Before the Wax Goes Down: The Best Time to Install a School Sensory Path
Learn the best time and process for installing a school sensory path. Discover why summer—before the final coat of wax—is the ideal time to install hallway decals and movement pathways.
Summer is the perfect opportunity to transform your hallways into purposeful learning spaces.
Every summer, schools are busy checking off maintenance projects before students return.
Hallways are emptied.
Floors are stripped and cleaned.
Fresh coats of wax are applied.
Classrooms are organized.
Teachers begin preparing for another year of learning.
It's also the ideal time to install a sensory pathway.
As a practicing pediatric occupational therapist, one of the most common questions I receive is:
"When should we install our sensory path?"
The answer is simple:
Before the final coat of floor wax is applied.
While Sacred Steps Sensory Paths are commercial-grade and do not require wax to stay in place, many schools choose to install them before waxing because the wax provides an additional protective layer while helping the decals blend beautifully into the floor.
Here's what the installation process typically looks like.
Step 1: Choose the Right Location
Before installation begins, think about how students naturally move throughout your building.
Great locations include:
Main hallways
Primary classroom wings
Counseling areas
Special education hallways
Outside the library
Near intervention spaces
Waiting areas
Church or parish education spaces
The best sensory pathways become part of students' everyday routines.
Step 2: Prepare the Floor
Once the existing wax has been removed and the floor has been thoroughly cleaned, you're ready for installation.
A clean surface allows the commercial-grade adhesive to bond properly with the floor.
Step 3: Install the Path
Each Sacred Steps pathway arrives with installation directions and a suggested layout guide.
Simply:
✔ Position the pieces
✔ Double-check spacing
✔ Peel the backing
✔ Apply each decal
✔ Smooth firmly into place
Most schools complete installation in just a few hours.
Even better?
Many schools make installation a fun summer project for staff members or volunteers.
Step 4: Apply the Final Coat of Wax (Optional)
This is the step many schools ask about.
Waxing over the decals is completely optional.
Our commercial-grade decals are designed to withstand heavy school traffic on their own.
However, if your custodial team is already applying the final coat of wax, installing the pathway beforehand allows the wax to provide one additional layer of protection.
Many schools appreciate the finished appearance this creates.
Step 5: Welcome Students Back
This is my favorite part.
On the first day of school, students don't just walk through your hallway.
They interact with it.
They jump.
They balance.
They read.
They pray.
They regulate.
They smile.
What was once an ordinary transition becomes another opportunity to learn.
Why Summer Is the Best Time
Waiting until students return often means working around:
Classroom schedules
Hallway traffic
Lunch periods
Specials
Recess
Daily transitions
Summer provides a quiet building and the flexibility to complete installation without disrupting instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Sacred Steps decals have to be waxed over?
No.
They are commercial-grade floor decals designed for heavy school use.
Waxing is completely optional.
How long does installation take?
Most schools complete installation in just a few hours, depending on the size of the pathway.
Can schools install them themselves?
Absolutely.
Many schools install their own pathways using the included layout guide.
Others choose professional installation or coordinate installation while other summer maintenance projects are taking place.
Can Sacred Steps install them?
Yes!
Depending on location and travel schedule, professional installation may be available.
Every Hallway Teaches Something
Whether you're adding your first Starter Set or transforming an entire hallway, summer is the perfect time to create a space that supports movement, self-regulation, and learning from the very first day students walk through your doors.
If your floors haven't received their final coat of wax yet, now is the ideal time to start planning.
I'd love to help you create a hallway your students will remember long after the first day of school.
👉 Request a complimentary sample
👉 Browse our Faith-Based Collection
👉 Browse our Universal Collection
👉 Or simply contact me to discuss your space.
Trisha Klausing, MOT, OTR/L is a practicing occupational therapist and the founder of Sacred Steps Sensory Paths. She designs OT-informed movement experiences that help children regulate, learn, and thrive in schools, therapy clinics, churches, childcare centers, and community spaces.