Strip and deep clean a 9,300 sq ft floor, feed back on quote requested

Carina in Tampa, Florida said: Hello,
I need some quick feed back on where my price range should be for a retail floor:9,300 all tile, a deep clean strip job, they don;t want wax, but maybe a protective sealant that absorbs into tiles. Not a whole lot of moving display units. I estimate the job with a large floor machine that has a 28" clean path and squeegies and a crew of 3 will take about 10 hrs.
The floor is not in bad shape at all, just a little discolored wax build up from last application in some visible spots.

Can any one tell me what the price range should be either per square ft of the whole job. I know where I want to be, but don't want to under bid or over bid of course. I guess the usual dilemma when you are new to this...
I appreciate any feedback!!
Thanks,
Carina

hey my name is rick most janitorial companies are getting around 30 to 50 a square my self i charge 30cents

rich1942 in Florence, Massachusetts said: hello... my name is Richard. i noticed that a VCT floor i have been cleaning the sealant or wax is wearing out. the prevous cleaner used crappy cleaning solutions...the owner doesn't want to strip yet he wants to wait unitl early spring... how can i save this floor with out stripping?

should buff and seal the floors for now?

please help.

thank you

Say, what works good for my company, is to spray buff using a high speed burnisher. Depending if you get salt on it or not from winter months, you then might repeat monthly. Then, instead of wet mopping for daily maint. try using a micro fiber mop by spraying a diluted nuetral floor cleaner. You'll find the floor looks pretty good, then looks great after buffing. Then later on you can convince building manager or owner that stripping and waxing would be wise after time.

Paul in Verona, Wisconsin said: Say, what works good for my company, is to spray buff using a high speed burnisher. Depending if you get salt on it or not from winter months, you then might repeat monthly. Then, instead of wet mopping for daily maint. try using a micro fiber mop by spraying a diluted nuetral floor cleaner. You'll find the floor looks pretty good, then looks great after buffing. Then later on you can convince building manager or owner that stripping and waxing would be wise after time.

thank you!

Mike,
It sounds like you know what your doing. I have a customer who has 3 different locations all within 15 miles of my office. What would be a good rate for the following?

Location 1) strip & wax 12,900 SF of VCT
Location 2) strip & wax 4,300 SF of VCT
Location 3) clean (extractor) 12,000 SF of carpet

Also, one last question. What is the difference between "strip & wax" and "scrub & wax"?

Thanks for your time

Mike in Center Barnstead, New Hampshire said: 9300 sq in 10 hours? Are you human? You should only strip 250 sq at a time. The stripper takes 5-15 minutes to set. Then you have to scrape edges. Your auto-scrubber will help but you will need to rinse it with a ph balance and/or give it 3-5 rinses. BASICALLY UNTIL ALL THE SLURRY IS RINSED AWAY OR IT WILL BURN THE TILES AND EAT ANY SEALER YOU ARE COVERING IT WITH. Sorry about caps. Waxing a VCT floor isnt really an option if you want it to last. I wouldn't do a job that didnt use 4 coats minimum. Then theres the application process which is very time consuming as you watch wax or sealer dry. If after this explanation they insist on sealer only, 2 coats at least. If they bite on the wax the go .25 per sq ft. if it is only strip and seal, .10 per sq. Lastly, a 9300 sq floor probably isn't the floor to be learning on. Sloppy work shows easily. 10 hours, lol. I finishes a 7500 sq today that took me 27 hours by myself but Ive been at this about 6 years. good luck!

Mike,
It sounds like you know what your doing. I have a customer who has 3 different locations all within 15 miles of my office. What would be a good rate for the following?

Location 1) strip & wax 12,900 SF of VCT
Location 2) strip & wax 4,300 SF of VCT
Location 3) clean (extractor) 12,000 SF of carpet

Also, one last question. What is the difference between "strip & wax" and "scrub & wax"?

Thanks for your time

Keith in WH in Winter Haven, Florida said: Mike,
It sounds like you know what your doing. I have a customer who has 3 different locations all within 15 miles of my office. What would be a good rate for the following?

