Ok,
Im partnering a w/a local Janitorial Co to get this account. I will be calling all the shots since I obtained the lead. What Ill be doing is the hard floors (VCT) and carpet. I will be meeting w/client on 6/30.

1. What is the fastest way to learn how to do hard floors with my Orbot (I only have the Orbot/Borg)? Could I use the new Pads only w/out chems for the job on Hoss site? Or, should I go w/the traditional chems and pads to strip, wax, & maintain?

2. How often will I need to be in this facility for the hard floors?

3. Im confident on the options for carpet but suggestions would be good.

4. This is a huge facility and they will work w/me if I'm the only one doing the hard floors. Does anyone have any idea on how often I'll be in the building? It's a 7 year old bldg and they like it pristine so I expect they may pay for a quality service.

5. Should I just measure the perimeter of the bldg or just measure the areas to be maintained?

James Richardson
Commercial Carpet Care
http://www.squeakycleananddry.com

By the questions you are asking you are not qualified at this point to do hard floors for this large of an account. Never experiment on clients floors much less learn how to do the work it self.


If your janitorial friend knows how to do hard floors do your self a favor, have them do it watch and learn you can supervise the operation to CYA

You measure the areas to be maintained.

You do not want to cut your teeth large job too much to loose in the long run, it is not as simple as carpet cleaning.

The Orbot is to light to handle stripping, you will need the weight kit for it to work.

You stated they want a pristine environment, how much longer for you to do the job your first time out VS someone who has the proper experience.

This may sound harsh, but the reality is you could loose this account due to your lack of knowledge or ability to bring to the table what the client expects.


at the very least for VCT you will need finish stripper long and short handled scrapers mop bucks a wet vac stripping pads base board stripper doodle bug pads and holders

a Rubbermaid system, or some form or finish applicator.

First find out how much VCT is to be done is it all open areas
or several areas broken up?

what the client gets charge will depend on this.

I hate to say it, but there is a lot to learn about VCT floor care (much more than could be answered in a simple message board post). And if you don't have prior experience, you may be getting yourself in over your head. The equipment required and the level of expertise to do the job may honestly be more than you wanto to get into. It might be a better idea to sub contract the floor work to a floor care guy; at least for the time being till you get set up for it.

To quote the ol' Kenny Rogers song...
"You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run."









Rick Gelinas

As I see it there are 2 ways to do VCT, the way David and Rick said which is the correct way or the way we do at the schools and my own customers here in NJ.

My way is this, customer says i only want to pay xyz to have this much floor cleaned and waxed, so i apply striper, scrub, mop or suck up and 3 coats of wax.

Fast and cheap just like the customer wanted, floor looks like crap in a month and they call back a year later and say do it again.

To do a VCT floor the correct takes time and you will not make a lot of money doing it. Listen to David and see if the service co can do it.

Wish I coule offer more, good luck.

Thanks for the input guys. Your responses are the reason for posting. My goal is to get the carpet and the VCT will have to be done as well as the janitorial. The jani co that I'm working with does not do floors so that's a problem that can be solved.

Subbing out the VCT is an excellent idea and I'm going to look into that. There is definitely a way to put this deal together with some creativity while making sure the right experts are doing what they do best.

This could also give me an opportunity to create another relationship w/a hard floor guy who doesn't do carpet.

You guys are great. I really appreciate the input.

James Richardson
Commercial Carpet Care
http://www.squeakycleananddry.com