How to Strip a Concrete Floor With an Electric Floor Buffer
- 1). Check to make sure the floor buffer is not plugged in; do not plug in the buffer until you are ready to start the job.
- 2). Attach a rough scrubbing pad onto the buffer. Find these pads from the same retailers or rental stores from which you can find the buffer. Follow specific product instructions regarding attaching the pad, as different manufacturers have different requirements for this procedure.
- 3). Spread a degreaser or solvent cleaner, such as mineral spirits or a professional concrete cleaner, over the surface of the concrete with a push broom. Work the cleaner over the whole surface. This will loosen the top layer of protective coating and make it easier to strip away.
- 4). Plug in the buffing machine. Wear closed-toed shoes, since you will be walking in the cleaning solution. Also wear goggles to keep cleaner out of your eyes.
- 5). Start in one corner of the room and activate the buffer. Guide the buffer slowly forward; do not work quickly or the scrubbing pad will not be able to remove the coating.
- 6). Work in parallel lines across the floor, slowly guiding the buffer along. Work until you have covered the entire floor and deactivate the buffer.
- 7). Rinse the concrete surface with clean water from a hose to remove residual cleaning solution and small particles of coating.
- 8). Vacuum all water and cleaning solution away with a wet/dry vacuum. Allow the floor to dry overnight and inspect the surface. Repeat the stripping procedure if needed to get deeper into the floor; this will vary depending on your goal.
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