Floor Stripping & Sealing

We have stripped and sealed thousands of commercial floors across Sydney and this process is one of the most transformative services we offer. A floor that looks tired and worn can be restored to near-new condition in a single day when the right team handles the job. Our team works with building managers in Liverpool, Cabramatta and Fairfield who rely on us to keep their retail, office and medical facility floors protected and presentable. If you need experienced floor cleaning sydney professionals for stripping and sealing work, we have the equipment and expertise to deliver outstanding results.

What Floor Stripping and Sealing Actually Involves

We find that many of our clients do not fully understand what stripping and sealing means until they see us do it. Stripping removes all existing floor coatings, waxes and sealers down to the bare surface using a chemical stripper and rotary machine with an aggressive pad. Sealing then applies fresh protective coats that restore gloss, protect against staining and improve slip resistance. Our team treats this as a two-phase restoration process rather than a simple clean.

We follow AS 4020 guidelines for products in contact with drinking water, which may seem unrelated but is relevant because some floor sealers release volatile compounds during curing that can contaminate building water systems if drainage is not managed correctly. Our team always blocks floor drains during stripping and captures all chemical runoff for proper disposal. We have seen other contractors in Liverpool let stripping solution run straight into stormwater drains, which is both an environmental offence and a health risk.

Our Floor Stripping Process Step by Step

Every stripping job starts with furniture removal and floor preparation. We clear the area completely because working around obstacles slows the process and creates inconsistent results. Our technicians in Cabramatta tape off skirting boards and door frames to protect them from chemical splash. We then apply a commercial-grade alkaline stripper at the manufacturer recommended dilution and allow it to dwell for 10 to 15 minutes.

We agitate with a rotary machine fitted with a black stripping pad at 175 RPM. The pad breaks down the old coating while the chemical solution emulsifies it. Our team works in sections of about 20 square metres, extracting the slurry with a wet vacuum before it dries. We have found that working in small sections produces a more consistent strip than trying to cover the entire floor at once. After stripping, we rinse twice with clean water to remove all chemical residue.

We then inspect the bare floor for damage, staining and adhesion issues. Our team documents any problems and discusses them with the client before proceeding to the sealing phase. We have found that this inspection step catches issues that were hidden under the old coating, saving the client from sealing over problems that would resurface later.

Floor Type Cleaning Comparison

The Sealing Phase: Building Protection Layer by Layer

Floor Type Cleaning Comparison requires specific protocols that we tailor to each facility based on its layout, traffic, and compliance requirements. We apply sealers in multiple thin coats rather than one thick coat because thin coats cure faster, bond better and produce a more even finish. Our team typically applies three to four coats of water-based polyurethane sealer on vinyl and linoleum, allowing 30 to 45 minutes between coats. We use a flat microfibre applicator that spreads the sealer evenly without leaving lap marks or bubbles.

The Sealing Phase: Building Protection Layer by Layer includes specific protocols that we tailor to each facility based on its layout, traffic, and compliance requirements. We have tested dozens of sealer products over the years and we only use those that pass our internal durability testing. Our team applies candidate products to sample tiles, subjects them to accelerated wear testing and evaluates gloss retention, scratch resistance and chemical resistance after 1,000 simulated foot traffic cycles. The products we recommend to our clients in Fairfield have been proven to outperform cheaper alternatives by a significant margin.

Cost of Floor Stripping and Sealing in Sydney

We price stripping and sealing based on floor area, the number of existing coating layers, floor type and access requirements. For a standard commercial space of around 200 square metres with two to three existing coating layers, our clients in Liverpool, Cabramatta and Fairfield typically invest around $1,490 for a complete strip and four-coat seal. This includes furniture moving, chemical stripping, double rinse, inspection, four sealer coats and a final buff.

Our team has found that floors on annual stripping schedules cost less per visit because the existing coating is thinner and easier to remove. Floors that have not been stripped for five or more years often have multiple layers of old wax and sealer that require additional chemical applications and longer dwell times, which increases the cost.

