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Monthly Archives

September 2017

4 Reasons to Consider Concrete Cleaning and Sealing

By Concrete Cleaning

Concrete CleaningYour concrete surfaces suffer the effects of dirt and grime more than other types of surface. Over the years, concrete can become stained from chemical spills, chewing gum, and more. Concrete cleaning and sealing can return your soiled surfaces to brand new. If you’ve been thinking about having your concrete cleaned, here’s why you should call an expert today.

  1. Concrete Cleaning Improves Curb Appeal

Before you invest in any type of home improvement, you want to know what value you’re receiving in exchange for your dollars. Dirt and discoloration build up over time, so you might not notice how much your concrete has changed from when it was new.

You might sweep away or scrub at your concrete, but that doesn’t provide the deep-level cleaning that comes from hiring a professional. Technicians perform a comprehensive analysis of your concrete surfaces and use professional-grade equipment and chemicals to loosen every bit of debris. Heated, high-pressure extraction sucks away what scrubbing removed so it can’t be redeposited. Experts then seal your surface to help it resist future stains.

  1. Sealing Protects Your Investment

Whether you’re finally installing the patio of your dreams or restoring your current one to its previous glory, a sealer can protect your concrete for years to come. You wax your car to protect its paint and apply sunscreen to protect your skin. Sealing provides the same type of protection for your concrete surfaces.

Unsealed concrete is exposed to the elements. When moisture settles on your concrete, it freezes and thaws repeatedly throughout harsh Ohio winters. Fluctuating temperatures can cause unsealed concrete to weaken. Chemicals and oil are also able to quickly penetrate concrete that remains unsealed.

  1. Sealing Adds Luster

You choose how your concrete will look after professionals apply sealer. Most sealers soak into the concrete and become invisible after they dry. Acrylic resin sealers and epoxies can give your concrete a glossy surface. Sealers can also be tinted to change the color of your concrete.

  1. Sealer Is Long-Lasting

Some maintenance has to be repeated every year, but with proper care, sealers can last for years. Because they penetrate deep into your concrete, they offer long-term protection.

If you’re not sure how much difference professional cleaning and sealing might make for your concrete surfaces, why not see an expert demonstration? Professional Surface Restoration offers free estimates with no obligation. Contact us to set up an appointment.

Keeping Your Grout Sparkling Between Cleanings

By Tile and Grout

grout cleaningGrout is one of the most difficult areas in the house to clean. Even the most luxurious tile can look lackluster when it’s surrounded by discolored grout. A professional can reveal the true luster hiding underneath – but without some maintenance, you’ll find your grout lines accumulating dirt once again. Here’s how to fight buildup between professional tile and grout cleanings.

Understand the Grime

If just you and one other person live in your house, you probably each take a shower every day. That’s 730 showers a year. Grout stays damp around the clock, making it vulnerable to mold and mildew. If you have hard water, rust and minerals can leave behind residue.

Kitchen tiles undergo a similar assault. Every time you prepare meals, enzymes in food can seep into grout to cause stains.

Seal Your Grout

If you had your grout professionally cleaned, the cleaning service probably applied a seal to repel water and resist stains. If you haven’t had your grout cleaned in a while, apply a silicone-based sealer after you get it clean.

Squeegee Daily

In your shower, install a squeegee with a suction cup. Use it to quickly wipe water from tiles to keep mineral deposits from penetrating. Then, mix a solution of four parts water to one part vinegar and lightly mist tile and grout to prevent mold and mildew.

Clean Weekly

Even if you squeegee every time you shower, personal care products and body oil can still build up. Scrub them away with a paste made from baking soda and water. Use an old toothbrush to work it into grout, then rinse.

Stained grout can be brightened by mixing a little peroxide with the baking soda instead of using water. Just be careful not to mix your baking soda with vinegar or you might have a reaction that reminds you of your grade school volcano project.

Address Seriously Discolored Grout 

Sometimes life gets too busy to focus on grout, and things get out of hand. If you realize your grout is more discolored than a little peroxide and baking soda can fix, bleach can help remove stains. Use a bleach pen for small areas or apply powdered bleach like OxyClean for grout that shows extensive stains.

Often the best solution is to have your grout restored by a professional so you have a fresh start. Professional Surface Restoration can make your grout look new again. Contact us for a free consultation today.

How to Winterize Your Pool

By Deep Cleaning, Pool Cleaning

winterize your poolIs it time to winterize your pool? It may not seem like it now, but before long, the weather will be changing. Leaves will start to fall, and families will start to look toward the holidays. Winterizing your pool protects it from damage when water freezes. If you have a cover, it also keeps out leaves and other debris. Whether you have an in-ground or above-ground pool, here’s how to get it ready for the months ahead.

Deep Clean Your Pool

No matter what kind of pool you have, it needs to be sparkling clean before you winterize. That water isn’t going to be circulating through the filter for months, so anything you leave behind will be a mess to deal with in the spring. Make sure you deep clean in the fall to protect your pool and make it easy to open again next year.

Sometimes hard water stains build up on pool tiles, making them look cloudy. These deposits can be extremely hard to remove. When water sits along the tile line all winter, it leaves behind discoloration and oils from the water. Consider hiring a company that specializes in hard surface cleaning to remove stains before you cover your pool for the season.

Steps to Winterizing an In-Ground Pool

Always check with your pool equipment’s manufacturer to see if there are precautions unique to your type of equipment. The first step in winterizing any pool is to balance your pool water. Several weeks before you close your pool, shock the water, then adjust your pH.

Clean the pool as thoroughly as possible to remove any debris. Lower the water level about a foot and add the chemicals from a pool closing kit. Use your net or brush to make sure chemicals are distributed evenly.

Clean your pool filter and remove drain plugs from filtration equipment. Blow out the lines to make sure there’s no water left that can freeze and cause pipes to burst. Use freeze plugs in skimmers and returns, then shut the pump off at the circuit breaker so it won’t kick back on.

If your pool has a vinyl liner, take a few extra precautions. Monitor your water level to make sure it doesn’t get too low or your liner may pull away from the wall and become damaged. Add water as needed to prevent damage.

How to Winterize Above-Ground Pools

Winterizing an above-ground pool requires many of the same steps as other pools. Make sure you do the following:

  • A few weeks before you close your pool, check and adjust chemicals.
  • Clean your pool and get the water crystal clear. Be sure you vacuum the sides, floor, and clean along the water line.
  • Add winterizing chemicals.
  • Drain water from all pool equipment.
  • Secure your pool cover.

When it’s time to get your pool tile and other hard surfaces as clean as they can be, B Clean Pro Surfaces specializes in restoring surfaces to like-new condition. Get a free quote on our professional cleaning services today.