How long does it take to strip and wax 1000 square feet? Continue reading to learn more!
The maintenance of the floor is the most neglected part of any building. Cleaning and mopping can do a temporary job, but waxing is essential to keep the floors in their original shape.
Stripping and waxing are very beneficial for the floors as it protects them from the daily saturation they take in the form of foot traffic.
Neglecting the maintenance of the floors, stripping, and waxing not only decreases the shelf life of the floor but also contributes to unhygienic conditions. And if you don’t know, floors can also significantly contribute to many health-related diseases.
So, what is stripping and waxing, how is it done, and how long does it take to strip and wax 1000 square feet? To discuss all this, we devised this guide. Do let’s find out.
What Floor Waxing Means And How Does It Work?
Floors like vinyl, hardwood floors, or laminate floors are porous, which with time, loses its finish and wears out. The floors accumulate debris and dirt, damaging the floor quality. To keep this from happening, a protective coating of wax is applied on the floor to protect the floor.
Now, after some time, a point comes to shine. The floor waxing also wears down due to a lot of foot traffic and debris and loses its shine. It is buffed to bring back the shine until the floor wax is completely removed.
After that, the floor wax is completely stripped off, and a new layer is added to it. This process is called stripping and refinishing. So, let’s take a look at some of the factors that should be kept in mind if you are looking to strip and wax 1000 square feet:
Which Type of Floor Needs Waxing?
Hardwood
Hardwood is the most common type of floor that needs waxing as the wood surface is porous, which means a lot of dirt accumulation. No matter what kind of wood is used in the construction, It needs proper waxing from time to time after every 6-18 months.
Terra Cotta
These unglazed tiles need wax to bring out the shine and the authentic look. These require either a matte or shiny finish which is necessary to bring out the color variations in the design of the tile.
But after the wax is worn out, it must be stripped and refinished every 1-2 years.
Vinyl Composition Tile
Just like the terracotta tiles, these also need waxing after installation, as they are not like conventional vinyl tiles. These VC tiles also require stripping and occasionally waxing almost after every 6-12 months.
Why Is Floor Waxing Necessary?
Floor waxing is essential for both commercial and residential establishments as, first, the apparent reason is to increase the look and beauty of the floor. Some tiles, like the Vinyl Terra Cotta, as we mentioned, do need waxing to bring out the final look of the floor.
Aside from the beauty and luster factor, the waxing is also needed to clear the floor of any dirt and debris accumulated. The waxing created a solid protective layer that protects the floor from dust, dirt, or small garbage collection.
Moreover, waxing also cleans the floor of any microorganism specifically present on the commercial building floor, like hospitals. According to some reports, the floors of commercial buildings like hospitals are contaminated with MRSA, C.diff, and VRE.
Floor waxing improves the shelf life of the floor, keeping it protected from the scratches that come from foot traffic and other factors. That’s because it causes an invisible lubricant layer that decreases the friction between the floor and the objects.
How Long Does It Generally Take To Wax A Floor?
How much time it will take to wax a floor generally depends upon the size of the floor and the foot traffic the floor receives. The larger the floor, the more time it will take to strip and wax it.
An average estimated time it takes to strip and wax a floor completely can be from 2 days – 4 weeks, depending on which time of building floor you are waxing.
For example, if it is a school floor waxing project, it takes a week to complete the floors. But the good thing is that you can use the floor the next day, as it only takes one night for the wax to dry completely.
Hospital floors take longer than usual as the waxing is done in various parts, and floors are divided so patients can still use their rooms. Moreover, care must be taken when waxing the hospital floors, and a low odor-stripping agent should be used.
So yes, all in all, it can take from months to weeks to wax a floor.
How Long Does It Take To Strip And Wax 1000 square feet?
Well, it depends upon the tools and the manpower involved in waxing and stripping the floor, but generally, it takes time:
- With rectangular machine (48 inches plt) = 3.5 min
- Buff with the steel wool= 20 min
- Strip and rewax= 150 min
- Dry strip and rewax = 120 min
How Long Does Floor Wax Last?
How much longer a floor wax will last depends upon various factors. Some of the important are as follows:
The Location And Foot Traffic Of The Area
Another factor to keep in mind when discussing how much it takes to strip and wax 1000 square feet will be the location and the foot traffic of the area.
This is the most significantly important factor that determines how much longer a wax will last until the area needs stripping and refinishing. High foot traffic area means more wear and tearing of the area requiring frequent waxing.
Commercial buildings are subject to more foot traffic which means more dirt accumulation, and the floor’s shine is lost more rapidly than usual. Hospital floors, school floors, and office reception area floors all receive a lot of foot traffic.
So, cleaning the floors of these areas, especially the school, is essential as it positively affects the learner’s mood. Hence these need stripping and waxing after every 3-6 months.
The Material Used In Floor Construction
How long a wax will last also depends upon the type of material used in the flooring. Various types of flooring materials are used, and all of them have different wear rates. Some wear early, while some retain the wax and shine for a long time.
Although hardwood floors are commonly used these days, their wear rate is quite different from stone floors. The most common stone materials are marble, granite, etc. And all of them have different times of wearing and also need different techniques for waxing.
Marble needs an excellent cleaning solution due to scratch-prone service, whereas granite is more resilient to typical cleaners.
So, before you strip and wax the floor, it is better to get to know the characteristics of the floor.
Regular Maintenance
The shine and luster of the floor depend on waxing and on how the floor is kept and maintained. Simply commercially waxing the floor isn’t going to keep the floor in good shape. It also needs cleaning and upkeep daily.
As with time, the floor gets dirty, and the grime gets stuck between the layers of the wax. And if you don’t know, with time, the dirt, dust, and debris can break through the protective layers of the wax and start damaging its hygiene.
Unhygienic and dirty floors can also be quite harmful to many businesses like restaurants, hospitals, etc., and can affect the company’s reputation.
That’s why frequent waxing is essential to keep that shine, but daily cleaning and maintenance of the floor are also essential.
What Are The Benefits Of Waxing A Floor?
If you are still a bit skeptical about waxing the floors, then the following are some essential benefits that you should consider:
- The most significant advantage of waxing a floor is its capability to increase its lifespan. When a protective layer is present, the harsh factor of the outside environment cannot affect the floor as it usually would
- Waxing of the floor also protects them from spills, making the floor resistant to stains and keeping it in its original condition.
- The shine that waxing brings gives the building a professional look and can be of many factors that build the business’s reputation. For example, clean floors are a must for restaurants or hospitals as these can be places where you can get many foodborne or acquired diseases.
- Waxing adds to the look of the floor. No matter how much you clean the floor or how many times a day you perform, this takes the cleanliness and glossier look that waxing brings are incomparable.
- Last but not least, the ability of the wax to hide any imperfections on the floor also makes it a pretty worthy option. If the floor looks too old or has some pretty visible flaws, then waxing is a good option. It can fade any imperfection and make the floor look beautiful and new.
As much as other parts of the building are essential, the same goes for the floors of the building, which can be a significant investment.
Looking to Strip and Wax 1000 square feet? Contact TCS Floors!
Keeping the floor clean and in the right shape is vital, as dirty floors are unhygienic and bad for a business’s reputation. So, make use that your building floors are getting the attention they should get and maintain them.
Looking for stripping and waxing services? Contact TCS Floors for more!
