If your vinyl tile (VCT) floors have lost their shine but aren’t ready for a full strip-and-wax, a scrub and recoat is usually the smart, cost-effective answer. Here’s what it is and when to use it.

What is a scrub and recoat?

Rather than stripping a floor down to bare tile, a scrub and recoat removes just the top one or two worn layers of finish, then lays down fresh coats of protective finish on top. You get back a clean, level, glossy floor with less labor, fewer chemicals, and less downtime than a full strip-out.

Signs it’s time for a recoat

• The floor looks dull or hazy, but the finish underneath is still sound.
• You see light scuffing or traffic-lane wear.
• It’s been about 3–6 months since the last service.

A quick tip between services

Regular dust mopping and damp mopping with a neutral cleaner does more than anything else to protect your finish and stretch the time between recoats. Grit is the enemy — it grinds into the finish underfoot, so sweeping often pays off.