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Concrete Sealing

Jul 24
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concrete cleaning and sealing - professional surface restoration

Transforming Your Concrete: A Guide to Cleaning and Sealing

By Carpet Cleaning, Concrete Sealing

Have you ever walked into a beautiful garden or a pristine patio and felt an instant sense of tranquility? Often, the magic lies not just in the vibrant greenery or stylish furniture, but in the well-maintained concrete surfaces that tie everything together.

Concrete is not just a sturdy material for construction; it can also be a canvas for artistic expression and a focal point of your outdoor spaces. Because of this, it’s important to clean concrete surfaces regularly to maintain their optimal appearance.

Understanding the Importance of Cleaning Concrete

Your concrete surfaces bear the brunt of the elements, foot traffic, and other factors, leading to dirt, stains, and even mildew growth — that’s why regular cleaning is essential.

Not only does cleaning remove unsightly blemishes, but it also prevents further deterioration and helps extend the lifespan of your concrete. As a result, you can maintain its aesthetic and integrity for longer periods.

RELATED ARTICLE: 5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Upholstery Cleaning Services

Preparing for the Cleaning Process

Before diving into cleaning, make sure to gather the necessary tools, such as a broom, pressure washer or hose, stiff brush, mild detergent, and safety equipment.

Once you have these items on hand, start by sweeping the area to remove loose debris. If you want to achieve a deeper clean, use a pressure washer or hose with a high-pressure nozzle to remove ingrained dirt and stains. If you encounter any stubborn stains, apply a mild detergent and scrub with a stiff brush.

Don’t worry, if these tasks seem out of scope for you, you can always hire professional concrete cleaning services from Professional Surface Restoration.

Sealing the Deal: The Importance of Concrete Sealing

Once your concrete is clean, it’s time to protect it with a high-quality sealer. Concrete sealing provides numerous benefits, including enhanced durability; resistance to moisture, oil, and stains; and the preservation of its natural appearance.

Sealing also helps prevent cracks and slows down the wear and tear that UV rays and freeze-thaw cycles cause.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Benefits of Professional Carpet Cleaning

The Sealing Process

Selecting the appropriate sealer is crucial to achieve the desired results. After consulting with a professional and selecting the most suitable sealant, it’s time to proceed to the next phase: sealing.

To seal your concrete, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure the surface is clean and dry.
  2. Apply the sealer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, using a roller or sprayer.
  3. Work in small sections, applying a thin and even coat.
  4. Allow the sealer to dry completely before applying additional coats if necessary.
  5. After sealing, avoid foot traffic for the recommended drying period.

By investing time and effort in maintaining your concrete, you’ll create a welcoming and visually appealing environment for yourself, your family, and your guests to enjoy for years to come. Embark on your concrete rejuvenation journey and witness the incredible transformation it brings to your outdoor spaces.

If you need help with concrete cleaning and sealing, feel free to contact us.

May 22
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concrete cleaning and sealing - professional surface restoration

The Do’s and Don’ts of Professional Concrete Cleaning and Sealing

By Concrete Cleaning, Concrete Sealing

Professional concrete cleaning makes your flooring look fresh and emphasizes its beauty. Concrete sealing also makes cleaning and maintenance easier. Together, they help extend concrete’s lifespan. To maximize these benefits, however, you’ll need to know the do’s and don’ts of concrete cleaning and sealing, which we’ll discuss below.

The Do’s of Professional Concrete Cleaning and Sealing

To ensure smooth and successful concrete cleaning and sealing, perform the following.

Remove Any Dirt

When you’re sealing concrete, don’t ignore dirt and stains. Vacuum or sweep the concrete floor to get rid of dust, dirt, and debris. Remove oil stains and grime from the concrete surface so that they won’t be sealed permanently once you apply the coating.

Put On Protective Clothing and Eyewear

When cleaning and sealing concrete, make sure to wear heavy-duty clothes, gloves, and protective eyewear. You might also want to wear a mask, so you won’t inhale the fumes. Wearing protective clothing keeps you safe from possible skin irritation and accidents. Once you’re done cleaning and sealing, change clothes right away.

Use the Right Cleaner and Sealer

To ensure safe and excellent results, use a cleaner that’s meant for concrete. This way, you won’t have a hard time removing dirt and stains or worry about damaging your concrete. Moreover, it’s important to use the right sealer. Consider factors like the look that you want and what the sealer has to repel. There are acrylic resin-based sealers, which are cheaper but of great quality. Penetrating sealers are also ideal for stain protection.

