VCT Floor Stripping and Waxing
VCT stripping, waxing, and scrub and recoat for commercial buildings.
- Commercial buildings only, in every state except California
- Floor assessment by video or in person
VCT is the most common hard floor in commercial buildings. It is low cost and stands up to heavy foot traffic, but it has no protection of its own. It needs a coat of floor finish, and that finish has to be stripped off and put back down when it wears out. We do this work in schools, offices, stores, clinics, and more. See all the buildings we serve.
What VCT Is and Why It Needs Finish
VCT stands for vinyl composition tile. It is made of vinyl, fillers, and color chips pressed into hard tiles. The surface is porous, so it soaks up dirt, oil, and spills when nothing covers it.
Floor finish, often called wax, sits on top as a clear coat. It takes the scratches and wear so the tile does not. Without it, dirt sinks into the tile and daily mopping cannot get it out. Learn more on our VCT floor type page.
Signs VCT Needs a Full Strip
Each recoat adds a layer, and dirt gets sealed between layers. At some point the only fix is to remove all of it.
A full strip is needed when:
- The finish looks yellow, gray, or cloudy, and scrubbing does not clear it.
- Dark lines of dirt show near walls, corners, and door frames.
- Old wax builds up along baseboards while traffic lanes wear to bare tile.
- Finish peels or flakes.
- Burnishing no longer brings the shine back.
A scrub and recoat is enough when the floor looks dull but the finish is still clear, with no yellowing or peeling. It costs less and takes less time.
The VCT Strip and Wax Steps
- Clear and prep. Furniture and mats are moved, and the floor is dust mopped.
- Apply stripper. Floor stripper is spread on the tile and left to soak into the old finish.
- Scrub to bare tile. A floor machine breaks up the old layers. Edges and corners are worked by hand.
- Pick up and rinse. The dirty slurry is picked up and the floor is rinsed so no stripper is left. Leftover stripper keeps new finish from bonding.
- Dry fully. Water trapped under new finish causes clouding and peeling.
- Apply fresh finish. Thin coats go down one at a time, with full drying between coats.
Coats, Cure Time, and Burnishing
Several thin coats work better than a few thick ones. Thin coats dry evenly and bond to each other. Thick coats stay soft underneath and wear faster.
The finish feels dry on top before the lower layers are hard. Light foot traffic can come back once it is dry to the touch. Heavy carts and furniture should wait longer, since rolling weight on soft finish leaves marks that stay.
Once the finish has cured, burnishing with a high speed machine brings back a glossy shine. Burnishing between visits, plus daily dust mopping and a neutral cleaner, pushes back the next strip. See our VCT floor care specifications for a full schedule.
LVT Is Not VCT
LVT (luxury vinyl tile) can look like VCT, but it has a sealed factory wear layer, so finish has nothing to grip. LVT is never waxed, and VCT stripper can damage it. LVT is cleaned and scrubbed, not stripped. Wood floors and wood gym floors are not waxed either.
Scheduling Around Your Building
Stripping means wet floors, finish odor, and drying time between coats, so most jobs happen when the building is empty.
- Nights. Work starts after closing and is done before opening.
- Weekends. A longer window for full strips on large floors.
- One section at a time. One area is closed while the rest of the building stays open.
- School breaks. The longest window for schools.
What Affects the Price
There is no flat rate. Square footage, how much old finish has to come off, strip and wax versus scrub and recoat, the layout, furniture to move, and your time window all change the price.
For a rough number, try the cost calculator.
VCT Strip and Wax Near You
We work in commercial buildings nationwide. These cities have their own pages.
VCT Strip and Wax Questions
How often should VCT be stripped and waxed?
It depends on traffic and the condition of the finish, not the calendar. Busy floors need it sooner. Regular burnishing and scrub and recoat visits stretch the time between full strips.
How long does a VCT strip and wax take?
It depends on square footage, how much old finish there is, and how many coats go down. Large floors are often split across several nights or a weekend.
Why does my VCT look dull right after mopping?
The finish has worn thin or dirt is sealed inside old layers. A recoat or full strip fixes it. More mopping will not.
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