Stripping Polyurethane Coatings from VCT Flooring

Polyurethane coatings are designed primarily for application to wood floors - such as gym floors. Polyurethanes cure by cross-linking. Once cured, they can only be removed with strong solvents such as methylene chloride (a carcinogen) based paint strippers.

Sometimes, someone applies an oil-modified urethane or gym finish to a VCT floor - a major mistake! First, polyurethanes yellow with time. Second, strong solvents are required to fully remove, but they would attack the VCT!

To remove, use a high-butyl stripper with black pads to remove some of the coating. After that the use of screen back discs may be required, which will make the floor more porous and duller - requiring more coats than normal to bring back to a shine.