Commercial hard floors are unforgiving — the wrong chemistry or the wrong pad can destroy a $30,000 installation in one session. Each floor type requires a different maintenance approach, and confusing them is one of the most common causes of premature floor failure in commercial buildings.
VCT (Vinyl Composition Tile)
The traditional workhorse of commercial floors. VCT requires a wax-based finish coat that must be stripped and re-applied on a cycle.
- Daily: dust mop and damp mop with neutral cleaner.
- Weekly: auto-scrub with neutral or mild alkaline solution.
- Quarterly: burnish to restore gloss.
- Annually: full strip and re-wax (4-5 coats).
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile)
Modern LVT typically ships with a factory urethane wear layer and should NOT be stripped and waxed like VCT. Doing so voids most manufacturer warranties.
- Daily: dust mop, damp mop with pH-neutral cleaner.
- Weekly: auto-scrub with soft pad and neutral solution.
- As needed: apply manufacturer-approved refinisher when wear layer dulls.
Sealed Concrete
Common in warehouses, industrial, and modern retail. Care depends on whether the concrete is polished, densified, or coated with an epoxy/urethane sealer.
- Daily: sweep or dust mop.
- Weekly: auto-scrub with neutral cleaner.
- Annually: inspect sealer and top-coat if needed.
Terrazzo
Long-life, high-end flooring found in schools, government buildings, and legacy commercial spaces. Requires alkaline-neutral cleaners only — acids etch the marble chips.
- Daily: dust mop and neutral damp mop.
- Monthly: burnish.
- Every 3-5 years: diamond polish restoration.
Protect Your Floor Investment
Get a floor care assessment matched to your specific substrate and traffic pattern.