August 11th, 2020

Maintenance Misconceptions of Concrete

Concrete has proven itself to be a powerful construction material throughout it’s long history, and in that time it’s also displayed how reliable it can be for any residential and commercial projects. However, over the years a few common misconceptions about the maintenance of concrete have formed, it’s important to understand and know what’s going to help to maintain your concrete and what doesn’t need to be done. Below are five common misconceptions behind the maintenance of concrete. 

Misconception 1: You don’t need chemicals to maintain concrete floors. No hard flooring surface cleans itself, including concrete. Chemicals are used to breakdown, remove and clean dirt and debris. Concrete is exposed to the same dirt and debris as any other flooring, so it should be maintained in a similar manner.

Misconception 2: All concrete walking surfaces are created equal. Concrete is either coated or polished. Maintenance of coated concrete will come down to the maintenance of the coating. For example, epoxies, urethanes and acrylics will have their own criteria associated with them.  Polished concrete is maintained with abrasives. While much of the daily maintenance will be similar to other hard floor surfaces, you need to consider the coating before developing a comprehensive maintenance program.

Misconception 3: Cleaning staff know how to clean concrete floors. Depending on who handles cleaning and maintenance responsibilities, there’s a good chance that someone with little to no experience is cleaning concrete floors, including professional cleaning staff. Before you let anyone clean your floors, make sure they have the knowledge and expertise for the job.

Misconception 4: Concrete floors will last just as long without any cleaning or maintenance. If the concrete is coated, the longevity of the floor is dependent on the quality of the coating and how it is maintained. If the concrete is mechanically polished, the longevity is dependent on the methods and how well those methods were executed during the process of polishing. A properly polished concrete floor with bonded abrasives will have reduced maintenance and longer time period in between restorative procedures than traditional flooring surfaces.

Misconception 5: Soil loads and the type of soil do not impact how a concrete floor is cleaned. A concrete floor is no different than any other hard floor surface. The amount of soil and the type of soil will dictate the frequency of and the type of cleaning procedures. 

​As always, the experts at A-Concrete are here to help you. Regardless of the project size or type, the specialists have your back. Head to our website and get in touch with the A-Concrete team. 👍