After installation, all traffic and furniture should be kept off the floor for at least 24 hours to allow it to reach sufficient initial
hardness. The floor will continue to harden for up to seven days, so the longer you can keep traffic and loads off, the better.
When moving furniture or other heavy objects,
be sure to lift and not drag them across the floor.
It may be practical to lay down some protective
floor covering and timber sheeting to prevent
damage.
During the first seven days, take care to keep
liquids and chemicals off the floor while it
develops full stain resistance.
In order to prevent indentations, provide
glass, plastic or other non-staining, flat floor
protectors not less than 50mm in width
underneath the legs of heavy furniture and
appliances. Fit broad, 50mm diameter
(minimum) castor wheels to any office chairs or
equipment that needs to be mobile. Remove any
small diameter buttons on the bottom of chairs
and install 25mm (minimum) felt or other
non-scuffing pads.
Protect the floor against heat sources and burns from cigarettes, matches or any other extremely hot surfaces.
Protect your floor from tracked in dirt and grit
by using non-staining mats outside all entrances.
Take time to remove embedded dirt and grit from
the bottom of shoes before entering the room. Be
careful as some rubber or latex-backed mats can
cause stains.
Resin Marble™ and Resin Rustic™ have good stain resistance and will not be affected by most household and commercial chemicals,
however any spills should be cleaned up immediately and not be allowed to dry out on the floor. Good housekeeping practices, including
dilution and quick clean-up, will minimise chemical damage.
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged
periods as it can cause floor discolouration. Tint windows if possible and use blinds, curtains or drapes to prevent
sunlight hitting the floor during peak sunlight hours.
Do not use any other cleaning products apart from streak-free, pH neutral detergents. Dry, flat dust mops and wet flat mops are the most
effective way to clean Resin Marble™ and Resin Rustic™.
Ongoing maintenance of your decorative flooring
A floor is one of the most heavily used of all
surfaces, yet they are rarely maintained to the
standard required.
A good maintenance program will not only keep
the area looking good, but also give the floor the
best possible chance of performing as expected
over a long life.
There are some basic good practices that can be
followed by the owner to help prolong the life
and aesthetics of decorative floor finishes such as Resin Marble™ and Resin Rustic™.
Good practices include:
Sweep and mop floors on a regular basis.
Regular cleaning will provide continued
inspection to help detect and repair damage
as soon as possible.
Decorative floors are best swept with flat dust mops. Wet mopping can be done with flat mops and the use of a pH
neutral cleaner. For extra attention, a microfibre cloth can be used to gently remove scuff marks as they occur.
Prepare a clean-up procedure to ensure
exposure to spills is kept to a minimum. Decorative floors should be kept as dry as possible for the maintenance of the floor and
safety of its users.
Have any damage repaired as soon as possible.
As already noted, when moving equipment
or furniture be sure to lift and not drag these
items to prevent scratching. Decorative floors are susceptible to scuff and tyre marks, so be careful with the traffic allowed on these
surfaces.
Periodically rejuvenating glossy decorative floors every six months with sacrificial polishes will keep the floor looking good by removing
scuff marks and fine scratches, while restoring lustre. This type of maintenance is highly recommended for high-gloss floors in retail
environments. An example polish program is included at the end of these notes.
Of course there are some bad practices to avoid:
Don’t use vacuum cleaners without brush attachment as they may scuff the surface.
Don’t use steam cleaners or boiling water
as this may temporarily soften the floor. It is
generally not necessary to clean with water
above 60oC.
Don’t wear footwear with metal tips or nails underneath, e.g. golf shoes.
If the floor is to handle vehicular traffic, use
tyres that don’t mark or can have their marks
removed. Drive carefully and avoid spinning
wheels etc.
Polishing your Epoxy Floors - Example Polish Program
The following is an example of a suitable
polish program for Resin Marble™ and Resin Rustic™. For more information, visit: www.oateslaboratories.com.au/research-products
Polish application
If floor is dirty, clean using “Supastar” at 1:25 dilution with fresh water. For heavily soiled floors, replace the water once it appears
dirty or you’ll end up pushing dirty water around. Once completed, rinse with water and allow to dry.
Choose desired finish - gloss or satin.
Apply at 50m2/L (minimum three coats). Wet
flat mop with water, wring out and apply enough
polish to wet the mop without dripping.
Drizzle a thin line of polish on the floor and
use a “figure 8” pattern over the pour line
to spread. Allow a minimum of 30 minutes
before applying next coat if conditions are dry
and warm (longer if cool and humid). Apply
subsequent coats in perpendicular direction.
Weekly maintenance
To perform a basic weekly polish maintenance
regime, perform the following:
Dust mop to remove dust, dirt and particles that
could scratch the floor.
Clean using “Supastar” as described previously.
Apply “Shiner” from a trigger spray bottle and
use a “swing” polisher at slow speed with red
buffing pads.
Polish rejuvenation
Polish rejuvenation is recommended after three
months in a commercial environment, or six
months in a domestic, if weekly maintenance
isn’t performed.
Lightly cut back using “Supastar” at 1:25
dilution with fresh water and blue buffing pads
(autoscrub or machine scrub). Make sure you
apply enough solution to stop the floor
drying out while scrubbing.
Damp mop rinse with cold water to remove slurry
and allow the floor to dry thoroughly.
Burnish with brown buffing pad, then dust mop.
Polish stripping
Completely removing the polish may be necessary
from time to time, e.g. for repairs.
Liberally apply “Sledgehammer” at 1:4 dilution
with fresh water using a cotton or fringe mop.
Allow it to sit for up to 10 minutes for greater
penetration. Re-apply if it looks like drying out
too quickly.
Push the mop forcefully to dislodge the existing
finish, paying particular attention to the edges.
Wring out mop and sealer build-up into a
stripping solution bucket.
Dust mop then dry burnish the floor with a
brown buffing pad.
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