Choosing the Right Floor Pad for Your Stone: Key Considerations Before Buying Buffing Pads

 Choosing the Right Floor Pad for Your Stone: Key Considerations Before Buying Buffing Pads

By Frederick M. Hueston, StoneForensics.com

 Keep in mind that every floor pad has a particular purpose and shouldn't be used on every type of stone. The following are some important queries to make before buying buffing pads.

 I have what kind of stone am I polishing? Is it marble, granite or whatever?

What type of tasks am I doing? Polishing, cleaning, heavy-duty cleaning, removing a coating

What size pad do I need? Can I use a larger pad than my pad driver.

 

All these questions need to be answered in order to select the right pad for the task at hand.

 

Method of Color Coding for Floor Scrubber Pads

In order to make it easier for you to understand how harsh a particular pad will be on your floor; floor pads have an industry-standard color-coding scheme. Darker colored pads are often more aggressive, whereas lighter colored pads are thought of as light duty. Because they are used to buff at extremely high rates, floor burnishing pads generally be aggressive despite not adhering to the industry standard color-coding system.

 

White

The softest floor pad you can choose from is a polishing pad, which works well for daily duties. To give your floors a smooth finish, use white polishing pads with a low-speed floor polisher and a fine water mist.  White pads are often used as the final dry buff after the stone has been polished. They can also be used in place of steel wool with some crystallization polishing systems.  White pads can also be used with stone polishing powders but often are not aggressive enough to achieve an acceptable shine. White polishing pads are not made for high-speed machines and won't hold up on rough surfaces.

 

Red

Red buffing pads produce a brilliant polish and sheen while removing minor scuffs and grime from stone flooring. For light-duty use, buffing pads are ideal because they won't harm most stone flooring. They are made for a low speed buffing machine and are suited for the majority of daily cleaning activities.  Some red pads will bleed with polishing powders that contain oxalic acid So I would avoid them for use with these powders.

Green and yellow

These pads are more aggressive than the red pad but not as aggressive as the black pads. They can be used to remove heavy soil along with heavy duty cleaners as well as for stripping light coatings. They can scratch the surface of marble and limestone, so care is required.

 

Black, Brown and Purple

These pads are used to completely remove finish, sealant, waxes, and grime. These should only be used with low-speed machines since they are quite abrasive and harsh and will scratch most marble and limestone flooring

Stripping pads are typically black, however they can also be found in purple and brown. You can select the ideal color stripping pad for you based on the type of floor stripping you are performing.

 

Burnishing Pads

Burnishing pads are used on high-speed buffers for burnishing certain wax finishes. However, they are the mainstay for polishing marble, limestone and other stone surfaces using a 175-300 rpm buffer. They are just abrasive enough to generate the right amount of heat along with standard polishing powders to produce a factory shine. These pads go by many names depending on the manufacturer, but most all are generically called hogs hair pads.

 

Diamond Impregnated Pads(DIP)

These pads are used for resurfacing marble and other stone types. They are impregnated with diamond abrasives and are available in various grit sizes ranging from 100 to as high as 11000 or more.  The higher grits can be used on a burnisher but the lower grits generally work best on a standard 175-300 rpm buffer.

 

Not all manufacturers stick to the industry’s color-coding system so make sure to ask what the recommend use is for from each pad.

 

Pad sizes

Pads sizes are typically sold in a 16 -22 inch size but you may find other sizes as well. Small sizes, less than 16 inches, can be hard to find but you can always cut down a larger pad to fit small drive plates.

 

 

Buffing Pads are an essential tool for restoring and maintaining the shine and polish of marble, granite and most stone surfaces. By selecting the correct pad for the job, you can ensure that your natural stone surfaces remain in pristine condition for years to come. Remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using these pads, and if in doubt, seek advice from a professional.