Floor Types · Hardwood

Commercial Hardwood Floor Care

Commercial hardwood, gym floors, lobbies, restaurants, and retail, is beautiful and durable, and the floor most easily ruined by the wrong cleaning. Modern commercial hardwood is protected by a coating and maintained by cleaning and recoating, not by wet stripping and waxing. We clean, screen, recoat, and refinish it the right way.

Quick answerCommercial hardwood is coated, usually with polyurethane, and maintained by low-moisture cleaning plus screen-and-recoat, not wet stripping and waxing. A screen-and-recoat refreshes an intact finish; a full sand-and-refinish is only for worn-through or damaged floors. Older wax-finished floors need a wax-specific process.

How hardwood is cared for

Screen-and-recoat vs. full refinish

Screen-and-recoatFull refinish
ForFinish worn on top but intactDeep scratches, gray or worn-through spots, water damage
WorkAbrade and add a fresh coat, no sanding to bare woodSand to bare wood and rebuild the finish
Downtime and costLower, fasterHigher, more downtime

Most maintained commercial hardwood only ever needs periodic screen-and-recoats, with a full refinish many years apart.

Is hardwood waxed?

Most modern commercial hardwood is coated and recoated, not paste-waxed. Older wax-finished wood floors exist and need a different, wax-specific process, so we identify which you have before touching it. See sealing vs. waxing.

A hardwood maintenance schedule

FrequencyTask
DailyDust mop; clean spills promptly
RoutineLow-moisture clean with a wood-safe, neutral cleaner
PeriodicBuff to refresh shine between recoats
Every 1 to several yearsScreen and recoat before the finish wears through
RarelyFull sand-and-refinish for deep wear or damage

Common hardwood problems, and fixes

Keeping it on a program

Recoating before the finish wears through is far cheaper than a full sand. A maintenance program times cleaning, buffing, and screen-and-recoat so the wood stays protected.

Questions

Can you wax commercial hardwood?

Most modern hardwood is coated with polyurethane and recoated, not waxed. Older wax-finished floors need a wax-specific process; we check first.

What's the difference between screen-and-recoat and refinishing?

Screen-and-recoat refreshes an intact finish without sanding to bare wood; refinishing sands the floor down and rebuilds it for deep wear or damage.

How often should hardwood be recoated?

Depending on traffic, every one to several years. Recoating before the finish wears through protects the wood and avoids a costly full sand.

Can you maintain gym floors?

Yes, including sport-floor finishes maintained to specification. See our gym and sport floor care page.

Why can't you wet-mop hardwood?

Standing water swells and cups wood and can damage the finish. Hardwood is cleaned with low-moisture, wood-safe methods.

Can worn or damaged hardwood be saved without replacing it?

Usually. A screen-and-recoat handles surface wear, and a full sand-and-refinish restores deeply worn or damaged floors without replacement.

Get a free floor assessment

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.