Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Just how shiny are DuraSheen's No-Buff finishes?
Our No-Buff Ultra-Gloss is an extremely high gloss finish that measures around 90 on a gloss meter.  No burnishing or buffing is needed to maintain the high-gloss shine.   It comes with a one year gloss guarantee. Since our No-Buff Ultra-Wear finish is designed primarily for the highest durability, the gloss finish is not as brilliant as our Ultra-Gloss, but it still maintains a beautiful gloss appearance.

What if I don't want a high gloss shine, but still want the high durability and low maintenance of DuraSheen finishes?
Both of our No-Buff finishes comes in three levels of gloss; High Gloss, Satin, and Flat, so you can have just the look you desire.

Does the finish yellow or crack with age?
It will not yellow or crack with age or exposure to UV light.

How long does the No-Buff finish last?
No-Buff lasts up to 10 times longer than a conventional labor intensive acrylic finish, yet one coat is all that is needed.  Regular cleaning is all that is required to maintain a brilliant high-gloss shine.  There is no burnishing or buffing required to keep the high gloss shine. An occasional re-application may be required for high traffic areas, or for areas subject to scratching or other surface damage. Re-application requires a light screening and the application of a new coat of No-Buff finish.  No stripping is needed. Re-application frequencies can vary signficantly depending upon specific environments, but it is not unusual for finishes to last 2-3 years or longer before needing touch up.

What kind of flooring material can No-Buff be applied to?
No-Buff can be applied very successfully to VCT, sheet vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo, granite, non-glazed ceramic tile, quarry tile and wood floors.  In can also be applied to some moderately textured flooring materials.

How do you keep No-Buff clean?
Your normal floor cleaning routine will remain the same with DuraSheen's No-Buff finish.  This includes regular sweeping, dust mopping, spot mopping and scrubbing. Cleaning No-Buff requires about ½ the normal recommended floor soap and less water than you currently use on your acrylic finish. Scrubbing pads and cleaners can be used without damage or wear to the finish.  Maintaining the glossy shine is easy. 

How do you maintain the glossy shine?
There is no need for burnishing or buffing of any kind, and you don't need to apply wax top coats.  DuraSheen's No Buff finishes do not need to be stripped because they does not yellow, and you don't have any wax build up.  An annual survey is recommended for areas that may need re-application, depending on wear conditions.  Some floors can go years between re-applications.

How long does it take No-Buff to dry after application?
It is dry to the touch in about 2 – 2.5 hours @ 77°F with 50% relative humidity.  It is dry to walk on in about 4.5 hours @ 77°F with 50% relative humidity. We typically recommend 4 to 6 hours before use.

Are there any cost savings by using No-Buff?
Yes!  Costs are significantly reduced due to less labor associated with maintaining your floors.  In most cases, the cost of No-Buff finishes are made up within months of application due to the significant labor reductions.  No burnishing, spray buffing, or additional wax top coats are needed to maintain the lustrous shine that No-Buff finishes offer.  Floor surfaces do not need to be stripped.  Only one coat of finish is required to equal or exceed the appearance of six coats of conventional acrylic finish.  Many customers can save thousands of dollars per year by switching to our No-Buff finishes.

Who is using the No-Buff finishes?
Hospitals, clinics, surgery centers, factories, hotels, child care centers, doctors offices, pet hospitals, retail businesses, restaurants, office buildings of all types have been using No-Buff for up to seven years with excellent results.   

Since it is so shiny, is No-Buff more slippery than acrylic?
NO - in fact it is just the opposite. Our No-Buff finishes actually provide significantly higher traction than traditional acrylic finishes.  A slip resistance test was performed on our No-Buff Ultra-Gloss finish by Kenneth Fisher, safety consultant for Nu-Safe Floor Solutions.  The SCOF test (Static Coefficient of Friction) was performed using the Sellmier Slip Tester designed under the specifications of the German Ceramic Research Association while undertaking detailed research into the action of peoples’ feet on floors while walking.  The coefficient of friction for acrylic is .55 while the coefficient of No-Buff is .67.  This is about 20% greater than acrylic.  It is rated by the ASTM Standard C1028 as Very Good while acrylic is rated as only Satisfactory.  The slip and fall risk to employees and customers alike can be significantly reduced due to the increased traction coefficient.  In addition, your maintenance personnel no longer need to work on freshly stripped and wet floors which are extremely slippery.  By eliminating this exposure you greatly reduce the risk of workers compensation claims.

