Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Floor Waxer

🎯 Role Definition

The Floor Waxer is a skilled facilities and janitorial professional responsible for cleaning, stripping, waxing, buffing, and polishing hard surface floors across commercial, institutional, and residential properties. This role requires hands-on expertise with rotary buffers, burnishers, auto-scrubbers, floor strippers, and finishing materials. The Floor Waxer ensures floors are safe, attractive, and maintained to brand or contract standards while following safety protocols, material handling rules, and customer service expectations. Ideal candidates combine practical floor maintenance techniques with effective time management and quality-control practices.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Janitor / Custodian with hands-on floor experience
Commercial Cleaner or Porter with experience operating floor machines
Building Maintenance Worker or Facilities Assistant

Advancement To:

Lead Floor Technician or Floor Care Specialist
Facilities Technician / Maintenance Technician
Building Services Supervisor or Custodial Manager

Lateral Moves:

Carpet Cleaner / Upholstery Technician
Tile and Grout Specialist
Concrete Polisher / Surface Preparation Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform daily sweeping, vacuuming, dust-mopping, and wet-mopping of hard surface floors (vinyl, VCT, linoleum, sealed concrete, terrazzo, wood) to remove dirt, grit, and contaminants prior to polishing or finishing.
Strip and remove old floor finish using chemical strippers and mechanical equipment, ensuring complete removal of build-up without damaging substrate or adjacent surfaces.
Apply floor finishes, sealers, and protective coatings using mop, applicator, or spray techniques, following manufacturer specifications for coverage, drying time, and finish type.
Burnish and buff finished floors using high-speed burnishers and rotary floor machines to produce a high-gloss, uniform finish while reducing scuffing and improving slip-resistance.
Operate auto-scrubbers, orbital scrubbers, and ride-on floor machines safely and efficiently to clean and prepare large floor areas in commercial and industrial settings.
Prepare floors for treatment by performing spot repairs, filling seams, and ensuring adhesive residues, wax rings, and contaminants are fully removed prior to finishing.
Perform concrete polishing and densifying when specified, including progressive grit polishing, application of densifiers, and final polishing for a consistent sheen.
Use specialty tools (edgers, hand buffers, corner buffers, stair machines) to treat edges, corners, stairways, and other hard-to-reach areas to the same standard as open floor areas.
Mix, dilute, and apply cleaning chemicals, strippers, sealers, and waxes per SDS/MSDS instructions and manufacturer guidelines to maintain safety and performance.
Conduct regular inspections of finished floors to identify scuffs, buildup, or finish failure and perform corrective maintenance such as spot stripping and re-coating.
Follow PPE and safety procedures, erect signage for wet floor conditions, and ensure housekeeping around equipment to minimize safety hazards for occupants and staff.
Maintain accurate records of work performed, including dates of strip/wax cycles, materials used, and inspection notes for building services logs or contract compliance.
Load and unload cleaning chemicals and supplies, manage storage of flammable or hazardous materials in compliance with company policies and local regulations.
Coordinate floor maintenance activities with building occupants and facility managers to minimize disruption to business operations, scheduling work during off-peak hours as required.
Troubleshoot and perform basic maintenance on floor machines and equipment (pads, brushes, belts, batteries, wheels) and request repairs or replacements when needed.
Execute specialized treatments such as metal salt removal, rust stain remediation, and high-traffic area reinforcement to extend the life of floor finishes.
Apply anti-slip treatments or finishes where required and document treatment areas and product types to ensure consistent building safety standards.
Train and mentor junior custodial staff or temporary contractors on safe operation of floor equipment, proper chemical handling, and quality standards for waxing and polishing.
Manage inventory of floor care supplies and consumables—pads, brushes, finishes, strippers, and PPE—placing orders and tracking usage to control costs and avoid out-of-stock conditions.
Maintain strong customer service with on-site building managers and occupants by responding to floor-related requests, explaining work plans, and addressing concerns professionally.
Comply with environmental and disposal regulations by collecting spent chemicals, used pads, and waste for proper disposal or recycling according to local laws.
Implement preventive maintenance schedules for high-traffic areas and recommend floor care programs (daily, weekly, quarterly, annual) tailored to floor type and use to optimize lifecycle costs.

