Maintenance

Your new Stained Concrete Floor or Decorative Overlay Floor must be maintained.

Interior Surface Care

Your Custom Interior Floor will last a lifetime if properly maintained. Plastic glides, Felt Pads or Magic Movers should be affixed to heavy furnishings or those which will move frequently. Use the same precautions you would use for a Hard Wood Floor. A Door Mat at the outside (Hemp or Rope style, no rubber backing ever) and inside entrance (one with a solid backing that can be shook off outside) of a home will pick up over 85% of the dirt that would otherwise be tracked inside.  When using carpet pads under area rugs, be sure to use higher quality pads.  The inexpensive pads have a high amount of rubber in them and can become adhesive.   Here is how to care for your floor:

Overlay Care – If your floor has been coated with a micro-topping, referred to as an overlay then the following procedures should be followed:

• Place pads under any heavy furniture, especially: couches, chairs, recliners, tables and entertainment centers.
• When moving furniture, please understand that you must place all furniture in its desired location. Do not slide, move or even roll your furniture.

Dust mopping – Dust mopping removes the fine dust and grit which can grind away floor finish. It will help prevent major floor finish deterioration caused by normal foot traffic. The best results are obtained by using a Micro-Fiber Dust Mop. The following procedures should be followed:

• Dust mop the floor in one continuous movement without lifting the mop off the floor. Overlap your stroke on each pass (you can also vacuum).
• Clean the dust mop after each use by shaking it outdoors, brushing it with a brush over a garbage can, or vacuuming it.
• NEVER use a Swiffer Wet-Jet type of cleaning tool. The liquid in these devices contain trace amounts of Solvent material. The Solvent will not harm the sealer but will cause the wax to egg-shell. Also, you should not use Ammonia, Bleach or Pine Sol.  A great product to use is Zep Neutral Floor Cleaner from Home Depot or Fabuloso (which comes highly recommended by several customers).

Damp mopping – use cool water with Fabuloso

• Damp mopping with cool water and a neutral ph cleaner extends the floor finish life. It will not dull the finish and will enhance the gloss retention.
• Follow the recommended dilution rates on label directions.
• The mop should be wrung out tightly so that it is just damp. Do not allow the cleaning solution to puddle.
• NEVER use a Swiffer type of cleaning tool. I know this is a repeat from above but I must state this again. The liquid in these devices contain trace amounts of Solvent material. The Solvent will not harm the sealer but will cause the wax to egg-shell. Also, no Amonia, Bleach or Pine Sol.

Waxing – Wax is the sacrificial coating to protect the sealer and bear the brunt of the scuff and scratches. Your floor was installed with at least 1 coat of wax for the initial protection. We leave the remaining wax with you so you know the type to use a 20% minimum solids wax. No Mop-n-Glo or similar wax should be used.

• How often you need to re-wax depends on the abuse you, your children or pets put on the floor. It varies by owner and may be anywhere from every 3 months to every year.
• Use a looped-end Rayon mop, synthetics release material cotton absorbs, or a Lambs Wool Applicator; we have found it easiest to use a micro fiber pad from wal-mart.
• Pour a dinner-plate sized puddle on the floor and spread it evenly and thinly. Spread the material across the surface and let it dry for 1 hour. You are now ready for foot traffic again.

The use of a Floor Mat on the Outside and Inside of entry doors will pick up about 85% of dirt that would enter a home. The use of mats is especially good if you are living in a new housing development.   Just remember NO Rubber Backing for any mats.  The rubber will bond with the sealer and when removed will pull the sealer off the floor.

Exterior Surface Care

Your Exterior surface was sealed with multiple coats of a high-solids, UV-inhibiting, penetrating solvent-based sealer. This sealer will repel dirt, dust and other substances that can get a foot-hold on concrete surfaces and promote the growth of mold and mildew. Basic care is as shown below:

• ARMOR ALL has been known to be a bond breaker to all sealers. Do not allow your vehicle tires to be saturated in ARMOR ALL and be parked on your surface that has been sealed. It can cause the sealer bond to break and ultimately fail.
• If you notice a powdery white or splotchy appearance; especially after a rain, the sealer is doing its job. This is the dirt/dust mentioned above. A rinse with a garden hose followed by a leaf blower to remove excess water will fix this.  If you have an extreme amount of hard water residue then your surface may require a mopping with Fabuloso.
• Pressure washing is generally not needed. A rinse and blow dry will remove most things on the surface.
• If there was a spill of a soft drink or something you didn’t see right away, use a mild soap like Ivory liquid in some warm water to loosen the material. Rinse and blow and you are back to a clean surface.
• Plastic glides or Magic Movers should be affixed to heavy furnishings or those which will move frequently.
• Potted plants should have a dish placed under them to catch excess water; this is especially true if you use a lot of fertilizer on the plants.
• The surface should be resealed from time-to-time. The manufacturer of the sealant recommends resealing every 1 to 2 years if using an Acrylic Sealer and 5-7 years of using a Polyurethane.  How often your surface needs to be resealed depends on the amount of rain and sunlight it receives. When you start to notice that water doesn’t bead up on or seems to absorb into the surface, it is time to reseal.

Troubleshooting:

Call Us Today, to inquire about our simple maintenance or use our online contact form. We will come to your location and re-clean your surface, re-seal, and re-wax (interior)  if needed. Maintenance starts at only 0.30 cents per square foot!

*Information may be subject to change as deemed necessary without notice!