Floor polishing services are widely used to increase the overall image of a property. Floor polishing is useful for cleaning and polishing floors after construction work is over or when the existing floor is damaged.

Whether you want to use floor polishing for commercial or residential purposes, you will need to be conversant with certain technical terms that you will hear from the service providers. This guide explains some of the common terms associated with floor polishing, such as black heel mark resistance, buffable floor finish, damp mopping and MFT.

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Black heel mark resistance

Any flooring with black heel mark resistance can resist the transfer of matter from a shoe heel to the floor finish. This resistance can be improved by using special wax materials.

I recommend: You can read through the glossary of technical terms at Janitech.

Buffable floor finish

Buffable floor finish is a high-shine polymer finish that provides excellent shine and protection to all types of synthetic floors and tiles.

I recommend: For more information on buffable floor finish, you can read through the glossary of floor finishing terms at Nuance Solutions, a supplier of specialty and maintenance chemicals.

High-speed burnishing

High-speed burnishing, a floor finishing method, produces shine by abrasive smoothing of the floor surface.

I recommend: Multi-Clean (PDF), a supplier of maintenance products, provides information on high-speed burnishing. For more information on high-speed burnishing, read through an informative article at Parish Maintenance Supply Corp., a supplier of cleaning products.

Damp mopping

Damp mopping is the simplest method to clean a hardwood floor. It involves cleaning the floor using a spongy material that is dampened with detergent and water.

I recommend: Learn about damp mopping at CleanFreak.com, a manufacturer of cleaning products.

Polymer

A polymer is a large chemical molecule composed of many smaller molecules linked together. In floor polishing, polymer is a film-forming agent that enhances the floor finish gloss and durability.

I recommend: Misco Products Corporation, a supplier of cleaning products, offers a glossary of floor finishing terms, such as damp mopping and polymer.

James machine

The James machine measures the coefficient of friction of a floor finish. James machine readings indicate the slip resistance of a floor finish.

I recommend: Essential Industries, Inc., a reputable manufacturer of floor cleaning products, offers a glossary of floor cleaning terms, including the James machine.

MFT (Minimum Forming Temperature)

MFT is the temperature below which a floor polish will not form a continuous film. While selecting a floor polish, you must make sure that your minimum operating temperature is more than MFT for the floor polish.

I recommend: HP Products, a provider of cleaning equipment, offers a glossary of floor polishing key terms, including MFT.

When you need to find floor polishing professionals, you have many options. Some specialize in marble and granite, while others work on concrete or wood. Regardless of the type of floor you have, many of the same things hold true when looking for a company to shine it up. You want someone who knows the industry and can work with you until you're completely satisfied with the result.

Finding the right floor polishing provider can be as easy as asking around. There are several places you can turn to locally to find the right company for your job. To make up your own floor polishing list, you may compile from these sources:

1. Providers that others in your building or field have used in the past

2. A floor polishing directory available at the local chamber of commerce

3. Referrals from friends, family members and co-workers

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Gather all the floor polishing information you can to make an informed decision

Floor polishing technology has come a long way in the past few years, and there's a lot of terminology you may not be familiar with. Spend some time researching the science behind the different methods before deciding on the type of work you want done to your office or property. Many companies offer several different methods, so weigh your options carefully.

I recommend: Educate yourself on floor polishing methods. FGS Systems has a great website to help you learn more about concrete finishing practices. It provides diagrams and descriptions to help you understand the process better. Brilliant Marble Polishing has an informative site that focuses on marble finishing methods. They should be able to supply you with a list of products they use during the process, so you can research it further.

Find a floor polishing provider that can deal with simple jobs and complex restorations

Sometimes you may need something more complex than a simple polishing job, and that's when a restoration service comes in handy. If you work with a company that does all jobs, big and small, you won't have to look far to get a complex order filled.

I recommend: Give your business to a floor polishing and restoration company. Local companies such as Carolina Concrete Floor Polishing and Florida Marble Restoration are skilled in simple polishing jobs, but they can also restore just about any surface to its original luster.

Find floor polishing services that are priced right for your area

Last, but certainly not least, you want to find a company whose services fit your budget. Don't be afraid to shop around for quotes and let a vendor know if the price quoted is out of your comfort zone. Haggling happens all the time when it comes to floor polishing services, so speak up if you want a better price.

I recommend: Get quotes from several vendors. The websites of ServiceMagic and Networx include a floor polishing directory that can put you in touch with several different floor refinishers at once. You simply fill in a little bit of information and submit it to get quotes from providers in your area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many home and business owners are now concerned with the toxic fumes that may come along with floor polishing, so ask the floor polishing provider about any eco-friendly alternatives to traditional floor wax.

