A freshly refinished floor makes a whole building look newer. But floor finish wears down with every step, and once it's gone, dirt starts working into the floor itself. The question most business owners ask is: how often do we actually need to strip and wax?
The honest answer is that it depends on how much traffic your floors get. Here's how to tell.
What stripping and waxing actually does
Most commercial tile and vinyl floors are protected by layers of floor finish (often called wax). Over time, those layers get scratched, dull and yellowed, and dirt gets trapped between them. Stripping removes all of the old finish down to the bare floor. Refinishing puts down fresh coats so the floor is protected and shiny again.
A general guide by traffic
Heavy traffic (lobbies, dealership showrooms, restaurant dining rooms, busy entrances): about once or twice a year.
Medium traffic (hallways, offices, medical waiting rooms): about once a year.
Light traffic (back offices, storage areas): every year or two.
These are starting points. Your floors will tell you when it's time.
Signs your floors need it now
The floor looks dull even right after it's mopped.
There are dark or yellow patches, especially near doors and in walkways.
You can see a clear "traffic path" worn down the middle of hallways.
Dirt is trapped under the finish and won't come up with regular cleaning.
The floor feels sticky or uneven.
What Idaho winters do to your floors
In Eastern Idaho, winter is hard on commercial floors. Snow, gravel and ice melt get tracked in every day, and ice melt leaves a white film that eats away at floor finish. If your floors look worn out by March, that's why.
Two things help: good entrance mats at every door, and having your floors refinished in the fall so they go into winter with a fresh, protective coat.
How to make a refinish last longer
Dust mop and damp mop regularly. Grit acts like sandpaper on floor finish.
Use the right cleaner. Harsh or wrong cleaners can dull and soften the finish.
Keep entrance mats clean so they catch dirt instead of spreading it.
Ask about a scrub and recoat between full strips. A lighter scrub with a fresh top coat can stretch the time between full strip jobs.
Done at night, ready by morning
Floor stripping and refinishing takes time, and the floor needs to dry before anyone walks on it. That's why Hi-Teck does floor work after hours. Your business closes, we strip and refinish, and your team comes back to a floor that looks brand new.
Hi-Teck Commercial Cleaning has taken care of floors for businesses in Idaho Falls, Ammon, Rexburg, Rigby, Shelley, Blackfoot and Pocatello since 1991.