How Many Here Service Wood Floors?

[encapman]

I'm just wondering how many of you offer would floor care services to your customers?
It seems like a logical add-on offering for a carpet cleaning business.

• What wood floor services are you offering?
• How's it working out for your company?
• If you're not offering wood floor care, are you thinking about adding it?

 

[rwcarpet]

Like to offer....been asked many times. If SS can supposedly clean a wood floor, there's no reason those on this board couldn't! So....what's the best procedure?

 

[PrimaDonna]

We do.

Using basic coatings system.

It's been a nice add on for us. $1.50 sq foot to clean and top coat.

 

[Russ T.]

I've dabbled. Easy work, I need to push it more. Just scrub some Bona with my 175 and capture "slurry" with towels or microfiber.

 

[Mikey P]

http://mikeysboard.com/forum/index.php?threads/deep-cleaning-of-hardwood-floors.277179/

http://mikeysboard.com/forum/index.php?threads/basic-coating.272611/#post-4279089

 

[encapman]

We do.

Using basic coatings system.

It's been a nice add on for us. $1.50 sq foot to clean and top coat.

Hi Meg,

We've been considering offering the Basic Coatings line, that's why I was asking if there's interest. If you don't mind me asking, which products in their line are you using? Are you using their machine as well?

 

[encapman]

For those of you servicing wood floors here are a couple of questions...

• Which finishes are you using in the Basic line?
• Do you see more call for matt finish over gloss finish these days, or is it an equal split?
• For those using a 175 rotary for wood floors, what pads do you like to use? Are you using maroon scrub pads?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[PrimaDonna]

Hi Meg,

We've been considering offering the Basic Coatings line, that's why I was asking if there's interest. If you don't mind me asking, which products in their line are you using? Are you using their machine as well?

Check out the links that Mikey posted earlier in this thread. I gave an over view of what we use and the machine (we don't use the dragon) in previous post. Not trying to blow you off, just don't want to type it all over again.

 

[Old Coastie]

Whatever the product, there needs to be a protocol to effectively remove prior waxes and topical treatments. My impression is that everyone requires a virgin, unwaxed Floor or else it doesn't work.

Like that would happen...

 

[encapman]

We may go with the Basic Coatings line, or we might work with a coatings company to develop our own line of finishes. I'm always open to a good entrepreneurial venture, so the latter is a possibility.

If we were to develop a line of wood care products, what would you guys (and gals) like to see?

• A good cleaner is obvious.
• What characteristics do you like to see in a wood finish?
• Do you have more call for a matte finish, gloss finish, or they're both popular?
• Are you primarily using water-based products?
• Are the any concerns you're having with current wood floor products?

Please feel free to PM me if you'd like to. Thanks for the input!

 

[rwcarpet]

We may go with the Basic Coatings line, or we might work with a coatings company to develop our own line of finishes. I'm always open to a good entrepreneurial venture, so the latter is a possibility.

If we were to develop a line of wood care products, what would you guys (and gals) like to see?

• A good cleaner is obvious.
• What characteristics do you like to see in a wood finish?
• Do you have more call for a matte finish, gloss finish, or they're both popular?
• Are you primarily using water-based products?
• Are the any concerns you're having with current wood floor products?

Please feel free to PM me if you'd like to. Thanks for the input!

Now....are you talking just cleaning, or cleaning and refinishing (non-sanding refinish)? Most floors that I see that need cleaning, also seem to need a little refinishing for scratches, traffic lanes....etc.

 

[TomKing]

Rick
There is a whole network of distributors that already exist in the wood flooring industry. They also can supply you with other finishes and equipment.

The real challenge is what sort of expertise will you bring about wood flooring? Both refinishing, repairs and installation not just sand less refinishing.

Bona and Basic Coatings are the big dogs. Most all flooring reps recommend those 2 systems.

We use the Basic Coatings systems. We have done floors from 1,000sf to 11,000sf with it. Dining rooms to Basketball Floors.

We do the sand less process with Sani-Bright. Our Flooring store uses top wood installers to do the sand and refinish.

Basic Coatings products can be found on Amazon.

