A Christchurch business recently contacted Harmony Clean about a commercial vinyl floor that had lost its shine. The floor covered approximately 200 square metres — a large open commercial space that had been through years of regular foot traffic without a proper strip and polish treatment.
Here is exactly what the job involved, how we approached it, and what the result looked like.
The Brief
A commercial property in Christchurch with a large older vinyl floor — approximately 200 square metres. The floor had dulled over time from general wear and tear, built-up cleaning product residue, and surface scratches from foot traffic. Regular mopping kept it clean but did not restore the finish.
The client wanted the floor stripped back to bare vinyl and repolished to a fresh, high-gloss finish.
Why Vinyl Floors Need Stripping
Vinyl floors are finished with a protective coating that gives them their shine. Over time, this coating builds up unevenly, traps dirt, becomes scratched and dull, and no longer responds to regular mopping. At that point — rather than adding another layer of polish on top of the old buildup — the right approach is to strip the floor completely and start fresh.
Stripping removes all the old layers of coating, levels the surface, and allows a new finish to bond properly. The result is a floor that looks significantly better and is easier to maintain going forward.
How The Job Was Done
Step One — Assessment
Before starting, the Harmony Clean team assessed the floor condition, confirmed the vinyl type, and agreed the scope with the client. For a 200sqm commercial floor, it is a full-day job requiring the right equipment and chemical products.
Step Two — Stripping
A commercial-grade stripping solution was applied to the floor in sections. This breaks down and lifts the old layers of polish and coating from the vinyl surface. The solution is then scrubbed in using a floor scrubbing machine with appropriate pads — hand scrubbing is not practical or effective at this scale.
The stripped sections are wet vacuumed to remove the dissolved coating and chemical residue, then thoroughly rinsed to ensure no stripping agent remains on the surface before polishing begins.
Step Three — Polishing
Once the floor was clean and completely dry, multiple coats of commercial-grade vinyl floor polish were applied — allowing each coat to dry fully before the next was added. The number of coats will depend on the desired finish and the condition of the vinyl.
Step Four — Final Inspection
The team walked the floor in good light to check for any missed areas, uneven finish, or sections requiring an additional coat. The client also walked through with the team before the job was signed off.
The Result
The client was happy with the result and said the floor came up very well. The service was completed on time with clear communication throughout the job. What had been a dull, worn commercial floor was restored to a high-gloss finish that looked significantly better than it had in years.
This is what a proper strip and polish does — it does not just clean the surface; it restores the finish and gives the floor a new starting point.
How Often Does A Commercial Vinyl Floor Need Stripping?
It depends on the foot traffic and how well the floor is maintained between treatments. For a high-traffic commercial floor like this one, a strip and polish every one to two years is a reasonable maintenance cycle. Regular machine scrubbing and top-up coats of polish can also extend the life of the finish.
Leaving a vinyl floor too long without a strip and polish means the buildup becomes harder to remove and the floor takes more work to restore. Getting ahead of it on a regular cycle is always easier and more cost-effective than waiting until the floor is heavily deteriorated.
Book A Strip And Polish In Christchurch
Harmony Clean provides floor cleaning services across Christchurch, including vinyl floor strip and polish for commercial and residential properties of any size. Get in touch for a no-obligation quote — we can usually respond within 15 minutes.