Location 1) strip & wax 12,900 SF of VCT
Location 2) strip & wax 4,300 SF of VCT
Location 3) clean (extractor) 12,000 SF of carpet

Also, one last question. What is the difference between "strip & wax" and "scrub & wax"?

Thanks for your time

Ok, To start, scrub and wax is done by using an auto-scrubber with a non marking floor cleaning solution. This is for regular maintainence of supermarkets and the like. That's how they keep the floors so shiny. Ideally, you should be able to read the product label on the floor and overall brighten the place up.The auto-scrubber takes the top layer of wax only. Then you apply one coat and buff it out. Stripping and waxing is done Twice a year. This process takes all the wax and sealer off down to the bare VCT. 5 well trained, smooth running guys can scrub and wax a normal size supermarket such as Publix or Winn-Dixie in 1, 10 hour shift. Stripping and waxing the same guys could do 3-4 aisles or, say, the whole front. I use a propane stripper and propane burnisher. So the real money isn't made with the stripping, its made with regular maintainence. The general rate for stripping and waxing is .35-.60 sq ft. If you are not getting the maintainence you would go on the higher end. Maintainence would be based on man hours. Carpet cleaning is competitive, about $100 per 1000sq ft. Again it depends on if it's one time or regular service. Feel free to email me directly if you have more questions that1guy@37.com

The advice is very good! Let me ask a couple of dumb questions. I have 4 10000sq foot stores that want a price ASAP for strip and wax. Do you actually charge for the sq foot of the store or the tile itself? I am thinking aisles take up about 30 percent of the sales floor. 35-60 cents a square foot sounds very high-heard .17 to .22 on another sight. Thank you in advance!

Thanks so much for your prompt reply!!

I have a contract for a VCT strip, seal and wax. I have since done that but would like to really make it shine and just regularly keep it shinning. I'm in Toronto. What can I do to achieve this. I'd like to have it SHINE till it looks like glass. I thought after the wxing it'd be shinning but I've seen better like in shops and hospitals. That's the sie I hope to achieve. Any help would be appreciated.

Try using a high speed burnisher.

I only spray buff (with a side to side) in areas that don't permit the high speed burnisher. That's only because the burnisher is faster though. Good luck!

Hello,

I wanted to know whats the going rate in California for striping & waxing floors per sq. foot? And I would also like to know is it the same price for buffing the floor? I just started my own business so I'm new at this, but have been doing this work for 6 years.

Is there a flat rate for vaccuming office building or is it based on sq foot? If so, how much do I charge per sq foot?

My email is ClassyCleanup@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Tony

is there any body that does in tampa what is the going rate for cleaning windows

Happy New Year! I have been stripping and waxing for 10+ years. My current boss says I'm not getting enouch done nightly. There is me and sometimes one other for an eight hour night. We work around people all night. All kickplates, walls, covebasesing, furniture and anything that has wax on it must be cleaned. Then two coats of sealer and three coats of wax to finish. Question? how much floor should one or two people get done a night. Thank-You, RoyAnne

rich1942 in Florence, Massachusetts said: hello... my name is Richard. i noticed that a VCT floor i have been cleaning the sealant or wax is wearing out. the prevous cleaner used crappy cleaning solutions...the owner doesn't want to strip yet he wants to wait unitl early spring... how can i save this floor with out stripping?

should buff and seal the floors for now?

please help.

thank you

Use soap and water with red pad and soft scrub the floor.Then apply one or two thin coats of wax. With regular buffing it will last until spring. You may have to repeat the process once more before spring, but your boss will love it..... richardwatts225@yahoo.com

I agree with Richard on this with the exception of multiple coats. I would apply one at a time and maybe do it 3 or 4 times.

The two thin coats will also cover the wax that may be removed durin the soft scrub. It will also give the floor a better shine after buffing

I worked for the N.Y.C.D.O.E (321) AS a custodian. 5years experienced That job will run you about a day and a half. my price that i will charge you is 1,500!!!!!! cant beat that

Can you achieve a glass-like finisher with a high speed and not a propane high speed?
What is the amount of coats needed to achieve glass-like finish?

