U.S. General Services Administration
Technical Procedures Disclaimer
Prior to inclusion in GSA’s library of procedures, documents are reviewed by one or more qualified preservation specialists for general consistency with the Secretary of Interior Standards for rehabilitating historic buildings as understood at the time the procedure is added to the library. All specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.
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We’ve reviewed these procedures for general consistency with federal standards for rehabilitating historic buildings and provide them only as a reference. Specifications should only be applied under the guidance of a qualified preservation professional who can assess the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers serve as general guidelines and do not constitute a federal endorsement nor a determination that a product or method is the best alternative or compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards.
REMOVING LUBRICATING OIL STAINS FROM TERRAZZO FLOORS
PART 1–GENERAL
1.01 SUMMARY
A. This procedure includes guidance on removing oil stains
from terrazzo floors.
B. See 01100-07-S for general project guidelines to be
reviewed along with this procedure. These guidelines
cover the following sections:
1. Safety Precautions
2. Historic Structures Precautions
3. Submittals
4. Quality Assurance
5. Delivery, Storage and Handling
6. Project/Site Conditions
7. Sequencing and Scheduling
8. General Protection (Surface and Surrounding)
These guidelines should be reviewed prior to performing
this procedure and should be followed, when applicable,
along with recommendations from the Regional Historic
Preservation Officer (RHPO).
C. For general information on the characteristics and
maintenance of terrazzo, see 09400-01-P.
PART 2–PRODUCTS
2.01 MATERIALS
NOTE: Chemical products are sometimes sold under a common
name. This usually means that the substance is not as pure as
the same chemical sold under its chemical name. The grade of
purity of common name substances, however, is usually adequate
for stain removal work, and these products should be purchased
when available, as they tend to be less expensive. Common
names are indicated below by an asterisk (*).
A. For New Lubricating Oil Stains:
1. Fuller’s earth, hydrated lime, whiting or portland
cement
B. For Old Lubricating Oil Stains:
1. Acetone (C3H6O):
a. A volatile fragrant flammable liquid ketone
used chiefly as a solvent and in organic
synthesis and found abnormally in urine.
b. Other chemical or common names include
Dimethyl ketone; Propanone
c. Potential Hazards: VOLATILE AND FLAMMABLE
SOLVENT
d. Available from chemical supply house or
hardware store.
2. Amyl acetate:
a. Other chemical or common names include Amyl
acetic ester; 1-pentanol acetate; Banana oil*;
Pear oil*.
b. Potential Hazards: FLAMMABLE.
c. Available from chemical supply house,
drugstore or pharmaceutical supply
distributor, paint store or photographic
supply distributor (not camera shop).
3. White flannel
4. Glass pane
-OR-
Benzine (NOT BENZENE):
1. A petroleum distillate that is used especially as a
paint or varnish thinner.
2. Other chemical or common names include Mineral
Spirits*; Naphtha*; Petroleum spirits*; Solvent
naphtha*.
3. Potential Hazards: TOXIC AND FLAMMABLE.
4. Safety Precautions:
a. AVOID REPEATED OR PROLONGED SKIN CONTACT.
b. ALWAYS wear rubber gloves when handling
mineral spirits.
c. If any chemical is splashed onto the skin,
wash immediately with soap and water.
5. Available from construction specialties
distributor, hardware store, paint store, or
printer’s supply distributor.
D. Clean, potable water
2.02 EQUIPMENT
A. Wooden Paddle or Trowel
B. Stoneware Jar
C. Shallow Enameled Pan
D. Electric or battery powered scrubbing machines
PART 3–EXECUTION
3.01 EXAMINATION
A. Examine the terrazzo surface carefully to determine the
cause of staining before proceeding with any cleaning
operation.
3.02 ERECTION, INSTALLATION, APPLICATION
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING TREATMENTS SHOULD BE USED BY TRAINED AND
EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL. IMPROPER USE MAY RESULT IN BLEACHING
THE TERRAZZO MATRIX, IF A COLOR DYE WAS ADDED AT THE TIME OF
INSTALLATION. DO A SAMPLE TEST IN AN INCONSPICUOUS LOCATION BEFORE PROCEEDING.
A. For New Lubricating Oil Stains:
1. Mop up excess oil from the surface immediately.
2. If the stain is fresh, cover the spot with fuller’s
earth or dry powdered material such as hydrated
lime, whiting, or dry portland cement.
3. Allow to sit for 24 hours.
4. Thoroughly rinse the surface with clean, clear
water and blot dry with clean towels.
5. Repeat the process as required to achieve the
desired level of cleanliness.
B. For Old Lubricating Oil Stains:
1. Saturate white flannel in a mixture of equal parts
of acetone and amyl acetate to form a thick paste.
2. Thoroughly wet the surface to be treated with
clean, clear water.
3. Apply the mixture to the stained area in a 1/4 inch
thick layer using a wood or plastic spatula.
4. Cover the flannel with a slab of concrete or pane
of glass.
5. Keep the flannel cloth saturated until the stain is
removed.
NOTE: If the solvent tends to spread the stain, a
larger piece of cloth should be used.
6. Thoroughly rinse the area with clean, clear water
and blot dry with clean towels.
7. Repeat the process as necessary to achieve the
desired level of cleanliness.
-OR-
Using a stiff, non-metallic bristle brush, scrub the
stained surface with benzine; rinse with clean, clear
water and allow to dry.