Now we use a flattop like a swiffer to apply wax. There certainly is a lot of hard work in refinishing a floor, but when it gets that appearance of glass, few things are more rewarding. I also do tile and grout but it's not as much fun as a filthy carpet or a beat hard surface. I am the worst geek......
Your right Nova.
Many when it comes to cleaning or carpet cleaning or strip seal wax some take major short cuts....but a person has to at least aim for a 90% quality job. Most places were industrial or heavy use places plus cleaners did not do a good sweep /wet mop in their cleaning ...so no way I'm going to do any higher than 90-95 % floor waxing quality because the cleaners /janitors did bad cleaning ???the floors looked terrible after a week or so....they did not sweep or wet mop property.
Have to have pride in one 's work so did try to do an honesty job nightly.
For example if I was doing a semi truck dealership it took me 3 nights.
Service area washrms.....top floor change room lunch room hallway washrooms side room stairs.....main office hallway bunch of side offices washroom.
The floors were bad shape when due but after 3 days sparkling shine.
Basically did about a steady 60 locations...dealerships ....clothing factory...industrial big places...banks...railway...many places near airport...warehouses..fish plants...sometimes had to wax & there was wkrs or a shift at the place. ( best to wax when the building is empty of workers of course)
That was a pain in the butt. Try to take chairs tables out of a lunch room into the warehouse ...scrub seal wax & put air fans to quicken drying coats and warehouse wkrs walking on wet wax ....because these certain warehouses had very expensive stuff ( pharmacy products. ) they would not allow me or janitors to be in the place by ourselves. Fear of theft.
One place I did had 5 alarms.
Another place I did ya had to push about 12 numbers to deactivate the alarm.
One time I pushed the 12 numbers but nothing happened
? !!!! Quickly pushed the 12 numbers again...in times past it always worked to shut off the alarm.
60 secs went by & siren goes off !!!!! The alarm code was changed but no one notified me about it.
Dam that siren must of made noise for 20-25 minutes. I got a hold of the cleaners by cell phone & they tell me the new alarm code. That alarm was so.....loud...plus two New West police came.
So after that was all sorted out....oh big wax job waiting to be done. Not a good way to waste 45 minutes before my start time.
Places I did not care to wax was downtown Vancouver. Must of did over 300-400 dif. places in 9 yrs but mainly the same 70-80 locations...some monthly bi monthly every. 3 months...customer budget or need.
But downtown was the worst...make 3-4 trips back & forth from truck with floor maching floor buckets mops sealer/wax, stripper chemical and all sorts of people wondering around...worst to bring stuff back to the truck at 4am ...once 4/5 guys surrounded me outside so I backed up against an outside wall. They looked at me & suddenly walked off. I stayed emotionless & was ready to put up a fight. Guess they wanted to rob me...I'm not that big 5ft 9inches but was very physical looking because of the hard work.
165 lbs but solid 165. These 4-5 guys were not tall & not that strong looking so I guess they went off to rob an old man .....ha!
I mainly worked solo even though could of had a helper.
Helpers sometimes very good workers as they were strong & did good job & other workers always taking short cuts...for example after scrubbing the floors & pick up either by big mop or wet vac the helper says "let's just put on the sealer now" I say " No as we must get clean water in bucket & rinse the floor to get off residue ...then put sealer/ wax coats.
One trucking place I did /warehouse ...the warehouse wkrs left at 11:30pm so I thought the place would be empty all night.
So I start scrubbing hallway washrms lunchroom main office enterance area & three side offices...
Basically got all the floors ready for sealing/waxing & then this worker comes in at 2:30 am !!! He needs to use one side office area ( 4 desks or so in that office ) He like is a broker or whatever...setting up the trips for semi's etc...he's as mad as "hell" I had to try to finish my sealing /waxing with this office wkr !!!! ( in the way ) Ha ! Funny now but not so that day.
Too many places had to carry floor machine & equipment up stairs...
It was quite the challenge most nights.
One place was a drop in centre ...two floors...but many rooms had carpet...but some areas down stairs & on main floor quite a good sized lunch room area. Haul out tables chairs on to carpeted hallway..
But this place had an elevator....so brought equipment to downstairs....
The crazy part that I did not like was.....3-4 times during the job the elevator door opened & closed by itself !!!
Gave me goose bumps & kinda freaked me out. Like for example it could be 3am & I'm applying a coat of wax & it's dead silence & suddenly the elevator door opens ...then closes.
I have a faith in the Good Lord so that helped !!! Ha.
Anyways haven't thought about my past job for awhile so it brings back memories.
Stay safe folks. New York State has 10% of it 's population infected ! ( what I read on net ) wash hands wash hands & 5-6 ft social distance.