Jerry in Oxnard, California said: Can you achieve a glass-like finisher with a high speed and not a propane high speed?
What is the amount of coats needed to achieve glass-like finish?

You can obtain a glass like finish with ANY buffing method. I would apply 2 coats of sealer, then buff that. Next, apply 2 coats of at least 25% solids wax and buff again. If you want to see lasting protection, apply 1 more coat of wax and buff again. This will give you a long lasting, mirror like finsh. Good luck. This is the method I just used at a children's psych ward where I was not able to use my propane burnisher so I used a high speed electric burnisher. I do not recommend using a side to side unless time is of no concern. I really don't ever use a side to side except while stripping in places I can't use my propane stripper.

Can any one help with a price on 26,500 sq ft new vct wax job

Thank you for ur time u r a real asset to this site

hello i got a job to strip and wax a floor at a gym and i realy dont know how to price it out i have a 300 hundred foot floor now i would like to know how do i price that do i times 300X12=3600 sq feet and then 3600x.35 witch equals $1.260??

Length times width equal sq ft. Is the gym 12 ft wide? Take your square footage times the amount you are charging for the job. Your math above should have equaled $1260.00? Hope this helps.

you need the square footage. if it is 300 sq then 1260 is your price. You have peaked my curiosity though, I have never seen a VCT floor in a gym. Usually they are wooden, n which case you should not use wax...

Hello people. My first time here, looks like a good site for tips. I have been in business for 10 years doing small locations where floors are done with a swing machine. I have recently gotten a 70,000' store and want to know if a propane stripping machine is the way. I have the auto scrubbers n propane burnishers but have not used the propane stripping way......Thx for ur input

I just got offered to bid on 3000sqft VCT floor and it is a regular maintenance they want me to buff each month
strip & wax once a year and I think buff & wax every 6 months.
What should i charge and are these the steps that you would take?

if you are looking at this i need your help. Thanks for you time

David in Borden, Indiana said: I just got offered to bid on 3000sqft VCT floor and it is a regular maintenance they want me to buff each month
strip & wax once a year and I think buff & wax every 6 months.
What should i charge and are these the steps that you would take?

if you are looking at this i need your help. Thanks for you time

what else are you doing in the contract.

That is it and they have provide the chemicals and they have the buffer.

and i would like to thank you for you're reply i wish i could help you out in return but i do hardwood floors and do not know much about this industry.

kaslo in Fort Saint John, British Columbia said: what else are you doing in the contract.

That is it and they have provide the chemicals and they have the buffer.

and i would like to thank you for you're reply i wish i could help you out in return, but i do hardwood floors and do not know much about this industry.

kaslo in Fort Saint John, British Columbia said: what else are you doing in the contract.

Buffing 1x a month- 40-60 $$$
Buff and wax- .15-.25 per foot
Strip n wax-.40-.60 per foot

Hope this helps.

kaslo in Quesnel, British Columbia said: Hello people. My first time here, looks like a good site for tips. I have been in business for 10 years doing small locations where floors are done with a swing machine. I have recently gotten a 70,000' store and want to know if a propane stripping machine is the way. I have the auto scrubbers n propane burnishers but have not used the propane stripping way......Thx for ur input

@70k sq, I wouldn't even start without the propane stripper! That job will pay for so Id go for it. I love mine, it saves huge on man hours and gets the wax right up

David in Borden, Indiana said: I just got offered to bid on 3000sqft VCT floor and it is a regular maintenance they want me to buff each month
strip & wax once a year and I think buff & wax every 6 months.
What should i charge and are these the steps that you would take?

if you are looking at this i need your help. Thanks for you time

$.35 sq ft to strip and wax, $60 for monthly buff, $.19-.22 to scrup and wax. Hope that helps.

Hahahaha....

You might get .50 an hour because everything costs more in the NE U.S., but you sure as crap won't get that rate in most parts of the nation. Heck you can diamond polish concrete floors for .50 p/sq. And that's 12 steps each sq.

You simply aren't going to get $25,000 for a 50,000 sq strip and wax job. LOL...not gonna happen. NOT!

