Common Floor Types and Characteristics

LOOR TYPES	FACTORY FINISH	CHARACTERISTICS
SLATE Natural and stone that is quarried and cut to desired size	None	Stains due to spills, oil, grease, etc.; soft, tends to scratch & dust from sand & grit; sensitive to acids & hard to clean grouting.
TERRAZZO  Mixture of portland cement and two parts marble chips that isground & polished	None	Stains easily (rust, grease, oil, spills); scratches from abrasives: sand & grit and sensitive to acids, organic & crystallizing salts
VINYL (Pure) or NO WAX Mixture of vinyl chloride, plasticizer & pigment. Known as homogeneous vinyl	Yes, Do Not Remove	Some have thin surface coat; sensitive to grit, sand, pads & cigarette burns; difficult to strip: assumes shape of sub-floor, indents at 150 lbs/sq. in.
VINYL ASBESTOS Mixture of vinyl chloride, plasticizer inert filler, pigment & asbestos fibers	N/A	Brittleness to abrasives, embossed designs are hard to strip; whitish cast when stripped burnish to remove, indents at 25 lbs/sq. in.
VINYL (Composition) Vinyl chloride, plasticizer, inert filler and pigment	May or may not - this is dependent upon manufacturer recommendations	Brittleness to abrasives, embossed designs are hard to strip; whitish cast when stripped, burnish to remove, indents at 25 lbs/sq. in.
WOOD Natural wood usually birch, beech, maple or oak.	Don't Remove, Light Sand to Recoat	Stains and is damaged by water, grease, abrasives, oil & high alkaline cleaners and requires special products and procedures.