Floor waxing and strip and wax in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Floor waxing in Fort Wayne starts with getting the old finish off. We strip every layer of yellowed wax down to the bare tile, rebuild it with four to five fresh coats, and schedule the whole strip and wax after hours so your building never closes.
What commercial floor waxing (strip and wax) does
Floor stripping and waxing is the deepest reset for a commercial hard floor. A machine and stripping solution lift off all the built-up wax, the floor is neutralized and rinsed, then fresh coats of finish go down one at a time. For most Fort Wayne VCT floors it belongs on the calendar once or twice a year, and it is the summer staple for schools and churches.
Signs it is time:
- The finish looks yellow, cloudy, or gray no matter how much it is cleaned
- Wax has built up thick and uneven, with dark edges along walls
- Black scuff marks and traffic lanes will not buff out anymore
- Old finish is chipping, peeling, or powdering
Because we work after hours or overnight, the floor is walkable before you open. Keep heavy rolling carts, mats, and furniture off the fresh finish for about 24 to 72 hours so it fully cures. We tell you exactly which areas to baby and for how long.
Strip & wax vs scrub & recoat vs burnishing
All three make a floor shinier, but they are not the same job, cost, or result. Here is how to tell which one your floor needs.
| Strip & Wax | Scrub & Recoat | Buffing / Burnishing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Removes all old finish to the tile, rebuilds from scratch | Removes only the worn top layer, adds fresh coats | Polishes the existing finish; adds no new coats |
| Removes old wax? | Yes, all of it | Top layer only | No |
| Adds new coats? | Yes, 4–5 coats | Yes, 1–2 coats | No |
| Gloss result | Deepest, most even | High, refreshed | High shine on a sound floor |
| Time out of service | Longest (still after-hours) | Shorter | Shortest |
| Relative cost / sq ft | Highest | Middle | Lowest |
| Typical frequency | 1–2x per year | A few times a year | Weekly to monthly |
The smart move is to combine them: burnish regularly, scrub and recoat when the top wears, and do a full strip once or twice a year. That is what a floor care plan sets up.
VCT floor cleaning, stripping, and waxing
Most Fort Wayne offices, schools, and clinics run on VCT (vinyl composition tile), and VCT is exactly what strip and wax is built for. VCT is porous and wears fast in the traffic lanes, so it relies on a built-up wax finish to stay glossy and protected.
Our VCT floor cleaning program covers the whole range: routine VCT cleaning and burnishing to hold the shine, VCT stripping and waxing once or twice a year to rebuild the finish from the tile up, and scrub and recoat in between. If your building runs on VCT, we keep it looking sharp without you having to think about it.
What does floor stripping and waxing cost in Fort Wayne?
Commercial strip and wax is almost always quoted per square foot. As a general guide, a full strip and wax commonly runs about $0.30 to $0.75 per square foot, while buffing and scrub-and-recoat come in lower per square foot because they are less labor. Your number depends on the condition of the old finish, furniture moving, access, and how many coats the floor needs.
Because mobilizing a crew has a fixed cost, most floor companies set a minimum job size or minimum charge. We tell you where your floor lands during the walkthrough.
A per-square-foot number is one you can compare between vendors and defend in a budget. We measure your floor, look at its real condition, and send the quote in writing. The walkthrough is free anywhere in our service area, including New Haven, Huntertown, Auburn, Leo-Cedarville, and Columbia City.
Yellowed, built-up floors? Time for a reset.
Free walkthrough, written per-square-foot quote, work done after hours.
Common Questions
How often should VCT floors be stripped and waxed?
Once or twice a year for most commercial VCT, with buffing or scrub-and-recoat in between. High-traffic entries and hallways may need a full strip more often; low-traffic areas can go longer. Keeping a maintenance program means you strip less often.
How many coats of wax go on after stripping?
Usually four to five coats of commercial floor finish on stripped VCT, sometimes more in high-traffic zones. Each coat is applied thin and allowed to dry before the next, which builds an even, deep gloss.
How long until we can walk on the floor after waxing?
Foot traffic is usually fine a few hours after the final coat dries, and we schedule the work after hours so it is ready before you open. Keep rolling loads, mats, and furniture off the finish for about 24 to 72 hours so it fully cures.
Does a fresh wax finish make the floor slippery?
A properly applied commercial finish is built for slip resistance, not against it. The gloss comes from the finish and burnishing, not anything oily. We use finishes rated for commercial traffic and keep the maintenance right so the floor stays both shiny and safe.
How much does strip and wax cost per square foot in Fort Wayne?
It is quoted per square foot and varies with the condition of the old finish, furniture moving, and access. We measure your floor on a free walkthrough and send a written per-square-foot quote. Buffing and scrub-and-recoat cost less than a full strip.
Request a Free Floor Walkthrough
Tell us about your facility and your floors. We will schedule a walkthrough, measure the space, and send a written per-square-foot quote. No pressure and no obligation.
- A real number you can compare against other bids
- Work scheduled around your hours, not ours
- A plan to keep the floor up, not just a one-time job
Answered during business hours. After hours, leave a message and we call back the next business day.