Here is how I do it:

You need to take into consideration how many people you use a night...and what those people need to make a night to get the best efforts out of them. If you intend to be one of the workers, do the same for yourself.

Estimate how many nights. Add in chems, gas, propane, equipment wear n tear, etc... and any other costs. Add it all up.

Add 20% to that total if you are new to this...add 5% if you know what you are doing. You should then be at 'cost basis.'

Finally simply add your profit percentage, whatever that is, and there you are. How do you determine your profit percentage? That's entirely up to you. 20% is a dang good rate in this biz. And since you already included yourself in step one, that profit should be put back into the business for costs and growth.

Just set a job MINIMUM of say $400. That should cover any job up to 1,500 sq. Drop by a penny or 2 every few thousand sq.ft.

Anything above 50K you should be at .10 for 4 coats.

In ALL jobs, productivity is profit. Strip / Wax as many sq. as you can with precise planning and rapid execution. This is where good equipment comes into play.

And RULE #2... Never do a job by yourself. I don't care what anyone else says. A one worker strip crew is the most inefficient system you could ever think of. Totally the definition of inefficiency.

Save the small jobs when you can double your work sites in one night. 1 guy jobs may put ALL the $ in your pocket but you will never ever grow beyond a one man crew with this type of thinking.

Plus, you'll never get from behind that dang mop...lol.

kaslo in Quesnel, British Columbia said: Hello people. My first time here, looks like a good site for tips. I have been in business for 10 years doing small locations where floors are done with a swing machine. I have recently gotten a 70,000' store and want to know if a propane stripping machine is the way. I have the auto scrubbers n propane burnishers but have not used the propane stripping way......Thx for ur input

---------------------

If this is a 1X job, I wouldn't invest in the propane strippers. I would stick with an autoscrubber. If you can rent a power stripper, then yes, you should use it.

However the secret to success with these monster machines is TO KEEP IT RUNNING ALL NIGHT...NEVER SHUT IT OFF EXCEPT TO CHANGE PROPANE TANKS!

If you intend to get serious with your business and do large jobs or a lot of small jobs on a nightly basis, then yes, you should look into these power machines.

Just remember though to keep it running...otherwise you defeat the purpose. Usually you need a 3 man crew to accomplish this and get the full benefits from it. You almost need a full time person laying down the stripper in advance so the power machine never stops.

I run 5 SideWinder 32" propane machines at once on the big box retailers. We can knock out a KMart in 3 nights.

: )

652

Ronald 2196 in Gastonia, North Carolina said: 652

652???

Perhaps these are the security numbers you had to type in to post?

What about if store want to get clean just all edges ( 1inch from baseboard ). Last company didn't clean up corners when they strip and they put wax over dirty corners. How much can I charge for that? I have no idea how long will take, (MAYBE 50hours), but I know that for strip store they paid $2,500.

Your question is a bit confusing.

When I sell a strip, it includes all the edges. What it does NOT include are the covebase or baseboard themselves...no vertical spaces.

If they are asking you to do just the edges and not the floor, odds are you hit them too high on the job.

This can be a messy adventure...not sure if its worth it to either party. FIrst you gotta strip that stuff clean which means you should tape and plastic off to do a sharp cut-line. If you dont d that, stripper will spill spray and spatter on to the wax you are trying to keep...and sure you can be an artist and do it but it might take you half an hour a foot.

So you gotta lay straight as an arrow tape to make it.

Next I assume it needs to be done by hand. BRUTAL WORK. Usually done by razors.

I assume the covebase and baseboards are crapped up as well. More hand work.

I'd rather spend that time pounding the phones looking for someone who wants a full strip n wax. Sam I Am wouldn't do that work for less than .40 a foot...but thats me.

The wide open spaces are the easy part of this business. It's the edges and details that make a floor look awesum. Anything on edges and verticals that isn't done properly is what makes a job look like hell.

Sell the whole job.

Yes, like you said, it has to be done with spray botle with strip and then done by hand with razor.

Baseboards are clean and paint.

