Hard floors in a busy lobby, clinic or classroom go dull and scuffed fast, and mopping doesn't bring the shine back. The fix is the floor finish: how it's applied, how it's kept up and when it gets renewed.
The four jobs
Strip and wax
For vinyl composition tile (VCT) and similar floors, stripping removes the old finish along with the grime that has built up in it. We rinse and neutralize the floor, then lay down several thin coats of new finish and let each one dry. You end up with an even surface that's easier to keep clean. The area has to stay closed while it dries.
Scrub and recoat
If the finish is worn but not ruined, a scrub and recoat takes less time and costs less than a full strip. A machine scrubs off dirt and the top layer of finish, and fresh coats go down on top. It suits lobbies and corridors on a regular maintenance cycle.
Burnishing
A high-speed burnisher polishes the existing finish between recoats. It brings back gloss and takes out light scuffs. Busy buildings burnish monthly or quarterly.
Tile and grout cleaning
Ceramic and porcelain floors look tired once the grout lines darken. We clean the grout with a machine and the right cleaner, and we can seal it afterward if you want the lines to stay cleaner longer.
Floors we work on
The common ones are VCT, luxury vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tile, sealed concrete and terrazzo. Hardwood and natural stone need specific products and sometimes a specialist. If your floor is one of those, tell us what it is, and we'll say plainly whether it's ours to do.
When it gets done
Finish work happens overnight or on a weekend so the floor can dry and cure before anyone walks on it. Winter is hard on finish, because salt and sand grind it down, so it helps to recoat in the fall, before the salt season starts. Between big jobs, a regular cleaning routine with proper mats at the doors keeps the finish alive longer.
Questions about floor work
How long does a strip and wax take?
A small room can be done in a night. Larger areas take longer because every coat has to dry before the next one goes down. The quote includes a schedule and tells you when the floor can take traffic.
Is there an odor?
Strippers and finishes smell while they work. We ventilate the area, work after hours, and use low-odor products when your building asks for them.
How often should floors be stripped?
It depends on traffic and how well the finish is maintained. With regular recoating or burnishing, some floors go years between strips. If a floor needs stripping every few months to look presentable, the maintenance routine probably needs to change.