Our No-Buff Ultra-Wear finish has even higher traction due to it's unique composition of super hard particulates. Though you can't see them, these particulates actually penetrate the surface skin, and provide an amazing grip under all conditions - including wet surfaces!

Can traction material be added to No-Buff during application to make it even more slip resistant?
Yes, our No-Buff finishes can be applied with additional traction material during the application process.  It is, however, permanent and cannot be removed.  It also diminishes the gloss due to the dispersal of light that the added texture causes.

Is there any burnishing required with No-Buff?
No.  The No-Buff finish is very low maintenance and requires no burnishing or buffing whatsoever in order to maintain a brilliant glossy shine.

How is No-Buff applied?
DuraSheen's professionally trained crew strips all the previous finishes of the existing floor and clean it thoroughly.  The crew then rolls on our No-Buff finishes using specially designed rollers and other tools.  The application process is critical to acheiving proper results, and can only be performed by experienced and trained personnel.  If not done properly, you risk having to have the finish completely removed and reapplied which can be very costly.  This is why we only allow our own technicians to apply No-Buff.

What are the environmental benefits of No-Buff finishes?
Facility management organizations and companies are rapidly embracing protocols designed to minimize the size of their environmental footprints.  This is especially true when it makes financial sense to do so.  The benefit to the environment can be great if more and more organizations chose to adopt environmentally safe products such as No-Buff.  Stripping is one of the most dangerous processes from both an environmental and health consideration.  The chemicals needed to strip wax and acrylic finishes are often quite toxic and hazardous to the user.  Also, the toxic slurry of stripper, old wax and acrylic that is dumped down the drain is likely causing problems in our lakes and water supplies.  Some cities have recognized this and expressly prohibit the dumping of this solution into the public water treatment system. Our No-Buff finishes eliminate this problem completely.  No-Buff can also save in the areas of energy and water use.  The weekly buffing, quarterly scrubbing and annual or semi-annual stripping of an acrylic finish requires much energy and water use.  Eliminating those processes is simple, cost effective and environmentally sound.

Are there any liability issues I should consider by using No-Buff?
The slip and fall risk to employees and customers alike can be significantly reduced due to the increased traction coefficient.  In addition, your own maintenance personnel no longer need to work on freshly stripped and wet floors which are extremely slippery.  By eliminating this exposure you greatly reduce the risk of workers compensation claims.

How many coats of No-Buff are required?
In the vast majority of cases only one coat of No-Buff is required to attain a brilliant glossy shine designed to last many months and in many cases years.

Is No-Buff repairable?
Yes.  Repairs are easy, cost effective and blend well with surrounding areas.  The repair process is essentially the same as the re-application process, but contained only to the damaged areas.

What is No-Buff made out of?
Our No-Buff finishes are composed of specially formulated water based ultra-durable urethane.  For many of our customers this is a new technology, but it has a proven track record over many years and many types of applications. This unique finish technology is designed to wear up to 10 times longer than a traditional acrylic finish.

Does No-Buff ever turn yellow?
No.  No-Buff will maintain its brilliant glossy shine and it is not affected by sunlight or UV light.

Is there any stripping associated with No-Buff?
No.  No-Buff finishes do not require stripping, removal, buffing or burnishing. The only time stripping is necessary is to remove the old finishes prior to applying our No-Buff finishes.

Can my personnel be trained to apply No-Buff?
No-Buff can only be applied successfully by highly trained and experienced technicians.  DuraSheen is a service company and we do not provide the product to the end user.  The application process is critical and should only be attempted by experienced and trained personnel.  If not, you risk having to have the floor removed and reapplied which can be very costly and frustrating. Only allowing our own technicians to apply No-Buff finishes assures the highest quality results, and high customer satisfaction with the end result.

What is the VOC level with No-Buff?
Our SuperGloss product has less than 210 g/l, catalyzed Part A & B, and water reduction, as specified.

Is No-Buff chemical resistant?
Yes.  No-Buff protects against staining and exposure to harsh chemicals.

Can the No-Buff finish ever be removed?
If needed, the finish can be removed using a specialized stripping compound, with a process similar to an acrylic floor stripping.

Will No-Buff hold its own against asphalt and tar?
Yes.  These types of scuffs or stains are easily removed with no residual effect.