The concrete facts on flooring

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Tip: The concrete facts on flooring

By William R. Griffin

One of the benefits and advantages of concrete is that a wide range of products can be used to seal, finish or coat the surface.

Exactly which product to use should be dictated by surface texture, budget, and intended use for the area.

For example, after sealing and or finishing, a simple cleaning program may be all that is needed for several years for a warehouse floor with light use conditions.

For such use, the floor may be sealed with a water or solvent based penetrating sealer or finish of one type or another.

Two common types are silicate or silicone dressings. Other materials are also available from specialty suppliers.

Regardless of the product used, it is important to closely follow the product manufacturer’s application and maintenance instructions.

If a floor’s intended use requires more elaborate protection, a maintenance supplier that specializes in concrete coatings should be consulted to determine which type of seal/coating is best suited for the floor’s long-term use.

Concrete that has been sealed can then be coated with any compatible product, including a buffable floor finish or natural wax and then polished or burnished to maintain a high shine or luster, if desired.

In other locations, again depending on use conditions, a topical epoxy, paint or other coating may be applied to the surface.

Wm R. Griffin is president of Seattle-based Cleaning Consultant Services, Inc.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Seal concrete: For opportunity, efficiency, ease of maintenance

Sealing concrete offers opportunities for the contract cleaner; helps reduce maintenance for the in-house cleaner and can also improve indoor air quality — for everybody's benefit.

New construction

Finishing services (which can also include tile grout sealing) are part of a total floor care business.

There are a variety of problems that can arise on unsealed concrete:

Efflorescence, (which, according to the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota, occurs when soluble calcium hydroxides leach from concrete and react to carbon dioxide in the air to form insoluble calcium carbonates) — can mar the appearance of concrete building walls and floors quickly

Stains can be very difficult or impossible to remove from concrete — again, the problem is porosity

Unsealed concrete wears under traffic, yielding a fine dust which can become airborne.

Sealing is best done after construction cleanup. However, it may be possible to do quality work later — the price may be extraordinary cleaning efforts on unsealed concrete.

Even so, sealing will likely prove worthwhile. The surface will be much easier to clean. Additionally, a gloss finish on concrete can make a room, garage, etc., considerably brighter — creating lasting benefits in the form of energy savings and heightened visibility.

Attack discoloration with specialized cleaning formula. Use a heavy duty degreaser with a coarse scrub brush for agitation and then flush with water.

Use an acid etch on all unsealed concrete to assure and good bond between the seal and concrete.

If acid is used, the surface must be rinsed thoroughly with water.

Pressure washing can be used in helping prep a surface.

Tougher stains, tougher solutions: Among them: Application of ammonium citrate (up to 30 percent) formula; allow dwell time until gel forms; rinse and repeat.

Some cleaning professionals use absorbent materials to lift deep grease/oil stains; if using diatomaceous pool filter media, wear respirator; the material may contain known carcinogens.

If a stain is truly hopeless, a colored seal may be used to cover it up after acid etching has been done to prepare the surface.

That's why sealing the floor immediately after construction cleanup is advisable.

For best results, the surface must be clean, dry and powder free.

The sealer itself

Choices in urethane/acrylic sealers pertain to issues such as physical wear (traffic); ability to resist staining (especially vehicle tire marks) and ease of maintenance.

Certain epoxy sealers especially for industrial settings, the ability to withstand solvents (spills, etc.).

Some durable acrylic/urethane sealers block moisture, but allow gases to escape, helping maintain the integrity of the finish.

Author Unknown