Whether you buy from specialty floor care distributors or your local retail store, floor polishing supplies and equipment are available in many locations. Finding the best quality polishing equipment is an obvious objective, but staying within your budget is probably just as important.

Use a floor polishing directory to find the type of machine you need. Many maintenance outlets offer a large selection of polishing machines from the smaller-sized disc machine to larger industrial size ride-behind polishers. Compare your options before purchasing, and don't forget to consider the supplies like pads and solutions you'll need to use with each machine. Start by:

1. Reviewing all your polishing machine options.

2. Looking for floor polishing machine attachments, replacement pads and parts.

3. Finding the right cleaning chemicals that work with your floor surface and polisher.

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Use a directory of floor polishing machines to compare your options

Find floor polishing information from manufacturers and maintenance supply companies that offer a wide selection of polishers. Compare the surface options with mobility of the polisher and types of supplies needed when deciding on a polishing machine.

I recommend: The Parish Maintenance Supply website offers a selection of marble polishing machines. They have the typical polishing machines, but they also offer hand-held polishers for smaller or detail jobs. Compare options of high-speed, low-speed and variable speed floor polishers at FloorBuffers.com.

Find pads and other equipment for floor polishing

Once you've found the perfect floor buffer, the additional equipment you'll need can seem overwhelming. Make sure you follow manufacturer recommendations when choosing the correct pads, screens and other replacement equipment for your polisher.

I recommend: Cleaning Products World offers a wide range of floor pads for rotary machines. Find an abundance of information and replacement pads, bonnets, brushes and squeegees at CleanFreak.com.

Look for floor polishing solutions to get the job done right

Follow your floor polishing list recommendations when it comes to using the right cleaning solutions for your floor surface. It's also important to make sure the solution you use is compatible with your machine. Compare diluted and non-diluted varieties of cleaning solutions and polishers. If your machine excepts them, there are also many variations of deodorizers available to leave the floor clean and smelling fresh.

I recommend: A floor polishing provider with several options is The Vacuum Center. For concrete polishing, review the options and information Concrete Polishing Solutions offers.

All janitorial and cleaning companies need to be educated in how to polish different types of floors. Just following the instructions on the polish bottle can give you a mediocre shine. Receiving floor polishing education and training from professionals will give you the skills to make all types of floors shine like they where brand new.

For anyone to receive full floor polishing education and training they must learn about the four major types of flooring. Linoleum floor polishing education teaches you how to take care of linoleum and vinyl flooring. Concrete floor polishing techniques are a must for any janitor. Learn the details of polishing granite and marble flooring. Educate yourself in treating and polishing wood floors, which is not always as easy as you might think.

1. Find advice about using floor polish on linoleum flooring.

2. Locate information about concrete floor polishing.

3. Learn the secrets of granite and marble floor polishing.

4. Discover the proper technique for wood floor polishing.

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Find information about how to best use floor polish on linoleum flooring

Linoleum is one of the most common types of flooring, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Linoleum floors offer a radiant shine when polished correctly. The information from the sites below will assist you in the preparation, products and techniques used when polishing linoleum.

I recommend: Mrs. Clean House Cleaning Services and Maid Service supplies information that show you exactly how to polish linoleum floors. Knol also provides information about polishing linoleum floors.

Discover the secrets of concrete floor polishing

Concrete floors often offer unique challenges for janitors and maid service companies. High shine concrete floors can be polished without using any floor wax. Tips on how to polish concrete include the types of products used, different floor polishing styles, polishing machines, and techniques used to produce a perfect, polished look.

I recommend: Find instructions about polishing concrete at ArticleBiz.com. Construction Trends provides information about polishing many types of flooring, including concrete.

Locate information about granite and marble floor polishing

Marble and granite floors are enhanced greatly by polishing. Read tips from the professionals and learn how to use polishing devices to give you the edge needed to create a memorable shine.

I recommend: Marble Guard provides how-to information for polishing marble and granite floors. Visit Floorpadsonline.com to locate more information about marble and granite floor polishing.

Learn about wood floor polishing

Polishing hardwood floors can be tricky. Using the wrong product could diminish or even damage the quality of the floor. Learn what products and techniques work the best and save yourself hours of trying to get the polish just right.

I recommend: Visit LifeScript.com to learn more about polishing wood floors. EHow also provides how-to advice for polishing hardwood floors.