With a reliable company like Professional Surface Restoration, however, you can be confident that the best cleaner and sealer is used to keep your concrete in its best condition.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Remove Rust Stains from Concrete Floors

The Don’ts of Professional Concrete Cleaning and Sealing

Committing concrete cleaning and sealing mistakes can ruin your concrete instead of increasing its longevity. So, take note of the following don’ts of cleaning and sealing concrete.

Use Harsh Chemicals

Using harsh chemicals can cause damage to the floor and even remove the sealant. As a result, the surface becomes more prone to dirt and stains. You won’t have these kinds of problems when getting a professional to clean and seal your concrete floors.

Walk on Sealer While Wet

Walking on the sealer while it’s still wet will affect the way it dries. Also, the sealer is slippery when not yet dry, so it’s best to keep everyone safe by putting out some wet flooring signs.

Apply Sealer Unevenly

Make sure you carry out an even application of sealer regardless of if you roll it on or spray it. Moreover, make sure the application isn’t too thick so it won’t take long for the sealer to dry. You can always apply a second coat after applying the sealer too thin.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why Hire a Professional for Cleaning Your Concrete Floor

Concrete cleaning and sealing add beauty to your home and make your concrete last longer. To enjoy the benefits in the long run, make sure to consider the do’s like using the right cleaner and wearing protective clothing. At the same time, avoid mistakes like uneven application of sealer and applying harsh chemicals. To experience professional and top-quality concrete cleaning and sealing results, it’s always best to work with Professional Surface Restoration. Contact us for more details.

Aug 09
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clean and seal concrete - professional surface restoration

How to Clean and Seal Concrete Surfaces

By Concrete Cleaning, Concrete Sealing

While concrete is considered low maintenance, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to clean and keep it in the best condition. Cleaning your driveways and patios periodically will improve not only the overall aesthetics of your home but also their longevity.

So, how do you clean and seal concrete driveways? Find out some useful tips below!

Get Rid of Debris and Oil Spots

First, remove dirt and debris with a broom. Get rid of the weeds from the cracks and apply a weed killer. For oil and grease stains, use a spill absorber, and then spray a degreaser. Let it soak for up to five minutes. Then get a brush to scrub the stains.

RELATED ARTICLE: 3 Quick Tips to Shiny Epoxy Flooring

If there’s spilled paint on the concrete, use a paint stripper and remover, then scrub with a brush. Read the instructions carefully. You’ll likely need to soak the cleanser into the concrete for a few hours. For rust stains use a high-quality rust remover. Rust removers that contain oxalic acid remove the rust effectively.

Eliminate Mold and Mildew

In addition to taking care of the stains and rust, you’ll remove mold and mildew using water. If water alone is not enough, mix bleach and water well, spray the stained part, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling the bleach and gloves to protect your skin.

Fix Cracks

If you see some cracks, make sure to repair them first. Use a crack sealant and wait for about four hours. Drought or too much water can cause larger cracks and create more problems. In this case, it’s best to contact a trusted company offering quality concrete repair.

RELATED ARTICLE: 3 DIY Hacks for Getting Rid of Carpet Stains

Use a Pressure Washer

Use a pressure washer to clean the whole surface thoroughly. Wear goggles and gloves, long pants, long sleeves, and closed shoes as a precautionary measure while pressure washing. Let the area dry for 24 hours first before proceeding to the next step.

Seal the Surface

Once your concrete driveway or patio is dry, you can now add a sealant to avoid future damage. Note that other concrete includes a sealer, so test it out first by sprinkling drops of water on the surface. If the water is absorbed, then you can apply the sealant.

Add a Second Coat

Concrete sealers can have a glossy, semi-glossy, or matte finish. If you want to ensure a shiny finish, you can apply a second coat two hours after the first one. Then let the sealer sit for 24 hours.

Hire a Cleaning Professional

If you want to keep your concrete driveways and patios clean, protected, and beautiful for years to come, hire cleaning and sealing experts like Professional Surface Restoration. Our certified technicians conduct a careful and thorough assessment of your concrete surfaces and use cutting-edge tools and equipment so you can be confident that your concrete floors remain spotless.

Cleaning and sealing your driveways and patios will help protect one of your biggest investments. Give us a call at (419) 705-8693 or contact us to schedule an appointment.

Visit https://prosurfacerestore.com to find more ways to keep your concrete surfaces and your home lovely and well-maintained.

 

Sep 12
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Concrete Densifier Explained

By Concrete Cleaning, Concrete Densifier, Concrete Sealing

Concrete DensifierConcrete densifier is often promoted as one of the top advancements in concrete technology today. However, the nature of the product can be confusing to those without a deep knowledge of the concrete industry. What is densifier? How does it work? How might it affect the life of your flooring?

