Floor Stripping & Waxing
Complete strip-down and fresh wax application for VCT, vinyl, and hard surface commercial floors. Restore that showroom shine.
What Is Floor Stripping and Waxing?
Floor stripping and waxing is the complete removal of all old floor finish layers down to the bare surface, followed by the application of multiple fresh coats of high-quality commercial floor wax. It is the most thorough floor restoration process available for VCT, vinyl, linoleum, and other hard-surface commercial floors. At MB Clean Solutions, we perform professional stripping and waxing services for commercial properties throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, transforming dull, yellowed, scuffed floors into smooth, high-gloss surfaces that look brand new.
Over time, floor wax breaks down. Foot traffic wears through the top layers, cleaning chemicals degrade the finish, and dirt becomes trapped between wax coats, creating a buildup that looks dirty no matter how often you mop. In South Florida, this degradation happens faster than in most regions. The high humidity causes moisture to become trapped under the wax, leading to hazing, yellowing, and peeling. Sand tracked in from beaches and parking lots acts as a constant abrasive, wearing through finish coats at an accelerated rate. Salt air from the Atlantic and Gulf corrodes floor finishes from the molecular level. When your floors reach this point, no amount of buffing or top-coating will restore them. You need a full strip and wax.
Our stripping and waxing service is priced between $0.85 and $1.80 per square foot, depending on the number of existing wax layers to remove, the floor condition underneath, the size of the area, and the number of fresh coats required. A floor with 3–4 layers of old wax in an accessible open area will be at the lower end; a floor with 10+ layers of buildup, heavy staining, or a complex layout with many edges and obstacles will be at the higher end. Every project begins with a free on-site assessment where we evaluate your floors and provide an exact, no-surprise quote.
Whether you manage an office building in downtown Miami, a medical clinic in Plantation, a school in Pompano Beach, or a church in West Palm Beach, MB Clean Solutions delivers stripping and waxing results that dramatically improve the appearance and professionalism of your space.
When Do Your Floors Need Stripping and Waxing?
Not every floor cleaning situation calls for a full strip and wax. It's a more intensive (and more expensive) process than maintenance scrubbing, so understanding when it's truly needed versus when a simpler service will suffice is important. Here are the telltale signs that your commercial floors need a complete stripping and waxing:
Yellowing or Discoloration: When old wax layers turn yellow or develop an uneven color, the finish has oxidized and degraded beyond what buffing can correct. This yellowing is especially common in South Florida where UV light penetrating through windows and glass storefronts accelerates the chemical breakdown of floor finish.
Visible Wax Buildup Along Edges: Look at the baseboards and corners of your floors. If you see thick, waxy ridges along the edges where old coats have accumulated and turned dark, it's time for a strip. Mopping and buffing only address the middle of the floor; edges accumulate layers that never get worn down by traffic.
Black Scuff Marks That Won't Buff Out: Surface scuffs can usually be removed with a high-speed burnisher. But when scuffs are embedded deep into multiple wax layers, they become permanent unless you strip down to bare floor and start fresh.
Peeling, Flaking, or Powdering Finish: When the wax starts to peel away from the floor or turns to a white powder under foot traffic, the adhesion between the finish and the floor surface has failed. This is often caused by moisture trapped underneath, a common problem in South Florida's humid environment, particularly in ground-floor spaces and buildings near the coast from Miami Beach to Jupiter.
Dull Appearance Despite Regular Maintenance: If you're buffing and applying top coats regularly but the floor still looks dull and lifeless, there are too many old layers creating a barrier that new finish can't bond to properly. Stripping removes all those old layers and gives fresh wax a clean bonding surface.
Tenant Turnover or Lease Inspection: Property managers across Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties frequently schedule strip and wax projects between tenants. A freshly stripped and waxed floor dramatically improves the showing condition of commercial spaces, helping attract quality tenants and pass inspection with flying colors.
Compliance Requirements: Healthcare facilities, schools, daycare centers, and food service operations often have regulatory requirements for floor maintenance standards. A professional strip and wax ensures your floors meet or exceed these standards.
Our Professional Stripping and Waxing Process
At MB Clean Solutions, our stripping and waxing process follows a meticulous, multi-step protocol that ensures a flawless finish every time. This isn't a service you want to cut corners on. Improper stripping can damage the floor, and improper waxing leads to premature failure. Our experienced team has performed thousands of strip and wax projects across South Florida and knows exactly how to handle every scenario.
Phase 1: Floor Assessment & Preparation: We begin by assessing the floor's current condition, identifying the floor type, counting approximate wax layers, and noting any damage, staining, or problem areas. We then prepare the space by dust mopping, moving furniture, taping off baseboards, and placing dam towels along walls and thresholds to prevent stripping solution from spreading to adjacent areas.
Phase 2: Chemical Stripping: We apply commercial-grade floor stripping solution using a mop or low-pressure sprayer, ensuring even coverage across the entire floor. The stripper needs dwell time, typically 10–20 minutes, to penetrate and dissolve all layers of old wax. We do not let the stripper dry on the floor, as this can leave residue and require re-application. For floors with heavy buildup (10+ coats), we may apply the stripper in two passes.
