Concrete polishing leaves your concrete surfaces highly durable and beautifully glossy. More and more people are turning to this decorating technique as a cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative to traditional flooring choices.
In this post, the Southeast Floor Maintenance team explains why polishing concrete floors is an ideal solution for high-traffic areas and how to maintain your new floors.
Why Choose Concrete Polishing?
Concrete polishing in Charlotte can mean one of two things. In the first process, profressionals grind concrete using diamond tooling or wet polishing and polishing pads to refine the surface texture. Then, they seal the surface.
The second is a quicker and more cost-effective floor polishing technique; the team carefully cleans away any dirt on the surface and then lays a resin-bonded base coat over it. They finish up this form of concrete polishing with a premium topcoat.
The result is the same in both instances: A highly durable, stunningly glossy surface that is more durable and moisture-resistant.
How to Maintain Your Polished Concrete Floors
The sealant protects the underlying layers and resists scratches and scuffs. There are, however, some things that can mar the finish. By following the tips here, you can avoid the worst of them.
Sweep or Vacuum Daily
Grit on its own will not harm the surface. However, if it stays on the floor long enough, people walking over it will grind it into the floor. Over time, this action can scratch the finish and dull the shine.
We recommend sweeping or vacuuming dirt away daily or every other day for the best results.
Wet Mop the Floor Regularly
Simply use warm, clean water to lift the dust you cannot sweep away. Wet mop the floor once a week to keep it in pristine condition. If your floors need more than just water, opt for a non-abrasive cleaning solution to avoid damaging the finish.
Keep a Patch Kit
The chance of seriously damaging the coating is very low. However, it is possible to gouge it much like you could damage wood by dragging something heavy across the surface. Keeping a patch kit on hand makes it easy to fix the issue and avoid further damage.
Use an Appropriate Cleaner
Some spills are harder to clean up than others. If you need more degreasing power, use a purpose-built cleaning agent. Be sure to stick to a pH-neutral product that does not contain abrasive agents. Unfortunately, you cannot use old favorites like baking soda or vinegar, as both natural remedies can damage the surface.
Wax as Needed
Using a purpose-built wax will restore the shine and fill in minor scratches. Depending on how much foot traffic it receives, you will generally need to wax the floor once or twice a year. However, you can intensify the waxing schedule as necessary.
Watch Out for Furniture Damage
While it is not as easy to scratch polished concrete as it is to scratch wood, we suggest acting as though it is. Placing furniture pads under the feet of furniture will dull the noise of pulling chairs in and out from under a desk. They will also prevent damage if you need to move heavy furniture.
Steer Clear of Abrasive Materials
The most abrasive tool you can use on these surfaces is a soft-bristled brush. Please avoid using any other abrasive kinds of cleaning chemicals or tools. Steel wool pads, ammonia, and stiff brooms are all tools that will damage the finish.
Where possible, use microfiber Swiffer cloths to buff up the shine. Check with us which cleaning products we recommend, and we’ll give you a comprehensive list.
Mop Carefully
When mopping, work in small areas at a time. This allows you to apply the cleaning agent and wipe it off before it dries onto the surface. We often see clients with cloudy floors wondering what went wrong.
The answer is that the effect is due to a buildup of cleaning product residue. Using plain water as often as possible reduces the chances of this happening.
Treat Stains and Spills as Soon as Possible
While the flooring will repel most liquids, it’s possible for chemical compounds within the spill to be corrosive. For example, when antifreeze leaks from your car, it might react with the flooring. However, for it to do damage, it must be in contact with the surface for a while.
So, if your car leaks overnight, clean up the spill as soon as you notice it.
Be Wary of Hot Tire Pickup
In fairness, this was more of an issue with the old epoxy formulations; however, we like to warn our clients of all the possibilities in the interests of thoroughness. Hot tire pickup occurs when you’ve been driving for a while and your car tires become warm.
Then, you drive into your garage as normal, park, and the tires cool down. The danger is that the rubber contracts as it cools. With older epoxy formulations, the coating might sometimes lift as well.
If you feel this may be an issue, consider parking your car in front of your garage for a little before parking it inside. This should provide ample time for the tires to cool.
Professional Concrete Polishing in Charlotte
Are you interested in revamping your concrete surface? Would you like to enjoy the low-maintenance benefits of concrete polishing? Contact Southeast Floor Maintenance at (704) 741-9912 today to discuss your project and get your free estimate.
