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Why wax vinyl?
Before we talk about how to wax vinyl floors, let’s think a little bit about why you should do it in the first place.
The first thing to understand is that what we now usually refer to as “wax” is not actually wax.
In the old days, people used to polish their floors with real wax, but nowadays, although wax is still available, the most common products used are acrylic.
Semantics aside though, why would you want to “wax” your VCT floor? And do you really need to?
When new VCT is laid, it comes with a layer of finish that’s designed to protect it. However, this layer is only designed to protect the VCT during transit, and it won’t stand up to general wear and tear once the floor is in use, so it’s essential to wax VCT floor to protect it long-term.
Furthermore, waxing VCT floors will give you a sheen that wouldn’t be possible without wax, so if you’re looking for an attractive polished look, waxing is your only option.
Finally, some waxes can even help repair minor damage like scratches, which means waxing is a great way to return your floor to optimal condition.
So in short, for all these reasons, if you have VCT floors, although they don’t need much maintenance, you’ll still have to look after them by waxing them from time to time.
What you’ll need:
- Chemical wax stripper
- Electric floor scrubber or soft-bristled brush
- Bucket
- Rubber gloves
- Mop
- Vacuum cleaner or broom
- Microfiber cloth
- Regular floor cleaning detergent
- Wax
- Tray for wax
- Buffering machine (optional)
Step 1: Remove factory finish or old wax with stripper
The first step is to remove the factory finish or old wax from the floor, which can be done with a chemical stripper.
Start by sweeping the surface with a broom or cleaning it with a vacuum, then mop it with warm water and detergent. Leave it to dry.
Wearing rubber gloves, mix up the stripper in a bucket according to the instructions on the bottle. Pay careful attention to the correct ratios of stripper to water.
Then, using the electric scrubber or the soft-bristled brush, apply the solution and use it to remove the protective factory finish or old wax from the whole floor.
Step 2: Mop the floor again
Next, you need to clean the stripper from the floor.
Start by wiping the floor clean with a dry mop to remove all the stripper and protective finish or old wax that you’ve just removed.
Following this, use the mop again, this time with clean warm water (without detergent) to clean the floor. Let it dry again.
It is important to make sure the floor is perfectly clean and free of dirt, dust and grime before you start applying the wax, so now you need to give it a final check.
Step 4: Apply the wax
Key Considerations Comparing Wax Ring Types
- Check floor levelness under installation area before deciding between standard and thick rings.
- Consider flange height carefully relative to the toilet base to ensure correct wax thickness.
- Remove all old wax, bolts, and debris under existing toilets to allow proper seating of new ring.
- Extra thick rings often have size options to match different flange heights and toilet types.
- The added cost of reinforced rings can avoid much greater expense from leaks causing subfloor damage.
- Take care installing extra thick rings to keep the wax soft and pliable as needed for maximum sealing.
- Combining thick wax rings with rubber gaskets provides added insurance against leaks on uneven surfaces.
- Test toilet stability and re-set if any rocking occurs after installing thicker wax seals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some questions that a lot of people ask regarding the different wax ring types –
When should you use an extra-thick wax ring?You will need to use an extra-thick wax ring whenever you are dealing with a flange that is on the floor level or maybe a bit below or deeper to the floor level. Anything below ¼” should clearly indicate using an extra thick wax ring.
Sometimes the wax rings you will need for sealing your toilet will be extra thick because of the extra space they have to cover. Without the extra thick layer of the wax rings, you can’t cover up the larger toilet flanges properly. This may even result in your toilet leaking at some point. That’s some wax rings extra thick.
To find out the size of the wax ring that you should be using, you will need to check up on your toilet bowl. Turn it upside down and see the opening on the lower part of your toilet. Based on that, you will need to determine the wax ring size.
Yes, you can use two regular wax rings instead of using one extra thick wax ring. However, that won’t be the most efficient way to seal your toilet because there will still be a chance of leakage around it. If your toilet requires a double-thick wax ring, I recommend going for that instead of using two regular wax rings.