Secondary Functions

Assist with general custodial duties such as restroom care, trash removal, and glass cleaning when floor care tasks are not scheduled.
Support facility maintenance efforts by reporting damaged flooring, tripping hazards, or moisture issues to maintenance supervisors and documenting follow-up.
Participate in periodic safety meetings, training sessions, and certification renewals related to chemical handling, machine operation, or OSHA compliance.
Prepare proposals or service notes for clients outlining recommended floor care cycles, product selection, and anticipated timelines for large projects.
Collaborate with procurement and operations teams to qualify new floor care products and equipment during trials and evaluate performance and cost-effectiveness.
Support emergency response for spills, storm damage, or contamination events by responding quickly to restore floor surfaces to safe and usable condition.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency operating and maintaining rotary floor machines, high-speed burnishers, auto-scrubbers, and orbital buffers.
Experience performing chemical stripping and applying floor finish products (wax, polyurethane, acrylic finishes) to multiple substrates (VCT, linoleum, sealed concrete, terrazzo, hardwood).
Knowledge of mixing, diluting, and safely applying cleaning chemicals and strippers consistent with SDS/MSDS and manufacturer instructions.
Ability to perform concrete polishing sequences, including grinding, densifying, and progressive polishing to specified gloss levels.
Skill using specialty edge and stair machines, hand buffers, and corner tools to achieve consistent finish quality in tight areas.
Competence in identifying floor substrates and selecting appropriate removal or finish procedures to avoid damage.
Basic mechanical troubleshooting and preventative maintenance for pads, brushes, vacuum systems, batteries, and drive components.
Familiarity with slip-resistance principles and ability to apply anti-slip treatments when required.
Experience with inventory management and tracking systems for floor care supplies and equipment.
Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and local regulations for storage, labeling, and disposal of hazardous cleaning chemicals.
Ability to read and follow technical product data sheets, floor care plans, and quality checklists.
Experience documenting work orders, inspection reports, and maintenance logs for contract compliance.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and a quality-first mindset to deliver consistent, showroom-grade floor finishes.
Time management and prioritization skills to complete scheduled floor maintenance within contracted windows.
Good communication and customer-service orientation when coordinating with building occupants and facility teams.
Reliability, punctuality, and the physical stamina to perform repetitive tasks, lift up to job-required weights, and stand for long periods.
Problem solving and adaptability to adjust techniques or products based on floor condition and site constraints.
Teamwork and the ability to mentor and supervise junior staff or temporary crews.
Professionalism and discretion in occupied buildings and sensitive environments (healthcare, education, corporate).
Safety-conscious attitude, including consistent use of PPE and adherence to signage and hazard controls.
Initiative to suggest process improvements, cost-saving product alternatives, or preventive maintenance plans.
Dependability in documenting work and following through on maintenance commitments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED or equivalent practical experience in custodial/facilities work.

Preferred Education:

Vocational training or certificate in floor care, carpet and upholstery cleaning, or facilities maintenance.
Certifications in safe chemical handling, machine operation, or OSHA 10/30 (preferred).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Facilities Maintenance or Building Services
Janitorial/Custodial Operations
Carpentry, Construction Technology, or Industrial Maintenance (helpful for substrate repair)
Hospitality or Facility Management training programs

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1 – 5 years of hands-on floor care experience; may accept entry-level with strong machine operation training.

Preferred:

2+ years of commercial floor waxing/stripping and polish maintenance experience, including experience with auto-scrubbers and burnishers in multi-site or contract cleaning environments.
Experience working in healthcare, education, retail, or corporate environments with documented quality-control records and references.