Location: Historic Merchantville

Historic Catholic School Receives a Complete VCT Floor Restoration

Experience matters when school floors need more than just another coat of wax!

When a historic Catholic school in Merchantville, New Jersey, wanted a second opinion on its VCT floors, Principal Kathy O’Callaghan contacted Sparkle Surface Care after researching commercial floor restoration companies online.

The school had recently been advised that its existing finish could be refreshed. But something struck Kathy differently about that recommendation. Perhaps a question, perhaps a desire to get an alternative opinion, she wanted another professional’s advice.

However, after carefully inspecting the floors, our team reached a different conclusion. Instead of recommending another maintenance coat, we believed the floors deserved a complete restoration.

That recommendation made all the difference.

A free test area told the story.

Rather than asking the school to simply trust our opinion, Chris prepared two side-by-side test sections. One section represented the existing maintenance approach. The second area was completely stripped. It was cleaned by hand and had finish applied.

The difference was immediate. Years of embedded soil, yellowed finish, and trapped mop residue disappeared once the old finish was completely removed. The restored section appeared noticeably brighter. It clearly was cleaner. And absent of residual soiling, the floor was pristine and ready to accept fresh finish coats properly. In the end, there was no comparison!

The demonstration gave the school complete confidence in how best to proceed. The full restoration and a clean, waxed floor resulting provided them their answer. And within an hour of receiving the proposal, the project was approved.

The work: restoring a busy school on a tight summer schedule.

The project involved restoring VCT flooring throughout the main historic school building. This building is the center of the most of the classrooms and activities. So getting it ready was important before the students returned for the new academic year.

Working around previously scheduled commitments, our team mobilized within two days of approval. We developed a carefully coordinated production schedule.  This allowed multiple crews to work efficiently throughout the building.

Furniture relocation was coordinated with the Knights of Columbus, whose assistance helped keep the project moving smoothly while minimizing downtime.

That teamwork allowed every phase of the project to stay on schedule.

Preparation determines the final result.

Beautiful floor finishes begin long before the first coat of finish is applied. Each classroom and hallway was thoroughly stripped using professional stripping agents and commercial swing machines. Additional technicians simultaneously removed the dissolved finish with high-capacity recovery equipment.

However, our preparation doesn’t stop there. Every floor then received a pressurized truck-mounted steam extraction rinse that removes remaining stripping residue and suspended soils.

This extra step is rarely performed during traditional strip and wax projects. Yet it creates an exceptionally clean surface that allows new floor finish to bond properly.

Whenever stubborn finish remained, additional stripping was performed until every trace of old finish had been removed. We never rush the preparation. Because preparation is what determines the finished result.

Professional floor finishing is both a skill and an art.

Once every floor passed inspection, our finishing specialists began applying the new protective finish. Applying commercial floor finish is much more than simply putting wax on a floor. Our experienced technicians understand how each coat should flow, level, and build to create a uniform appearance throughout every classroom and hallway.

• Applying too little finish reduces protection
• Applying too much finish can create problems of its own

Instead, every coat was applied carefully and consistently to produce a durable, beautiful finish designed to withstand another demanding school year.

A team built for large commercial projects.

Large commercial floor restoration projects require more than equipment. They require coordination. With over 250 years of combined floor care experience, every technician understands his or her role from start to finish.

Edge detailing…

Stripping…

Machine scrubbing…

Recovery…

Steam rinsing…

Drying…

Floor finishing…

Every step works together like an orchestra. This especially allows large facilities to be completed efficiently without sacrificing quality. That teamwork is one reason schools, churches, daycares, medical facilities, and commercial buildings continue trusting Sparkle Surface Care for their floor restoration projects.

The results: they speak for themselves.

By the project’s completion, the transformation throughout the school was dramatic. The VCT floors looked brighter, cleaner, and professionally restored. And now finished with durable protective wax coats, the floors are ready for the upcoming school year.

Principal Kathy O’Callaghan expressed how pleased she was with both the finished appearance and the professionalism of our entire team. For us, that’s always the most rewarding part of every project.

Keeping school floors looking their best

Annual stripping and refinishing remains the foundation of long-term VCT floor care. However, periodic maintenance throughout the school year can significantly extend the life of the finish while maintaining a consistently attractive appearance.

Whether maintenance is performed by your in-house custodial staff or through a scheduled maintenance program, routine care helps protect your investment while reducing future restoration costs. Likewise, it is equally important that the systems, tools, and cleaning agents are both appropriate to maintain the floor, not detract from it.

With that said, we do a systems evaluation to confirm the in-house practices are appropriate.  Or we redirect, retool, and retrain those efforts so the floors will stay their optimal best now that they have been restored.

The takeaway: why schools throughout So Jersey choose Sparkle Surface Care

Schools place tremendous demands on their floors every single day.

Heavy foot traffic.

Backpacks.

Desks.

Sand.

Salt.

Moisture.

Daily cleaning.

That’s why experience matters. Systems matter. Performance matters. Results & longevity matter!

Sparkle Surface Care combines over 250 years of collective experience, state-of-the-art truck-mounted steam rinsing technology, professional-grade equipment, and meticulous finishing techniques to deliver results that help protect school floors year after year.

Whether your facility is a private school, public school, church, daycare, university, or municipal building, we’re ready to help you achieve the same exceptional results.

Is Your School Ready for a Better Floor Restoration Experience? Free demo or expert advise on best ways to prepare your floors for the coming school year. Call us at 609.953.0472 or CONTACT US ONLINE.