Buffer Procedures for a Hardwood Floor

Equipment and Tools

• A broom, cotton or rayon string mop and mop bucket will be used to prepare the floor. Buffing hardwood floors requires using a floor machine, which can be rented at most home improvement retailers or industrial equipment suppliers. If the hardwood floor area is small, find the smallest floor machine available. A larger, more powerful floor machine will be hard to maneuver in small spaces. Use cotton or lambs wool pads with the floor machine for buffing. A polymer-based floor finish can be used to restore the floor's original shine and hide nicks or scratches.

Preparation

• Prepare the hardwood floor by sweeping away dirt, dust and debris. Fill a mop bucket with hot water. Don’t use any floor cleaners because standard cleaners will leave a residue. Mop the floor with hot water and string mop several times to ensure all dirt and residue are removed. Allow the floor to dry.

Buffing

• After the floor is dry, attach a cotton or lambs wool pad to the floor machine. The floor machine is high-powered and rotates over 175 rpms. If the floor doesn’t require any restoration to cover nicks and scratches, buff the floor with the floor machine and no restoration products. Slowly move the machine over the floor one section at a time until the desired result is achieved. You’ll see a noticeable difference in the areas buffed compared the other areas of the floor. If you choose to use a polymer-based floor finish to cover nicks and scratches, apply the finish in small areas, followed by buffing the area with the floor machine.

Maintenance

• Hardwood floors come in a variety of wood types, finishes and styles. Refer to the hardwood floor manufacturer’s suggestions for cleaning and buffing. To maintain the appearance of the hardwood floor after buffing it, routinely mop the floor with hot water. You can use a cleaner suggested by the manufacturer of the hardwood floor; these typically include neutral pH or oil-based cleaners. Unless the floor is heavily soiled, hot water and a string mop should clean the floor effectively and not build up residue.