Problems Burnishing a Floor

Timing

• If you burnish a floor, you must wait until any waxes or sealants you've put on the floor have completely cured. Otherwise, you'll start burnishing away the finish and ruin areas of the floor. At the same time, you can't wait too long or waxes and restorers (such as the DuraWax brand) will dry incorrectly and create a soft or sticky floor. This creates a window of time during which you can burnish correctly -- miss the window and your floor can experience problems.

Damage

• If you don't clean your floor properly before you start to burnish it, problems can quickly develop. Your floor will pick up sand, dirt, oils and debris over time, even if you can't see it. If you allow these materials to remain when you start burnishing, you can grind them into your floor and cause damage.

Wearing Through the Finish

• When you use a burnishing tool it's important to keep a close eye on the floor. If you burnish too long you actually wear through the finish. A high-speed burnisher can do this quickly, so if you're using a powerful unit, apply several coats of finish before you start burnishing to avoid cutting down to the flooring material and wearing it away.

Slippery Floors

• Burnished floors often have high traffic, and the last thing you want is a slippery floor that may cause accidents or injuries. This means you have to burnish regularly. Not only will burnishing keep the floor clean and smooth, it also provides traction that fades over time due to the layers of wax and finish that start to smooth out. Forget to burnish at regular intervals and your floor may cause an injury.