats) polish remaining on the floor, buff, spray buff or burnish to restore gloss. 4. If needed, additional coats of floor polish may be applied at this time. D.
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. Apply 3 to 5 coats of high-quality commercial floor polish such as Armstrong S-480 Commercial Floor Polish. The use of a high-quality stain-resistant sealer such as S-495 Commercial Floor Sealer beneath the polish should be considered in areas of high traffic, high soil load and areas where staining potential is high. Special Considerations FEATURE TILE™: Feature Tile, like solid-colored floors of any composition, shows scratches and soiling more readily than patterned materials.