Suprashine diamond pads
How to use, step by step
Fit the Suprashine pad centred on a velcro holder, fill the machine with water only and clean as you always have: with a scrubber-dryer or single-disc machine, usually one pass a day. For deep cleaning choose a lower grit and more passes; for more gloss, a higher grit or a high-speed burnisher with a slightly wet pad.
From choosing the pad to gloss
Eleven steps that apply to every Suprashine line. The specifics for coated floors and for restoring with Hybrids follow below.
What you need
- The scrubber-dryer, single-disc machine or burnisher you already own
- A standard velcro pad holder
- A Suprashine pad in the right grit and size
- Clean water, no detergent
1. Choose the pad
Choose the pad by floor type and job: restoring, deep cleaning, gloss upgrade or daily maintenance. A lower number cleans deeper, a higher one polishes to a higher gloss. Use the pad finder or the grit ladder below.
2. Fit it centred on the holder
For best results the manufacturer recommends a velcro pad holder. Place the pad exactly in the centre of the holder and press it down all over so it grips evenly. The pad diameter should match your machine’s holder.
3. Fill up with water only
No detergent is needed, because the diamonds do the work mechanically. Unless it is an extreme case, the manufacturer recommends water only, for every floor and every job. Clean water is also easy on the machine.
4. Clean with a low-speed machine
For daily maintenance, use a scrubber-dryer or a single-disc machine. The pad cleans and polishes in the same pass, so no separate polishing step is needed. On coated floors the manufacturer recommends cleaning once a day, across all areas.
5. Adjust the number of passes
One pass is enough for daily maintenance. Deep cleaning takes more: the manufacturer recommends two to remove the dirty top layer of a coating, and a very dirty granite floor at an airport took 5–7. When restoring with Hybrids, make 3–4 passes with each grit.
6. Build the gloss over time
A diamond pad improves the floor with every clean. For High Performance pads the manufacturer states that results can be seen in as soon as 10 days, with maximum gloss usually reached after 30+ days of routine cleaning.
7. Rinse the pad after use and let it dry
After work, take the pad off the holder and rinse it with clean water to remove the dirt. Let it dry before you use it again.
8. Change grit when needed
When the daily pad no longer cleans well enough, deep clean with a lower grit, then go back to the daily pad. For more gloss, choose a higher grit or add a gloss-upgrade step. When restoring, do not skip grits: continue in sequence up to the one you want.
9. Burnish for extra gloss
Burnishing is optional. The manufacturer advises slightly wet pads: that eliminates dust, adds a cleaning effect, and improves pad life and gloss quality. On rubber and soft PVC rolls, burnish at no more than 1000 rpm.
10. Follow the programme on coated floors
On linoleum and polymer-coated floors, clean daily with RG 3500, make two passes with RG 800 every 1–2 months, and burnish only once new layers of finish have dried completely.
11. Restore concrete, terrazzo and stone with Hybrids
Space five Hybrids evenly on a 20" pad and work with a scrubber at a minimum pressure of 40–45 kg. Make 3–4 passes with each grit in alternating directions, overlapping 25–50 mm, autoscrub between steps and check that the cut is even.
The grit ladder
The manufacturer’s ladder shows which pad does which job on which floors, separately for low-speed machines and for high-speed burnishers.
