How to make your old floors shine again

Use of special coatings to renovate vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring can be considered to be the new “gold standard” among floor coverings. The resilient flooring is robust, water-repellent, comes with an attractive design and can therefore be used in all rooms. But even the best-quality flooring eventually loses its shine and becomes dull with age. Also signs of use and dirt buildup on the surface cannot be avoided. But fortunately, there are high-performance, solvent-free renovation coatings. They can be applied easily and quickly, are virtually odorless and also eco-friendly. After application, the floor looks like new, is resistant to scratches and in some cases even slip-resistant. Good to know: Flooring professionals only use products that carry the EMICODE® EC1 quality seal since these are very low-emission and absolutely healthy for living.

Vinyl floor coverings, in particular luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs), are continuing to be on the advance – in all rooms. In 2019, they already accounted for around one quarter of total sales generated with all floor coverings (source: statista.com).

This success is also due to their excellent surface quality. Most vinyl coverings are delivered factory-sealed with a polyurethane coating – the so-called wear layer. This keeps the flooring protected from harmful external influences and beautiful for many years to come. Underneath the wear layer comes the thick, decorative vinyl layer with a printed design, e.g. imitating the look of stone or natural wood grain. There is a multitude of design options available to achieve an authentic look.

Even though this type of flooring is particularly hard-wearing, the surface can still lose its shine over the years and show signs of wear caused by moving chairs or constant exposure to foot traffic. Even small particles can cause scratches in the surface. But this does not mean that you need to replace the flooring right away. With special renovation coatings, these marks can be easily removed or at least reduced. Sanding or stripping the floor is usually not necessary. And shortly after applying the coat, the floor is ready for use again. Dull floors will regain their shine and will almost look like new. If desired, also matt effects can be achieved. Some finishes even have an anti-slip effect.

Many renowned manufacturers have long since switched their production to water-based coatings. The low solvent content (less than 8 percent) in these products only serves as a binder. Just like water, the solvent evaporates immediately after application. All that remains is a durable protective layer. In terms of performance, waterborne coatings are now on a par with conventional solvent-based systems. In addition, the risk of fire is virtually eliminated and odor development is next to zero.

If you want to play it safe, choose renovation coatings that have been awarded the EMICODE® seal. They are proven to be very low in emissions and absolutely healthy for your home. To ensure compliance with the stringent EMICODE® emission limits, the products are continuously monitored by independent experts.

Living and dining room interior with grey, white and ginger design

Photo: © Katarzyna Białasiewicz/123rf.com/GEV

Robust, water-repellent, with many attractive design options and suitable for use in all rooms: vinyl flooring is a true all-rounder. When the shine wears off after a few years or signs of wear begin to show, vinyl flooring can be renovated in no time at all. Highly durable and elastic coatings are used for this purpose. Good to know: Flooring pros only use renovation products that carry the EMICODE® EC1 seal, because these are very low-emission and absolutely healthy for living.