Maintaining Sealed Floors Between Professional Visits

Maintaining Sealed Floors Between Professional Visits targets specific protocols that we tailor to each facility based on its layout, traffic, and compliance requirements. We always brief our clients on proper maintenance after sealing because the wrong cleaning products can undo our work within weeks. Our team recommends daily dust mopping and damp mopping with a pH-neutral cleaner. We have seen sealed floors in Liverpool retail centres lose their gloss within a month because cleaning staff were using an alkaline floor cleaner that stripped the sealer with every application.

We also recommend a maintenance buff every three to six months using a high-speed burnisher with a soft pad. This restores surface gloss without removing the sealer and extends the interval between full strip-and-seal jobs. Our team provides this service as part of our maintenance contracts and our clients consistently report that their floors look better for longer compared to previous contractors. Our technicians always reference AS 4020 environmental compliance standards when managing chemical runoff during maintenance visits.

Whether your floors need a first-time seal or a complete strip-and-reseal, our team delivers results that last. For detailed cost information on floor sanding and polishing, check out our next guide in our floor cleaning series.

Frequently Asked Questions About Floor Stripping and Sealing

How long does floor stripping and sealing take?
A standard 200-square-metre commercial floor takes one full day for stripping and sealing. The floor is walkable within four hours of the final coat and fully cured within 24 hours. Our team in Liverpool, Cabramatta and Fairfield schedules work outside business hours for zero disruption.

How often should commercial floors be stripped and resealed?
We recommend annual stripping and resealing for high-traffic environments like retail stores and medical centres. Lower-traffic offices can stretch to every 18 to 24 months. Floors on regular maintenance programs last longer between full strip jobs.

Will stripping damage my vinyl or linoleum floor?
Not when done correctly. We use chemical strippers formulated for vinyl and linoleum at manufacturer-recommended dilutions. Our rotary machines run at controlled speeds with appropriate pads. We have stripped the same vinyl floors annually for over a decade without any surface degradation.

What types of floors can be stripped and sealed?
We strip and seal vinyl, linoleum, terrazzo, polished concrete and certain ceramic tiles. Natural stone and timber require different treatment methods. Our team assesses the floor material during our initial inspection and recommends the appropriate process.

How much does floor stripping and sealing cost?
A standard 200-square-metre commercial floor with two to three existing coating layers typically costs around $1,490 for complete strip and four-coat seal. We provide fixed written quotes after on-site inspection so pricing reflects actual conditions.

Can you strip and seal floors with furniture in place?
We move all furniture as part of our service and return it after the sealer cures. Working around furniture creates inconsistent results and we do not recommend it. Furniture moving is included in our quoted price.

What happens to the old sealer and chemical waste?
We capture all stripping solution and slurry with wet vacuums and dispose of it through licensed waste facilities. We block floor drains during work to prevent contamination and follow AS 4020 environmental compliance guidelines for chemical management.

Do you offer maintenance programs after stripping and sealing?
We offer maintenance contracts that include quarterly buffing, spot treatment of wear areas and annual condition reporting. Contract clients receive priority scheduling and reduced rates. These programs significantly extend the life of each strip-and-seal application.

About Clean Group

Clean Group is a Sydney-based commercial cleaning company with over 25 years of industry experience. Founded by Suji Siv, our team of 50+ trained professionals services offices, warehouses, medical centres, schools, childcare facilities, retail stores, gyms, and strata properties across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

We are active members of ISSA and the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA). Our operations align with ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Workplace Health and Safety) standards. We hold membership with the Green Building Council of Australia and use eco-friendly, TGA-registered cleaning products wherever possible.

Every Clean Group cleaner is police-checked, fully insured, and trained in safe work procedures under SafeWork NSW guidelines. We operate 7 days a week, including after-hours and weekend services, to minimise disruption to your business.