Identify the floor and its maintenance instructions
VCT, LVT, tile, stone, wood, and coated concrete can require different care. Share the flooring and finish manufacturer information when available. Do not choose stripping, a coating, or aggressive equipment just because it worked on a different floor.
Distinguish soil from wear
Walk the floor under normal lighting and identify dull areas, buildup, scratches, loose material, and damaged edges. Cleaning, finish maintenance, and replacement solve different problems. A test area and condition review help establish what the proposed work can reasonably address.
Compare maintenance with a larger reset
Routine cleaning addresses day-to-day soil. Periodic maintenance may involve a compatible scrub and recoat or other finish-care process. A full strip and refinish is a different project with more preparation and downtime, and it is appropriate only for surfaces and finish systems that support it.
Define when the area can reopen
Confirm furniture movement, section closures, drying or cure instructions, ventilation, and pedestrian routes. Ask when light foot traffic and heavier use can resume. The answer depends on the actual products and conditions; “dry to the touch” is not a universal clearance for normal use.
Compare the whole project scope
List measured area, preparation, method, finish system, edges, furniture handling, and return visits. Confirm what will happen if the condition differs from the initial assessment. Keep periodic restoration separate from the recurring janitorial price unless the proposal explicitly includes it.