Cleaner burnishing a dark marble lobby floor with a rotary floor machine

Commercial floor care for Metro Detroit buildings: stripping, waxing and burnishing

Commercial floor care keeps the vinyl composition tile and other resilient floors in Metro Detroit buildings protected and shining. We strip the old finish off, apply new coats of finish and keep that shine up with burnishing. RCO Cleaning does the work during off hours with our own floor machines throughout Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. Schedule your free walkthrough by calling (248) 849-0000.

Get a free quote Call 248-849-0000

Free walkthrough & quote248-849-0000A quote within 24 hours of the walkthrough

How does commercial floor care work?

Commercial floor care is a cycle. Dust mopping and damp mopping remove grit from the floor. Burnishing with a high-speed floor machine restores shine between heavy maintenance. Scrub and recoat removes the worn top finish and applies new layers without stripping down to the tile. Strip, rinse and recoat is used when the finish builds up, yellows or wears through.

Vinyl composition tile, that hard tile found in so many hallways, classrooms, stores and break rooms, is protected by layers of floor finish, commonly known as wax. Traffic wears it away, grit scratches it and road salt and slush dull it every Michigan winter. Dirt penetrates into the tile itself when the finish is worn away, and the floor looks dull no matter how much you mop.

RCO schedules the cycle for both your floors and your traffic flow into your building's cleaning program. Our crews operate RCO's floor buffers and floor machines (if you're wondering what we mean by floor machine, read our guide to scrubbers, burnishers and extractors), move light furniture and then replace it, and cordon off areas until dry. Some of the people who work for RCO have over 20 years of experience in this industry. Floors are where you can really tell.

Floor work typically happens after hours: overnight, over a weekend or holiday, timed so the finish can dry before traffic returns to school hallways, church fellowship halls or office corridors.

A floor care program for the whole year
We schedule burnishing, scrub-and-recoat and full stripping together so that the floor always looks its best.
Done while you're closed
Floor work is done overnight or over a weekend allowing time for the finish to dry before traffic.

Five cleaners in navy aprons and T-shirts walking through a glass lobby with a cart and mops

What does commercial floor care include?

Floor assessment
We evaluate the floor type, condition of finish and traffic, and suggest the service that is appropriate.
Stripping
The old finish is stripped down to the tile with a floor machine and stripper. The floor is then rinsed and neutralized.
Refinishing
Many thin coats of floor finish are applied and dried before applying another. Doing so results in a nice even protective coat.
Scrub and recoat
When the top layer is scrubbed off and new coats are applied, it lengthens the time in between full strips.
Burnishing
The finish is restored to a shine and light scuffs are removed with a high-speed floor machine.
Edges and corners
Edges, corners and the floor along baseboards are detailed by hand. These areas trap dirt and finish buildup.
Furniture moving
Desks, chairs and light furniture are moved and then put back so that an entire floor is completed.
Winter entrance care
More frequent treatment at entrances during salt season, when salt residue can dull and wear the finish.

A typical floor care schedule

This is a typical routine. Your walkthrough decides the actual one for your building.

1Nightly
Dust mopping and damp mopping remove grit from floor surfaces in most facilities.
2Weekly or monthly
Burnishing restores shine, usually weekly in high traffic corridors and monthly in lower traffic areas.
3Every few months
Scrub and recoat in high-traffic areas, commonly a few times a year.
4Once or twice a year
Complete stripping and refinishing will vary depending on traffic and maintenance of finish.

Cleaner wearing a backpack vacuum in a glass-walled office lobby

Signs your floors need stripping or refinishing

The floor looks dull even right after mopping
Dirt is trapped under a yellowed layer of finish
Traffic lanes are worn down to bare tile
White salt residue near the entrances in winter
Black scuff marks that mopping won't remove

Book a free walkthrough

What happens after you call?

One walkthrough. One written scope. One cleaning system designed specifically for your building.

See the full process

Call or ask for a quote
Tell us about the building at 248-849-0000 or through the quote form: the square footage, the hours, what bothers you today.
A free walkthrough
We walk through the building with you, room by room to ensure our bid covers all the cleaning details.
Your quote in 24 hours
Written scope and price back to you within 24 hours of the walkthrough, with plan options to select from.
A free deep clean to start
We bring the building up to standard the first week, then larger buildings receive free tile, grout and window cleaning as well. After that it's a regular schedule with manager inspections.

Why Metro Detroit facility managers choose RCO Cleaning for floor care

Our own floor equipment
RCO provides its own floor buffers, floor machines and heavy-duty floor scrubber to make sure each step is done with the right machine.
Experience on the crew
RCO employees are selected and trained on industrial grade equipment. Some employees have over 20 years of experience in this field.
A schedule built into your plan
Burnishing, recoats and strips are built into your building's cleaning system so floor care occurs on schedule.

Locally owned since 2019

Not a franchise. The owners do the walkthrough.

Locally owned, not a franchiseThe company that bids on your building also runs it, out of its own Southfield office.
The owners on your accountVadym and George Makovey walk your buildings, set up the cleaning system and stand behind the outcome.
Managers who check the workOur managers verify what the crews are doing and correct a miss right away, instead of allowing it to become a trend.

Meet the owners

Floor stripping and waxing questions

Don’t see yours? Call 248-849-0000 and ask the people who will clean your building.

How often should VCT floors be stripped and waxed?

Depends on traffic and maintenance practices. Many commercial floors will require a complete strip and refinish once or twice a year, with scrub and recoat and burnishing in between. A proper maintenance program will allow you more time in between stripping. We can recommend a schedule once we evaluate your floors.

How long before we can walk on the floor?

Finish requires drying time between coats and before opening to traffic. Drying time varies depending on product specifications as well as temperature and humidity. For that reason we schedule flooring work overnight or on weekends whenever possible. We will inform you when each area will be open.

Is a freshly waxed floor slippery?

When applied properly and allowed to dry completely, finish should not create a slippery floor. The majority of slips are caused by wet finish, cleaning residue, or standing water on the floor. Teams block off areas until the finish has dried.

What types of floors do you strip and wax?

Vinyl composition tile (VCT) is the most prevalent, along with other resilient floors that take a finish. Sealed concrete, terrazzo, stone and luxury vinyl tile all have different maintenance needs. That's why we verify the floor type during the walkthrough before suggesting anything.

How is floor care priced?

Based on square footage of floor and the service: burnishing, scrub and recoat, or strip and refinish. The walkthrough is complimentary, and you will receive a quote within 24 hours of the walkthrough.

We will clean up your problems