Floor Care · Strip & Wax
A correct strip and wax is the reset button for a tired floor: every layer of old, yellowed finish comes off, and a fresh seal-and-finish build goes down. Done right, the floor looks new and stays protected. Done wrong, it yellows, hazes, and peels. This is the work we specialize in.
Floor finish (often called wax) is a protective coating built up in thin layers over porous tile like VCT. Over time it yellows, dulls, traps soil, and wears through. Stripping chemically dissolves and removes every layer down to the bare tile; waxing then rebuilds the protection with a sealer base and several coats of fresh finish. It is the deepest, most complete floor service, and the foundation everything else maintains.
Not every dull floor needs a full strip. The cheapest path that still protects the floor is usually the right one.
| Strip & wax | Scrub & recoat | |
|---|---|---|
| Removes | All finish, down to the tile | Only the soiled top layer |
| Adds | Sealer plus 4 to 5 coats | 1 to 2 coats |
| Relative cost | Highest | Much lower |
| Downtime | Most | Less |
| Best when | Finish is yellowed, worn, or built up | Finish is dull but still sound |
More on the lighter option: scrub and recoat.
| Facility or area | Typical full strip and wax |
|---|---|
| Low-traffic offices and private areas | Once a year or less |
| Standard commercial and retail | 1 to 2 times a year |
| Schools (summer and winter breaks) | 1 to 2 times a year |
| High-traffic entries and healthcare corridors | 2+ times a year, with frequent recoats |
Between strips, scrub-and-recoat and burnishing keep the floor bright and stretch the interval, which is exactly what a maintenance program schedules.
Stripping and waxing is for porous tile that depends on finish. Using it on the wrong floor is a costly mistake.
Estimate your job with the cost calculator, or read the full cost guide.
Most floor-finish problems trace back to shortcuts in the strip. Here is what goes wrong, and why it does not happen on a proper job.
VCT is cheapest over its life when it is maintained, not rescued. A maintenance program times the strip, the scrub-and-recoats, and the burnishing so the floor never reaches the yellowed, worn-through stage in the first place.
Related: strip-and-wax cost guide, cost calculator, how many coats of wax, floor stripper types, and VCT floor care.
Commercial strip and wax typically runs $0.50 to $3.00 per square foot, depending on the floor's condition, the size of the job, access, and how many coats it needs. Scrub-and-recoat costs well below that. Use our cost calculator for an estimate.
Most commercial floors get a full strip and wax once or twice a year, with scrub-and-recoats and burnishing in between. High-traffic entries and corridors may need it more often; low-traffic areas less.
Usually a sealer plus four to five coats of finish on stripped VCT, with extra coats in the highest-traffic lanes. More detail is in our guide on how many coats.
A typical zone is done overnight, because each coat of finish has to dry before the next. Large facilities are scheduled in sections so areas reopen as they're finished.
Usually we work after hours or overnight so the area is dry and ready when you open. For occupied spaces we section the work to keep you running.
Almost always old finish that wasn't fully stripped, finish applied over residue, or low-quality product. A proper strip, neutralize, and rinse before refinishing prevents it.
No. VCT and similar porous tile need finish. Luxury vinyl (LVT/LVP), most stone, and hardwood are not waxed; they are cleaned, polished, sealed, or recoated instead.
With burnishing and scrub-and-recoats between strips, a good finish build holds up for months to a year or more before a full strip is needed, depending on traffic.
A properly applied and burnished finish is designed for traction underfoot. Slip risk usually comes from wet floors or improper product, not from a correct finish build.
Stripping removes all the old finish down to the tile and rebuilds it; a scrub-and-recoat removes only the soiled top layer and adds one or two coats. Recoat when the finish is dull but sound, strip when it's yellowed, worn, or built up.
Tell us your facility, floor types, and square footage. We'll scope the work and send a written quote. Not sure what you have? Send a photo and we'll tell you.