Concrete Floor Maintenance

The majority of new building construction begins with a solid concrete slab foundation. While many building owners choose to cover the slab with floor materials such as carpet, wood, tile, or linoleum, an increasing number of people are choosing to polish the concrete or use an epoxy coating.

Polished concrete and concrete epoxy coatings come in a wide variety of styles and colors that greatly enhance the aesthetic appeal of homes, schools, businesses, and industrial institutions. From highly polished metallic finishes to solid color and flake flooring systems, the combination of options is endless, and it’s quite possible to create a unique, one-of-a-kind floor with every installation.

Concrete Floor Care Basics

Concrete is made of Portland cement and crushed stone. It is not difficult to seal correctly, with a topical sealer/finish to enhance the floor and provide protection. Concrete is extremely porous. DO NOT use any butyl degreasers on concrete. The following explains how to maintain and seal concrete.

Daily Maintenance:

1. Apply REFINE-MAXX 365 with an automatic scrubber.
2. For routine cleaning, rinsing the floor is not necessary. Vacuum up spent cleaner and dissolved contaminants with an auto scrubber. For deep cleaning, or if cleaning a food-processing area, rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Do not let puddles or concentrated cleaner dry on the floor. Vacuum up rinse water with the auto scrubber.
3. Buff cleaned floor with a white pad to increase the shine.

Deep Cleaning:

1. Apply REFINE-MAXX Deep Clean with an automatic scrubber.
2. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Do not let puddles or concentrated cleaner dry on the floor. Vacuum up rinse water with the auto scrubber.
3. Buff cleaned floor with a white pad to increase the shine.

Sealing:

1. Lightly wet a clean microfiber pad with REFINE-MAXX Stain Guard, leaving the pad damp.
2. Spray-apply using a clean, pump-up sprayer fitted with a 0.5 GPM conical or fan spray tip. Work from one control joint to another.
3. Spread with the damp microfiberpad. Make sure you maintain a thin, even coating and wet edge. Once drying begins, stop spreading. Do not overlap. We recommend using two people, one spraying and one spreading, for best results.
4. Allow to dry tack-free for about 20-60 minutes.
5. Repeat steps 1-4. For maximum protection and shine, two thin coats are recommended.

In the event of any cracks or spalls (when small pieces of the concrete break off), contact a concrete flooring specialist to perform the repair and prevent further damage to your floors. The longer the damage goes untreated, the worse it can become.

To learn more about specific concrete flooring systems, contact a Jon-Don Concrete Specialist at 800-556-6366.