Retail Store VCT Strip & Wax — High-Traffic Floor Restoration in Tampa Palms

A retail store with 4,200 sq ft of VCT flooring had floor finish that was yellowed, scuffed, and worn through in high-traffic areas near the entrance and checkout. The existing wax had been applied unevenly and was lifting in places. The store manager wanted a mirror-like finish that would hold up to daily retail foot traffic and shopping cart use.

We performed a complete strip and wax process. First, we applied a commercial floor stripper and used a floor machine with a black stripping pad to remove all existing finish layers. The slurry was recovered with a wet vacuum. After thoroughly rinsing and neutralizing the floor, we applied 5 coats of a high-solids commercial floor finish, allowing proper dry time between each coat. Finally, we performed a high-speed burnish to achieve a mirror-like shine.

The project needed to be completed overnight to avoid store closure. We started at 9 PM after the store closed and had to be finished by 7 AM before opening. The stripping process generates a lot of liquid, so we worked in sections and used a wet vacuum continuously. Another challenge was temperature and humidity — Florida humidity can slow finish drying, so we deployed commercial dehumidifiers to maintain optimal drying conditions.

The VCT floor was restored to a brilliant, mirror-like finish. The store manager reported that the new finish made the store look brighter and more inviting, and the burnished surface was significantly easier to maintain with daily dust mopping. The high-solids finish is rated for 12-18 months of commercial traffic before requiring a top-coat refresh. We completed the entire project between 9 PM and 6:30 AM — ahead of the 7 AM opening deadline.

Services Performed