Eagan VCT floors need strip-and-wax annually for light-traffic and twice yearly for heavy-traffic. Cost runs $0.45 to $0.90 per sq ft. Burnishing weekly or bi-weekly between strip-and-wax extends finish life and maintains gloss.
VCT Strip and Wax Cycle by Traffic Level
Light-traffic Eagan offices (corporate offices, professional services) typically need VCT strip-and-wax annually. Heavy-traffic offices (retail, schools, medical reception) need it every 4 to 6 months. Food service and grocery floors with daily mopping and spill exposure can need stripping every 3 months. The triggering signs: the wax appearance dulls, scuffs and scratches accumulate, or the wax color yellows from daily traffic and chemical exposure. Annual photographic documentation makes the timing decision objective.
What Strip and Wax Actually Involves
VCT strip-and-wax is a multi-step process. Step 1: apply alkaline stripper solution and let it dwell 5 to 15 minutes. Step 2: agitate with floor machine and stripping pad, then pick up the slurry with shop vacuum. Step 3: rinse the floor with neutral pH cleaner to remove all stripper residue. Step 4: apply 4 to 5 thin coats of commercial-grade acrylic finish wax with a flat mop, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Step 5: burnish the final coat to gloss with a high-speed burnisher. Total time on a 2000 sq ft VCT floor is 8 to 14 hours.
Burnishing: Maintenance Between Strip Cycles
Burnishing between strip-and-wax cycles maintains the gloss and removes minor scuffs without removing the wax layer. A high-speed burnisher (1500+ RPM) heat-melts the top layer of wax slightly, refilling micro-scratches and bringing the gloss back. Eagan offices typically schedule burnishing weekly or bi-weekly between strip-and-wax cycles. Bi-weekly burnishing on a typical wax cycle extends strip-and-wax interval by 30 to 50 percent.
Daily VCT Cleaning Determines Wax Life
Daily cleaning determines wax life as much as the strip-and-wax cycle does. Sweep or dust mop daily to remove dirt and debris that scratches the wax. Damp mop with neutral pH cleaner (not soap or floor cleaner) to lift fine dirt without leaving residue that damages the wax. Avoid acidic or strongly alkaline cleaners that strip wax incrementally. Spot clean spills immediately. Daily cleaning kept to this standard extends wax life from 6 months to 12 months on most Eagan floors.
Eagan VCT Floor Care Cost in 2026
Eagan VCT floor care 2026 pricing: strip-and-wax runs $0.45 to $0.90 per sq ft. Burnishing runs $0.10 to $0.20 per sq ft per visit. Daily cleaning is part of the standard office cleaning contract; we don't charge separately for VCT daily care unless the building has unusual traffic levels. Combined annual VCT maintenance for a typical 5000 sq ft Eagan office (one strip-and-wax plus 26 burnishing visits) runs $4,000 to $7,500 depending on traffic.
Eagan Commercial Cleaning FAQ
How often should VCT floors be stripped and waxed in Eagan offices?
Light-traffic offices: annually. Heavy-traffic offices and retail: every 4 to 6 months. Medical and food service: every 3 to 6 months. The visual triggers (dulling, scuffs, yellowing) indicate when it's needed.
How much does it cost to strip and wax a VCT floor in Eagan?
Eagan VCT strip and wax runs $0.45 to $0.90 per sq ft. 2000 sq ft floor: $900 to $1,800. Larger spaces price by-sq-ft with some economies of scale on full-day jobs.
How long does the floor need to dry after strip and wax?
2 hours for foot traffic. 24 hours for full cure (no wheeled traffic, dragging chairs, or heavy furniture during cure). Best to schedule strip and wax for Friday night through Sunday morning so the floor is fully cured by Monday.
Will burnishing replace strip and wax?
No. Burnishing maintains wax gloss between strip-and-wax cycles but doesn't remove old wax buildup. Eventually old wax needs to come off; that's strip and wax. Bi-weekly burnishing extends strip-and-wax interval by 30 to 50 percent but doesn't eliminate it.
Can you do VCT strip and wax during business hours?
No. The floor needs to be empty during stripping (no foot traffic, no chairs, no equipment). We schedule strip-and-wax for after-hours or weekends. Burnishing can happen during business hours in unoccupied sections of the office.
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