When dealing with concrete in any form, you know you’re getting one of the most durable and long-lasting materials on the planet. Concrete is sturdy and strong, and it becomes even more so after adding a polished finish that, with the right little bits of upkeep, will last virtually forever.
At Packman’s Coatings, we provide high-quality concrete polishing services for any surface you require them on. And while it won’t take long due to how little they require, we’re also here to give you some basic instructions on how to care for your polished concrete floors. These steps take very little time, and will help avoid dulling of the surface or the concrete wearing down over time. Here are a couple simple areas to consider.
Dry Mop
The only task that should be performed daily, or close to daily, for your polished concrete surfaces is a basic run-through with a dry mop. If you have particular areas of the floor that receive higher amounts of traffic than others, these should get special attention with the dry mop.
We recommend using a microfiber pad, or some other very soft material, to avoid even the slight risk of scratching the surface. Use this item to pick up basic dust, which may not cause much of an issue in the short-term but can wear down the shine of your polish over time. If you’ve noticed certain areas that pick up and hold lots of dirt even despite daily mopping, consider using mats or rugs in these areas (entry points are the most common need here).
Wet Mop
While you don’t have to do it every day necessarily, we highly recommend using a wet mop on the polished concrete at least a few times per week. You’ll usually need nothing but warm water and a mop, though a specific cleaning solution might be needed if you have specific stains or dirt to clean. If you do use a cleaning product, ensure it has a neutral pH – products that are too acidic or alkaline can dull the shine of the surface.
Sealer and Burnishing
In some cases, basic dulling of the polished surface is virtually unavoidable due to major foot traffic and other stresses. In these cases, you can resolve the issue using a cheap, simple application of a sealer and burnishing on the floor. However, if you follow the simple mopping directions we gave you above, most floors won’t deal with dulling issues more than once every few years, if even that often.
For more on how to care for and maintain your polished concrete surfaces, or to learn more about our services in this area or epoxy coatings, concrete staining and others, speak to the pros at Packman’s Coatings today.