Low-speed machines: scrubber-dryer and single-disc
| Pad | Use | Floors |
|---|---|---|
| RG 8000 | Daily maintenance, maximum gloss | Very soft coatings, delicate surfaces, high-gloss porcelain |
| RG 3500 | All-round daily maintenance | Medium and hard coatings, PVC, vinyl, rubber, natural wood |
| RG 1800 | All-round daily maintenance | Matt PVC, vinyl, rubber |
| RG 800 | Deep cleaning | PVC, vinyl, rubber, natural wood; top scrub of all coatings |
| RG 400 | Very deep cleaning and restoration | Porous ceramic tiles, matt porcelain, granite; restoring epoxy and resin, vinyl and PVC with damaged PUR |
| HP 3500 | Daily gloss upgrade and maintenance, very high gloss | Polished concrete, terrazzo, epoxy (resin and terrazzo), marble, granite, ceramic tiles |
| HP 1800 | Daily gloss upgrade and maintenance, high gloss | Polished concrete, terrazzo, epoxy (resin and terrazzo), marble, granite, ceramic tiles |
| HP 800 | Daily gloss upgrade and maintenance, low gloss | Porous ceramic tiles, matt porcelain |
| HD 400orHD 220 | Deep cleaning: prep, strip, hone | All floors |
| Hybrids 50–BUFF | Restoration, honing and grinding | Concrete, terrazzo, natural stone |
High-speed burnishers
| Pad | Use | Floors |
|---|---|---|
| RG 8000 | Daily and periodic burnishing to pump up the gloss | All coated and uncoated floors |
| RG 3500orHP 3500 | Gloss upgrade, level 3 | Uncoated floors |
| RG 1800orHP 1800 | Gloss upgrade, level 2 | Uncoated floors |
| RG 800orHP 800 | Gloss upgrade, level 1 | Uncoated floors |
| RG 400 | Surface prep | Uncoated floors |
| HD 400orHD 220 | Heavy-duty surface prep, honing | Uncoated floors |
In gloss upgrades, High Performance pads work faster, reach a higher gloss and last longer.
Source: Superabrasive, Suprashine Quick Guide and Flooring Solutions catalog.
The coated-floors programme
Linoleum, VCT and other polymer-coated floors are maintained with Suprashine pads and water only. According to the manufacturer, one pass with a scrubber-dryer lifts gloss by about 20 points.
1Every day
Clean and polish all areas, once a day. RG 3500 is the first choice, RG 8000 for very soft coatings.
2Every 1–2 months
Top scrub: two passes remove the dirty top layer of the finish.
3When needed
Burnish once new layers have dried completely, or alongside daily maintenance when you want gloss up to 80 points or more, fast.
4When stripping
Chemical-free stripping with water only.
Restoring with Hybrids
Hybrids, with their true hybrid bond, remove stains, scratches and orange peel from concrete, terrazzo and natural stone. They work on low-speed machines only, with water only.
Ready
Attach five Hybrids to a standard floor pad, spaced evenly apart, for example on a 20" pad.
Set
Use a low-speed machine, a scrubber for best results, at a minimum pressure of 40–45 kg. Work with water and make 3–4 passes. A densifier may be needed on some concrete floors.
Go
- Sweep the floor.
- Start the machine at a slow, steady speed in one direction.
- Make each following pass in the opposite direction, overlapping 1–2" (25–50 mm). 3–4 passes in all.
- Autoscrub between each step.
- Inspect the floor to make sure the cut is even.
| Floor condition | Start with |
|---|---|
| Deep scratches and orange peel | Hybrids 50 or 100, then continue in sequence to the grit you want |
| Light scratches and orange peel | Hybrids 200 or 400, then continue in sequence to the grit you want |
| Smooth floor, but no shine | Hybrids 800 and up |
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Suprashine pads on my machine?
Yes. The pads fit most low-speed and high-speed machines: scrubber-dryers, single-disc machines and burnishers. Fit them on a velcro pad holder. Hybrids are for low-speed machines only, scrubbers for best results.
Is water really enough?
Yes. Unless it is an extreme case, the manufacturer recommends water only to grind, restore, strip, clean, upgrade or maintain every floor.
How many passes should I make?
One pass for daily maintenance. Two to remove the dirty top layer of a coating, and 3–4 with each grit when restoring with Hybrids. Very dirty floors can need more passes.
Can I burnish dry?
The manufacturer recommends slightly wet pads: that eliminates dust, adds a cleaning effect, and improves pad life and gloss. On rubber and soft PVC rolls, burnish at no more than 1000 rpm.
When will I see results?
On coated floors, the manufacturer states that one scrubber-dryer pass lifts gloss by about 20 points. With High Performance pads, results can be seen in as soon as 10 days, and maximum gloss is usually reached after 30+ days.
How long does a pad last?
It depends on the floor, traffic, machine and pressure. For High Performance pads the manufacturer states up to 645,000 sq ft, about 60,000 m².
Tell us about your floor. We’ll suggest the right pad.
Tell us your floor and machine. We suggest the pads, size and sequence, and send you an offer.
- You describe floor and machine
- We suggest pads and size
- We send you an offer