How Often Should Commercial VCT Floors Be Stripped and Refinished?

Even though commercial VCT flooring is designed to withstand regular pedestrian traffic, it still needs professional maintenance to look shiny and protected. Gradually, the original layer of floor coating may become dull, scratched, stained, yellowed, or worn out from soil, moisture, winter salt, furniture movement, and frequent use.

For most commercial properties, the floors need stripping and re-finishing every 12-24 months. However, there are many factors influencing how often commercial VCT floors need stripping: level of foot traffic, facility type, the current condition of the original flooring and daily cleaning practices.

Railway City Carpet Cleaning offers you commercial VCT floor stripping and re-finishing in St. Thomas, London, Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Aylmer and surrounding regions. We assess each floor separately and determine an appropriate maintenance program based on its condition and not the same routine for all facilities.

What Is VCT Floor Stripping and Refinishing?

Vinyl composition tile (VCT), also referred to as vinyl tile flooring, is commonly used for commercial premises as it is resilient, practical, and maintenance friendly. Nevertheless, there needs to be a finish for VCT floors to protect them from staining, scratching, moisture damage, and premature deterioration.

Floor stripping involves removal of the old wax, worn out finish, dirt accumulation, and accumulated residues due to cleaning activities. After the floor has undergone the stripping process, it is rinsed, neutralized, and dried, followed by coating with several layers of commercial floor finishes.

Why Routine Mopping Is Not Enough

Although routine sweeping and mopping ensure removal of loose debris and surface soils, they are unable to remedy any damage done to the protective coating. In case of the old wax being scratched, stained, and highly soiled, it is possible that the dirt will be trapped within the coating.

In this case, even more cleaning solutions will only improve appearance temporarily; however, they will fail to restore the surface. In order to restore the finish, it is necessary to perform the stripping and refinishing procedure.

How Often Should VCT Floors Be Refinished?

An ordinary commercial VCT floor should be refinished and stripped every one to two years. Properties that see heavy traffic might require the process more often, while properties with low traffic and good maintenance might have longer intervals between treatment.

High-Traffic Commercial Facilities

Such premises can wear down quickly because there might be hundreds of people who step on the floor every day. Such properties might need the stripping and refinishing service every 6 to 12 months.

They include:

• Schools and daycare centres

• Medical clinics and offices

• Grocery and retail shops

• Community centres

• Dining establishments

• Public buildings

• Apartments (entrance halls)

Areas near entrances, elevators, reception desks, and checkout counters usually show damage sooner than less frequently used spaces.

Moderate-Traffic Commercial Properties

Office building, retail space, doctor’s clinic, and other commercial property may require the professional resurfacing of the flooring every 12 to 18 months.

However, this depends on the use of door mats at entryways, cleaning schedules, and whether there is buffing or burnishing in the maintenance regimen.

Low-Traffic Areas

Rooms for storage purposes, private offices, conference rooms, and any restricted area may only need to have stripping and resurfacing done once every 18 to 24 months.

Even in low traffic areas, the floor needs to be checked to see if it is deteriorating because of stains, peeling, or moisture damage.

Signs Your Commercial VCT Floor Needs Refinishing

A maintenance schedule may come in handy, but it is always the condition of your floor that will decide when service is necessary.

Dull Appearance After Cleaning

When your floor looks dull after cleaning, the floor finish has probably already been worn out. Regular cleaning cannot reverse the process when floor protection has been compromised.

Dark Traffic Lanes

Traffic lanes are dark areas or grey patches that you see in the hallway, entrance, or working area. This could be because the dirt has settled into the damaged layers of the floor finish.

Scratches and Scuff Marks

It may be possible to improve some minor surface marks by buffing or burnishing the floor. But serious scratches, heavy scuffing, and even wear call for refinishing.

Yellowed or Discoloured Finish

The old floor finish becomes discoloured with age, particularly where there have been too many applications made without removing the previous layers. Our floor stripping service will remove the discoloured finish and reveal the original VCT underneath.

Peeling, Flaking, or Uneven Coating

Flaking floor finish indicates that the protective coating is beginning to break down. This could be due to several factors including moisture exposure, poor preparation, wrong chemicals, or multiple applications on contaminated floors.

What Factors Affect the Refinishing Schedule?

There are various factors that determine the frequency of resurfacing of commercial vinyl composite tile flooring.

The most prominent factors are the frequency of movement on the floor, weather elements, frequency of cleaning, floor care products used, entrance mats, movement of furniture, and the number of coats of finish previously put.

Ontario companies might have another factor contributing to floor wear during winter

season. Snow, moisture, sand, and de-icing salt may be brought inside and affect the floor finish.

How to Extend the Life of Your VCT Floor Finish

With proper maintenance, the life of the professionally refurbished floor can be prolonged.

Follow a Consistent Cleaning Routine

Daily cleaning is required to eliminate loose dust because sand and grit particles work

as an abrasive under the shoes and equipment. Neutral floor cleaner should be used for the finished VCT flooring.

Use Entrance Mats

Entrance mats will catch the moisture, salt, and dust, which will prevent them from reaching the flooring. The entrance mats must be cleaned often to ensure that they don't get overloaded with the dirt.

Schedule Buffing or Burnishing

Buffing and high-speed burnishing can minimize scratches and restore the gloss between complete refinishing treatments. It will delay the necessity for stripping until

the bottom finish is in decent condition.

Avoid Harsh Cleaning Chemicals

Aggressive chemicals and wrong floor cleaner can soften, mat down or damage the

finish. It is necessary to follow the instructions of your professional floor care company.

Why Choose Railway City Carpet Cleaning?

Railway City Carpet Cleaning offers tailored commercial floor cleaning services for VCT

and terrazzo floors in the St. Thomas area and nearby.

We consider the type of flooring, traffic, current finish, damage to the floor, and maintenance before offering a service. We employ commercial floor care products and professional equipment to strip away previous build-up and leave behind a smooth finish.

Additionally, we provide flexible scheduling to accommodate schools, offices, clinics, retail shops, industrial buildings, and community places.

Schedule a Professional VCT Floor Inspection

Not all commercial floors have the same refinishing schedule. Although some VCT floors may require stripping and refinishing after 12 to 24 months, other heavily used floors may require servicing at shorter intervals.

If you see dullness, scratches, yellowing, and hard-to-clean floors, Railway City Carpet Cleaning will conduct an inspection and offer a proper solution. Call Railway City Carpet Cleaning to obtain a free quote for professional VCT floor stripping and refinishing in St. Thomas, London, Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Aylmer, and surrounding areas.