There comes a point in the life of a polished vinyl floor when scrubbing stops working. The floor is cleaned every week, the mop water goes grey, and an hour later it looks as dull as before. The gloss is patchy, the corners have a yellow tint and black marks seem to sit under the surface. At that stage the floor is not dirty in the usual sense. The finish on top of it has worn, discoloured and trapped dirt, and no amount of ordinary cleaning will fix that. Commercial floor deep cleaning services handle this problem with a process called stripping and resealing, and it is worth understanding what it involves before you book it.
This guide describes the signs that a vinyl floor needs more than a scrub, what the job involves from start to finish, how long the area is out of use and how often it is usually needed. It describes the general process only, and the right approach for your floor depends on the product and the maker’s advice.
What the finish is and why it wears
Many commercial vinyl floors are protected with a layer of polish or seal on top of the vinyl. It adds shine, makes the floor easier to clean and takes the wear that would otherwise scuff the vinyl itself. In effect, it is a sacrificial layer. Footfall, grit, wheeled trolleys and cleaning chemicals wear it away gradually.
When the layer is thin, it shows. Walkways go dull while the edges stay glossy. When the layer is old, it picks up dirt that cannot be removed by washing, because the dirt is now embedded in the finish. Applying more polish on top of that does not help, because it only seals the dirt in.
Not every vinyl floor is polished. Some modern floors have a factory-applied surface that does not need polish, and some manufacturers advise against it. Check the maker’s care guide before any stripping, because the wrong approach can damage a floor that was never meant to be treated.
Signs that a floor needs stripping and resealing
A few signs point to a finish that has reached the end of its life.
Yellowing
Old polish often turns yellow or amber, especially along edges, under furniture and in corners where mops do not reach. It can make a pale floor look dirty, even when it is clean.
Patchy gloss
If the traffic lanes are dull while the rest is shiny, the finish has worn through in places. Buffing may bring back some shine, but if it fades quickly, the layer is too thin.
Black marks under the finish
Heel marks and scuffs that sit beneath the surface of the polish cannot be removed by washing. They were trapped by earlier coats.
Sticky or tacky residue
Layers of polish and cleaner residue can build up into a film that feels slightly sticky and collects dirt. Mops drag instead of glide.
Dirty edges and corners
Where polish has built up in thick layers along skirting and around fixtures, it often looks dark and uneven.
Cleaning no longer holds
If a scrub restores the floor for only a day or two, the problem is probably the finish, not the dirt.
If you see several of these signs together, it is time to ask a floor specialist to look at the floor. They can test a small area, identify the type of finish and tell you whether stripping is the right answer.
What the job involves
Stripping and resealing is a process in stages. The general method used across the trade runs along these lines.
Preparation
The area is cleared of furniture, stock and equipment, or the work is divided into sections so that parts of the premises can stay in use. Wet floor signs and barriers go up. Edges, door frames and the base of walls are protected, and the team checks that drains and power points are covered.
Stripping
A stripper solution is applied to the floor and left for the dwell time on its label, which allows it to soften the old finish. A machine fitted with a suitable pad then agitates the surface, and the slurry of dissolved polish and dirt is lifted by a wet vacuum or scrubber-dryer. Edges and corners are done by hand with a smaller tool.
Neutralising and rinsing
Stripper leaves an alkaline residue. The floor is rinsed with clean water, often more than once, to neutralise and remove it. This is a critical step. Residue left on the floor can stop the new seal from bonding or can cause it to cloud or peel.
Drying
The floor must be completely dry before new seal is applied. Seals applied to a damp floor can turn white or fail to adhere. Drying time depends on ventilation, temperature and the product.
Applying the seal
Several thin coats of seal or polish are applied, each allowed to dry before the next. The number of coats depends on the product and the traffic. Thin coats cure better than thick ones, which is why the process takes time.
Curing
The finished floor needs time before it can take full traffic. It may be walkable fairly soon but should be protected from heavy loads, wheeled equipment and wet cleaning for the period the manufacturer advises. During that time, the finish continues to harden.
How long the area is out of use
The honest answer is that it varies. The job is slower than most people expect, because of the dwell times, the drying and the multiple coats. Plan for the following.
- Stripping and rinsing can usually be done in a day for a modest area, but a large floor may need longer or may be done in stages.
- Drying and sealing add more time, and the coats need drying between them.
- Light foot traffic may be possible soon after the final coat, but heavy use and wet cleaning must wait.
Many businesses schedule the work over a weekend or a closure, or section by section during quiet periods. Ask your provider for a written timetable, including when each area can be used again.
How often is it needed
There is no fixed rule. The need depends on the traffic, the type of finish and how well the floor is maintained in between. A well-looked-after floor with regular maintenance, entrance matting and appropriate products may go much longer between strips than a neglected floor. Some businesses strip and reseal annually, and others every few years, and many do it only when the signs appear.
The best way to extend the time between strips is routine care. Regular sweeping, damp mopping with a suitable neutral cleaner, periodic machine scrubbing and good matting all slow the build-up of damage. Some contracts include periodic topping up of the finish by light recoating, which can delay the need for a full strip. If a floor keeps failing even after a fresh finish, the cause may be underneath it, such as damp or an uneven subfloor, and that needs a flooring contractor, not a cleaner.
Manufacturer guidance
Flooring manufacturers publish care and maintenance guides for their products, and these should be your first reference. Polyflor is a UK vinyl flooring manufacturer, and its site offers product and maintenance information. If you know the make and range of your floor, look for its care guide. Some floors need no polish at all, some need specific products and some limit the use of strippers. A provider that asks which floor you have is doing the right thing.
Choosing a provider
Ask a few questions before you agree to the work.
- Have you stripped and sealed this type of floor before?
- Can you test a small area first and show me the result?
- What products will you use, and are they suitable for my floor?
- How will you protect skirting, fixtures and neighbouring floors?
- How long will each stage take, and when can the floor be used?
- What aftercare do you recommend?
The floor cleaning page describes the service offered, and the deep cleaning page explains how a wider clean can be arranged around it. For other services that sit alongside floor work, the commercial cleaning overview is a good place to start.
Aftercare
After a new seal goes down, look after it. Put mats at entrances, and keep them clean. Do not use abrasive pads or harsh chemicals. Clean with the products recommended for the finish, and follow the instructions about dilution. Use felt or soft pads under furniture. Clean up spills quickly. Review the floor after a few weeks, and report any marks or cloudiness while the provider can still put them right.
Questions about stripping and resealing
Can I just apply another coat of polish?
Only if the old finish is in good condition. Adding polish over worn, yellowed or dirty finish seals the problem in and usually looks worse.
Will stripping damage my vinyl floor?
Done correctly with suitable products, it should not. Check the maker’s advice, and ask the provider to test a small area first.
Why does the floor need so long to dry before sealing?
Seal applied to a damp floor can cloud or fail to bond. Proper drying is part of getting a lasting finish.
How do I know if my floor should be polished at all?
Check the manufacturer’s care guide. Some floors have a factory surface that should not be polished.