Floor Machines

How to Choose a Floor Machine

A floor machine combines a heavy motor with a rotating pad driver to scrub, polish, strip or buff hard surfaces. The right machine comes down to RPM range, pad diameter and weight. Matching these to the work you do most often makes daily cleaning faster and protects the floor.

RPM and What It Means

• Low speed (175 RPM). The all rounder. Strips wax, scrubs deep soils and works with carpet bonnets for interim cleaning.
• Dual speed (175 and 300 RPM). Adds a polish gear for spray buffing.
• High speed (1500 to 2000 RPM). Burnishes finished VCT and stone to a wet look gloss.

If you only buy one machine for a building with mixed surfaces, a 175 RPM low speed floor buffer covers the most use cases. Add a separate high speed burnisher when the look of the finish matters.

Pad Size

• 13 inch: tight bathrooms, kitchens, residential
• 15 to 17 inch: most retail, office and school floors
• 19 to 20 inch: corridors, gymnasiums, large lobbies
• 21 inch and up: convention centres and industrial floors

Power and Brand Choice

Standard 110 volt machines plug into any commercial outlet. Heavier 175 RPM units need a 20 amp circuit on long cord runs. Mercury floor machines and EDIC floor machines are common in janitorial fleets because parts are easy to source and chassis last decades. Hawk floor machines add features like quick disconnect handles for tight storage.

For tile and grout deep cleans pair a floor machine with a carpet extractor running a hard surface tool, or with a walk behind floor scrubber for larger areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a floor buffer and a floor polisher?

The two terms are often used interchangeably for low speed 175 RPM machines that scrub and polish. Strictly, a buffer runs at 175 to 350 RPM for cleaning and spray buffing, and a polisher or burnisher runs at 1500 RPM and up for high gloss finishing.

Which pad colour does what?

White polishes finished floors. Red is the daily spray buff pad. Blue is for medium scrubbing and stripping with chemical. Black is the most aggressive strip pad for thick wax. Brown and natural hair pads are for hard floor finishing.

Can I use a floor machine on hardwood?

Yes, with care. Use only a low speed 175 RPM machine, a soft white or natural pad and a hardwood approved cleaner. Never strip a hardwood floor with a stripping pad and chemical, which would damage the finish.

How heavy should a commercial floor machine be?

Heavier is better for stripping and deep scrubbing because the pad pressure does the work. Aim for 90 to 130 pounds for daily janitorial work. For burnishing a lighter, faster machine is more practical.