[AshWhite]

A relative has pulled up her laminate flooring, and found a lovely tiled floor underneath. It's covered with bits of cement, dust, plaster, and remnants of underlay from where a carpet has been down previously.

She's asked me to clean & polish it for her.  I've got a Numatic Loline 150rpm rotary, as well as a heavier Nilfisk 190rpm rotary with a hard floor scrubbing brush, red pads, microfibre pads.  As far as chemicals go, I think the most suitable I've got is Ultrapac Renovate by Prochem.

Can anyone suggest the best form of attack for this floor? I've already advised that if after I've started I don't think its going to improve then I won't continue.

I've attached a pic to give some idea of what it's like.

Any help would be much appreciated

Ash

[AshWhite]

I've now managed to secure some QMT Stoneclean, some 17" green pads,  and some carefree polish from Restormate - so should be able to do the job relatively effectively.

[david_m]

Hello Ash

thie is relatively straight forward from your photo it looks like a victorian porcelein floor

your lowline machine is going to be a bit on the light side to clean this floor effectively
so iwould use your nilfisk which is still a bit light
I personnally would first try brick acid first( cement and resadue cleaner )  deluted 5 to 1 or there abouts  to clean  of the cemnt resadue and a black pad no problem on these floors
as always test first.  common sense

if all ok proceed to clean the rest of the floor always keeping the wet

once done rince with a nuterial cleaner

for a sealer and finish there are a few ways to do this i
would finish it with LTP bees wax clear it give the floor a nice shine which is durabile and easy to clean
and i think it looks a lot better than just useing impregnateing sealers
A bit harder to apply thou

there are lots of different opions about wax on floors but this one works well on this type of floor

as for carefree polish this is one thing that i wouldnt do it will wear of quickly and start to look patchy

  Davy

[AshWhite]

Cheers for the reply Davy.

I started it today, some of the cement was very stubborn, and the acid didn't have much effect on the plaster - have spent most of the day scraping lumps of paint/plaster/cement/adhesive off the floor.

Going back tomorrow to finish the edges, and to neutralise and to apply the polish.

I underestimated the amount of work involved, but it's going to serve as good experience going forward.

[Jamie Pearson]

It needs to be thoroughly dry if you are putting emulsion finish on it.
It will just turn white within a day or so if moisture is still present.
If it particularly warm in the house you may be okay.
I would leave it for a day or 2 between. A week if its an entrance vestibule.