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Floor Finish (Polish) Types

Floor finishes are polymer coatings that protect resilient floors and give them shine, and they differ in solids content, crosslinking chemistry and how they are maintained. This sheet sorts the common types so you can match a finish to the floor and the maintenance program.

Ref JS-0112ASTM D2047Green Seal GS-40

Draft, open for review. Check every value against the governing standard and the manufacturer’s data before use.

What it is

A floor finish (also called floor polish) is a water-based coating, usually acrylic polymer, applied in thin coats over vinyl composition tile, sheet vinyl, sealed concrete and similar floors. As it dries, the polymer forms a film. Many finishes use a metal crosslinker, traditionally zinc, so the film resists detergents but can be removed later with an ammoniated stripper. Zinc-free finishes use other chemistry and may need a different stripper. Finishes are matched to the maintenance program: spray buff, low-speed burnish, high-speed or ultra-high-speed (UHS) burnish, or low-maintenance programs.

How to identify

Read the label and the technical data sheet. They give the percent solids, recommended coats, burnish speed range, slip resistance claim, stripper compatibility and floor types. The SDS shows whether a metal crosslinker such as zinc is present.

Finish types

Type	What it is	Best for	Watch for
Standard acrylic, metal crosslinked	Acrylic polymer with zinc crosslinking	General VCT programs	Needs an ammoniated stripper
Zinc-free (metal-free)	Crosslinked without zinc	Facilities avoiding zinc in wastewater	May need a specific stripper
High-solids	Higher solids per coat	Fewer coats for the same build	Apply thin; can streak if overapplied
UHS burnish finish	Formulated to respond to high-speed burnishing	Programs with propane or battery burnishers	Burnishing is required to get the gloss
Low-maintenance or no-burnish	Holds gloss with damp mopping	Sites without burnishers	Lower shine
Sealer-finish	Sealer and finish in one product	Porous floors, light-traffic areas	See floor sealers

Key points

Apply several thin coats rather than a few heavy ones. Heavy coats dry slowly and powder.
Let each coat dry fully. Humidity and temperature change dry time.
Match the stripper to the finish. A zinc-free finish may not release with a standard stripper.
Slip resistance claims are commonly tested with ASTM D2047. That test is a lab method; floor safety in use also depends on cleaning and contamination.
Green Seal GS-40 is a certification standard for floor care products.
Check the floor maker's instructions. Some resilient floors are sold with factory coatings that should not be finished.

Common mistakes

Laying finish too heavy to save a coat.
Recoating over a dirty floor and sealing soil in.
Using a UHS finish without a burnisher.
Mixing finish brands between coats without checking compatibility.

Governing standards: ASTM D2047 (static coefficient of friction of polish-coated floor surfaces); Green Seal GS-40 (floor care products). Product technical data sheets.

Reference only. Verify against the current governing code or standard, the manufacturer's data and the project documents before use. Apps for Distributors disclaims liability arising from reliance on this reference.

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