How to Price Floor Stripping and Waxing Jobs

Floor stripping and waxing, or strip and recoat, is one of the most profitable services in floor care, but only if you price it right. It is labor intensive and uses real materials, so guessing leads to lost money. Here is how to estimate and price these jobs.

Understand the Work Involved

A full strip and wax is a multi step process, and each step takes time:

1. Prep and move furniture
2. Apply stripper and let it dwell
3. Agitate with a floor machine and a stripping pad
4. Pick up the slurry and rinse the floor thoroughly
5. Apply multiple coats of finish with dry time between each
6. Optionally burnish for gloss after the finish cures

The number of finish coats and the floor condition drive the time more than anything.

Estimate by Square Footage and Coats

Price is usually based on square footage, adjusted for how many coats of finish the client wants and the condition of the floor. A floor that has not been stripped in years takes more stripping effort than one on a regular cycle. More coats means more labor and material.

Build the Price

• Labor: estimate hours for each step at your loaded rate
• Materials: stripper, finish, pads and the number of coats
• Equipment: floor machine, wet vacuum and burnisher use
• Overhead and profit on top

Scheduling and Access

Strip and wax usually happens after hours or on weekends because of dry times between coats. Factor the schedule into your price, since overnight work and tight turnarounds cost more. Make sure the client understands the floor needs time to cure.

Efficiency Protects Your Margin

The right equipment makes strip and wax faster and more profitable. A quality floor machine, strong wet recovery and a high speed burnisher for the final gloss let you finish on time and deliver a result that wins repeat work. Equip these jobs with our floor machines and burnishers.