I’ve considering doing a job that consist of stripping, waxing and buffing floors for department store with 2100 sq ft, in North Carolina. The baseboard and corners are really built up with wax and residue, what is the going rate for this type of job. They are also requesting a written invoice, how should this be done? Please email me at Gcommande@yahoo.com

stripping covebase is easier than some of these guys are saying. While you will need to tape and plastic, Hillyard sells covebase stripper in an aerosol can that simply wipes away, no rinse needed. Unless you really need the work or really like these people, I would convince them the whole job needs to be done again. Youll have quite a time trying to blend new and old wax.

If the baseboards are wood, I would be careful of any hot strippers, no matter who sells it.

If the baseboards are covebase / vinyl, painting it will look like hell.

If it was not done right it has to be done over

Guys! i've just started a commercial cleaning business and have been reading this forum today. Please, everyone, give me an advise what services should I provide, what equipment to buy, how to do the floor etc. Or where to get all these information. I live in Ohio, so it won't be any compatition with you guys. Thanks~

well, thanks :-) Congratulations on succeeding in the business.
Don't think that if you are doing fine today, noone can replace you or life can't bring a "surprise " oneday. I've been doing other kinds of businesses, so I'm not that helpless or stupid.

Good luck.

Well obviously you took my reply with disrespect.

I know far well that every day, the world turns on those on top of it. There is no lack of humbleness on my reply.

Point is, you come here posting, to quote, "I just started a commercial cleaning busines...what services should I provide, what equipment to buy, how to do the floor etc."

Frankly, that's a strange post.

Hey, I just opened a heart transplant center. Can anyone give me ideas on what services I offer, what equipment I need to buy and can you tell me how to do it?

As for my offer to buy your accounts, if you have any, certainly no disrespect was intended there, either. In the commercial cleaning business there are 2 ways to grow...sales or the purchase of other commercial cleaning businesses.

It was a legitimate offer, not a slight to your efforts.

I'll sign off on this thread issue wishing you, indeed, the best of fortune. There is plenty of work out here for everyone and everyday in this business someone is getting fired and someone is getting fired.

Besides...I enjoy competition in this business.

Competition breeds excellence.

Thanks, Sam.
Yes, all i wanted is some advise what to do the best in the business and ,maybe, how to...
When I first started my other business, I was learning it BY MYSELF for 2 years, made many mistakes, of course. Then I became a Pro.
Now I'm trying to chagi it for the commercial business. It would be nice if someone said what kind of mistake do not to make.

I'm not upset, of course. If I were able to get upset I was not a business woman, of course :-)

Good luck again.

this is what i was looking for :-)
janitorial-equipment.net/

Tatiana in Newark, Ohio said: this is what i was looking for :-)
janitorial-equipment.net/

Well Tatiana, what you have found is simply a place that will sell you equipment. You other thread asked for a few additional items.

What I will do is share wtih you what I learned over the years that I wish I had known earlier. Success leaves clues, so here you go:

1) Unless it is very new, or a simple steal at a price, do not buy used equipment.

2) If performing work as a subcontractor for a general contractor, expect to eventually, get screwed over one day. Budget for it.

3) When sumbitting a proposal, NEVER call it a "bid." Instead refer to it as an "OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION," or "PLAN FOR SUCCESS." DO not think the 'bid' will be able to sell better on paper than you can in person. The bid should be a formality...not the sales tool.

4) Never submit a propsal, never do so, without first attempting to pryout what the customer is willing to pay. After you have sold yourself, just ask, "what's the job pay?"

5) Avoid using illegal labor. Sticking the head in the sand is dangerous these days. (Ever see a roofing crew full of Americans laborers?)

6)Remember that generally every account you begin, requres an investment and usually a period where you will need to float your payroll.

7)When in danger of losing an account, the worst thing you can do is make any excuse. The best thiing you can do is express the passion you feel for correcting sub-par performance.

8)Follow a self imposed rule that "No company in America will provide a service superior to your services." Just do not allow this to happen.

9)Think BIG. You almost always wind up with what you settle for.

10) Go for residual business. The one timers or once per year jobs will always and forever keep you chained to looking for more work...vs. work looking for you.

I hope that helps you one day in some way!