Phase 3: Machine Agitation & Removal: Using a rotary floor machine equipped with an aggressive stripping pad (typically black), we scrub the entire floor to agitate the dissolved wax and lift it from the surface. The slurry of dissolved finish and dirt is then extracted using a wet vacuum or auto-scrubber. This step may be repeated for floors with particularly heavy buildup. Edges and corners are stripped by hand using doodle pads and hand scrapers.
Phase 4: Neutralization & Rinse: After stripping, chemical residue must be completely neutralized and removed. We perform a minimum of two clean-water rinse passes across the entire floor, using a clean mop and fresh water each time. Any stripping chemical left behind will prevent new wax from bonding properly, so we are meticulous about this step. We verify the pH of the rinsed floor surface to confirm neutralization.
Phase 5: Wax Application: Once the floor is clean, dry, and neutralized, we begin applying fresh floor finish. We use high-quality, commercial-grade acrylic floor finish, applied with a clean finish mop in thin, even coats. Each coat must dry completely before the next is applied, typically 30–45 minutes per coat in South Florida's humidity, though we use air movers to accelerate dry time. We apply a minimum of 4 coats, with high-traffic areas receiving 5–6 coats for extra durability.
Phase 6: Optional Burnishing & Inspection: For an ultra-high-gloss "wet look" finish, we burnish the final coat with a high-speed propane or electric burnisher once fully cured. We then conduct a thorough inspection, checking for drips, missed spots, or imperfections, and address anything that doesn't meet our standard before signing off on the project.
Why Choose MB Clean Solutions for Stripping and Waxing?
Stripping and waxing is one of the most skill-dependent floor care services. The difference between a professional job and an amateur one is immediately visible, and the consequences of a poor job can include damaged floors, premature finish failure, and the need to redo the entire project. Here's why commercial property managers across South Florida trust MB Clean Solutions for their strip and wax needs.
Experienced Floor Care Professionals: Our team has stripped and waxed thousands of commercial floors across every type of facility in the tri-county area. We've seen every floor condition imaginable, from 20-year-old VCT with dozens of wax layers to brand-new luxury vinyl that needs its first protective coats. This experience means we know exactly how to approach your specific situation for the best results.
Premium Products, Not Cheap Shortcuts: We use top-tier commercial floor finish that delivers a durable, high-gloss result lasting 6–12 months depending on traffic. Cheap floor wax might save a few dollars per gallon but yellows faster, scuffs easier, and needs replacing sooner, ultimately costing more. We also use commercial-grade strippers that dissolve old wax efficiently without damaging the floor substrate.
Transparent Pricing at $0.85–$1.80/sqft: We don't hide our pricing or inflate quotes. Our stripping and waxing ranges from $0.85 to $1.80 per square foot, and your exact price depends on measurable factors: number of old layers, floor condition, area size, and coat count. We determine all of this during our free on-site assessment, so you know exactly what you're paying for before we begin.
South Florida Climate Expertise: Humidity is the enemy of floor wax. In South Florida's 70–90% relative humidity, wax takes longer to dry, is more susceptible to hazing, and can trap moisture against the floor surface. We account for this by using air movers between coats, selecting humidity-resistant finish formulations, and timing our application to achieve optimal results in our tropical climate. This is knowledge that out-of-state franchises and inexperienced operators simply don't have.
Minimal Business Disruption: We understand that stripping and waxing takes time, typically 1–3 days depending on the size of the space and number of coats. We schedule our work around your operations, whether that means evenings, overnight shifts, or weekend marathons. For large commercial spaces, we can section the work so portions of the building remain accessible while we work on others. From Kendall to Delray Beach, we work when it's most convenient for your business.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee: As with all our services, we guarantee your satisfaction. If any area of the stripped and waxed floor doesn't meet your expectations, we address it at no additional charge.
What's Included
Real Results
Floor Stripping & Waxing
Our Process
Free Floor Assessment
We examine your floors in person, count the approximate wax layers, assess overall condition, and measure the area to provide an accurate quote within our $0.85–$1.80/sqft range. Always free, no obligation.
Complete Chemical Stripping
We apply commercial-grade stripping solution, allow proper dwell time, machine scrub to dissolve all old finish, and extract the slurry. Edges and corners are stripped by hand. The floor is then rinsed and neutralized to bare surface.
Multi-Coat Wax Application
We apply 4–6 thin, even coats of premium commercial floor finish, allowing full dry time between each coat. Air movers accelerate drying in South Florida's humidity. High-traffic zones receive extra coats for maximum durability.
Burnishing & Final Walkthrough
Once fully cured, we optionally burnish for an ultra-high-gloss finish. We then walk through the entire floor with you, verifying every area meets your expectations. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Pricing
Floor Stripping & Waxing
Prices vary based on surface condition, square footage, accessibility, and project scope. Request a free on-site assessment for an accurate quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
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