Discoloration on resilient flooring can be frustrating for business owners and cause the workplace to look poorly kept. Identifying the causes of persistent staining may be one of the biggest challenges for flooring inspectors because there are many different causes. When it’s time to be a detective and figure out what’s happening with vinyl flooring, looking at the clues can help figure out what’s going on.
Commercial spaces like stores and offices often use resilient flooring. When discoloration or yellowing begins to appear in the field areas of these high-traffic locations, inspectors should first consider asphalt tracking as a possible cause. These stains often develop in the areas where people walk the most. Entrances, exits, and checkout areas commonly show these patterns of discoloration.
Owners can present asphalt tracking by placing mats at the entrance to catch a lot of that residue. Regular cleaning with the appropriate products and tools can also keep these types of stains to a minimum. Preventative steps can help keep resilient flooring looking clean and attractive for many years. Regularly cleaning existing stains with the appropriate products and tools also helps maintain the appearance of the flooring. Proper maintenance can reduce discoloration, limit buildup, and extend the life of the floor.
VCT in Dollar Tree yellowing in all the aisles caused by asphalt tracking. No wax present. Likely replaced and never serviced by a floor company. Contacted to strip and wax but the tiles are ruined and I don’t want it to reflect on me when they see shiny discolored floors.
That is an important thing to be thinking about. I always tell installers that “it’s better to walk away from a job, if don’t think you will be able to make the customer happy.”