Here is a brief FAQ regarding these questions and more.

What Is Concrete Densifier?

Concrete densifier is a chemical product applied to the surface of a concrete floor to provide more density to the concrete. Once applied, the densifier fills in the pores near the surface of the concrete, providing a denser product and a harder surface. Building owners utilize concrete densifiers to produce a finish that is more resistant to wear and staining.

What Is Concrete Densifier Made Of?

Although chemical components may differ slightly across brands, most concrete densifiers are similarly composed. Typically, densifiers are water-based and made up of chemicals that react with the concrete to fill its pores. Most often, these chemicals include sodium, potassium, or lithium silicates.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Winterize Your Concrete Floor 

How Does It Work?

As concrete cures, it produces calcium carbonate as a byproduct – also known as free lime or concrete dust. After concrete densifier is applied, its chemicals react with this concrete dust to form a calcium silicate hydrate gel. The gel fills the pores near the surface of the concrete, eventually crystallizing and tightening the pores to provide more density and hardness to the concrete.

When Is It Applied?

Concrete densifier can be applied to multiple types of newly placed concrete floors, including high traffic areas like loading docks and warehouses, as well as large, flat areas for commercial spaces that will eventually receive polish. In fact, polished floors should always receive a densifier treatment during the refinement process to increase resistance to staining, abrasion, and dusting. The stage in the refinement process at which the densifier is applied can vary based on the nature of the concrete used and may occur after the initial metal grinding or as a final step.

RELATED ARTICLE: Concrete Floor Maintenance Tips

Why Should You Use Densifier?

Densifier does not replace sealers or epoxy coatings, both of which provide a truly sealed surface that repels stains. In addition, epoxy provides an additional layer of protection, which absorbs some of the wear and tear normally experienced by the concrete. However, for natural or polished concrete floors, densifiers provide oil and chemical resistance, minimal dusting, and increased durability against abrasion and other forms of wear.

Contact Professional Surface Restoration for more information about concrete densifiers and how to incorporate our commercial concrete cleaning services. Our in-depth knowledge of concrete surfaces ensures your floor will receive the best cleaning, sealant and aftercare in the business. We guarantee the work we do for all our clients, tailored to the exact specifications of your floor.

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.

Sep 18
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How to Winterize Your Concrete Floor

By Concrete Cleaning, Concrete Sealing

how to winterize your concreteConcrete is a porous material, and despite its strength and durability, this means it’s vulnerable to certain weather conditions. Winter weather – especially snow – can wear down concrete surfaces by seeping into the material. Much like roads and sidewalks, concrete patio floors and driveways can experience destructive freeze/thaw cycles during the winter. As a homeowner, it’s important to understand why the winter poses such a big threat to concrete surfaces and how you can act to protect your concrete during the coldest months of the year.

Concrete’s porosity gives it the ability to absorb water. When the weather is warm, moisture in the air, such as rain or dew, can evaporate after it’s absorbed by concrete. But as temperatures go below 32 degrees, the moisture in the air freezes and expands after it is absorbed by the concrete. This not only causes cracks to develop on the concrete’s exterior surface, but it places extreme pressure on its internal foundation as well.

Once the concrete is cracked, it’s at a higher risk of damage because water can easily get into the openings and apply pressure as it solidifies and expands. This weakens the overall stability of the concrete surface and creates a potentially hazardous walking surface.

Thankfully, you have ample time to avoid the consequences of damaged concrete surfaces before the winter begins. Consider the following winterization steps to protect your home’s concrete exteriors from deterioration as the temperatures drop.

Check Your Concrete for Signs of Damage 

The first step in winterizing your concrete surface is to evaluate its current condition. If the surface is showing signs of damage, such as cracks, unevenness, or spalling, the best solution is to have these issues repaired as soon as possible. Making a point to get the damage repaired now will help prevent it from metastasizing as the temperatures drop.

If your concrete slab has cracks but is still even, you can repair the fissures with a durable sealant. However, concrete surfaces that are uneven or with cracks bigger than a quarter inch might need to be professionally repaired or resurfaced.

Seal All Concrete Surfaces 

Sealing is the optimal way to preserve your concrete and doing so before the temperatures start to decrease will help shield it from damage that occurs a when moisture from snow and ice seeps into the concrete’s surface. If your concrete is free of cracks or has just been repaired, you can protect it with an acrylic sealant to keep it safe from moisture during the winter.

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.

For additional information, visit our concrete cleaning and sealing web page, or contact us to set up an appointment.

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