 

[encapman]

Thanks for the replies,

Bob, I'm thinking about using a maroon pad for light scratch removal and prep before recoating.

Tom, which Basic Coating finish are you using?

 

[Mikey P]

Rick, what do REAL wood guys charge for a pad and recoat?

and what does a full sand and refinish cost?



Using the Basic system to clean and apply their Renew coating had us charging at least $1.00 a foot, Meg charges $1.50 (but she has no conscious) so for.50 more you can have a REAL wood floor guy come out and do FAR MORE than just clean and apply essentially a Mop and Glow..

 

[encapman]

Rick, what do REAL wood guys charge for a pad and recoat?

and what does a full sand and refinish cost?



Using the Basic system to clean and apply their Renew coating had us charging at least $1.00 a foot, Meg charges $1.50 (but she has no conscious) so for.50 more you can have a REAL wood floor guy come out and do FAR MORE than just clean and apply essentially a Mop and Glow..

I understand where you're coming from Mike. I'm just thinking that carpet is shrinking. There's less and less of it on the floors, and there's more and more wood. So servicing alternative floor surfaces, such as wood, makers sense. An affordable and simple system that carpet cleaners can approach has merit - at least I think it does.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I understand where you're coming from Mike. I'm just thinking that carpet is shrinking. There's less and less of it on the floors, and there's more and more wood. So servicing alternative floor surfaces, such as wood, makers sense. An affordable and simple system that carpet cleaners can approach has merit - at least I think it does.

We bought a Dirt Dragon and product a couple of years ago with the idea we would offer the service. Then, Mike and others started saying it was high priced "Mop & Glow".

I'd be thrilled to offer the service if it has value but if its all smoke & mirrors then I'd rather not.

 

[encapman]

Tykote from Basic Coatings doesn't look like Mop & Glow to me. It looks like there's some pretty smart technology going on there!

 

[Mikey P]

Tycote is the real deal,

even Floor Renew is good.. For evening out appearances

but it's very superficial

 

[Desk Jockey]

I sent you the bill for my Dirt Dragon but it said you moved out of state.

 

[Mikey P]

I had a crew of 3 to 4 guys spend 6 full , long days at my Aptos house doing a full sand and recoat, Replaced boards in 6 different areas to fix stains and squeaks.


$4k

 

[Desk Jockey]

Whata waste.Ya coulda put down the mop & glow.

 

[PrimaDonna]

Meg charges $1.50 (but she has no conscious) so for.50 more you can have a REAL wood floor guy come out and do FAR MORE than just clean and apply essentially a Mop and Glow..

You're just jealous. Haters gonna hate.

My price is what my market bares.

We don't force people to get their wood floors cleaned....or force them to use us to do it.

We are very forthright with what our process is and what it can and can't do. I even go so far as saying it's like applying mop and glo when I'm educating a customer about it. It's something they understand.

 

[Shane Deubell]

Thought about it for years, put it in same category as colorsealing. Great service from a sales point but a real pain to train.

At this stage I'm trying to keep it simple.
but thats what is best for me ....

 

[dekeil]

IMO laminator plus is the easy and works the best.
I have tried some of the other products they are harder to use and increase the time in cleaning wood floors
Time is money
You don't need a high end scruber just an orick orbitor
You will not flood the floor with water
You can be done before the other are set up
Cost is cheaper because you do not use much product
Just me taking

 

[Mikey P]

Agreed.

 

[handdi]

The tycoat system has it's place on cheap lam floors
I have done a few with the square scrub and a marron 3m pad
Takes the poly right off no mess and it's pretty easy to do.
Ya can take a roller and put poly down with pretty idiot proof .
Just need a good hepa vac and some mop buckets to make sure that floor is clean
Lowes has water base finish now for around 50"a gallon compared to the other 100 a gallon
I'm sure ya really get what ya pay for here too.But sometimes ya have to go cheaper .
If ya have wax build up we have used floor stripper to remove small areas at a time.
Really a pain.
I need to push this more but there is no reason to use these polishes people sell.
When ya can put down the real deal polys.