As you know we are hating the new floor we had installed in the salon. Now that the tiles seem to be sticking and not leaking pancake batter-like blobs, I have been concentrating on cleaning, sealing, and waxing the floor. Quite the project....We were told that we did not need to strip the floor before sealing and waxing it. That was going to be the plan, until we had to break out the gallon of acetone to get all of the scuff marks and glue that made its way to the surface. So it turned out that Vicki and I stripped the floor on all fours and got the job done.

For a while, I thought the salon floor was the never-ending hallway in a nightmare. It took two coats of sealer and two coats of wax with a half hour drying time in between each application. After the first section was complete, it was difficult applying the sealer and wax because the floor seemed to be uneven in some spots. Due to that, the death grip I was using has left my thumbs sore and not without a couple blisters! I only had to cover four footprints on the first day...with people stopping in. LOL.

On the second day, after a night of Bengay, I was back at it. Slowly but surely, section by section, the area left to do got smaller and smaller. The never-ending hallway was going slower and slower. Only seven foot prints to cover on this day. Then Vicki and I just sat on the stools and looked at the salon floor in AMAZEMENT. It actually looks wonderful! I was thankful that Vicki was there to help and treated me to a smoothie from Power Up.

This project took a total of 16 hours. It also earned the nickname of "Cinderalla," when my friend Ross walked in and Vicki’s back was to the door with her hands on hips, and I was on all four stripping the floor. That was the only laughter shared until it was all over. We now can say that we are all pleased with our salon floor. Finally.

--Natalie Peters, Polish Salon, Brea, Calif.