How To Maintain The Shine In Your Polished Concrete Floors

How To Maintain The Shine In Your Polished Concrete Floors?

The level of shine is an option you’ll be given when you choose your preferred level of aggregate (stone) exposure and your preferred level of gloss. If you have a Polished Concrete Floor that was once high gloss and you’re finding it looking very dull after some years, you may just need a buff to get the gloss back.

If you chose a matte floor finish and want it to be gloss, you’ll need it to be polished up through several processes to achieve the new level of gloss. If you’re having your Floors Polished, you are on-site while the work is being done and your floor hasn’t been sealed yet, please speak with our technician as soon as possible. Depending on the timing of the process, it may be possible to increase the gloss level before finalisation.

If your floor is a grind and seal instead of a mechanical polish, the level of shine will be achieved with the sealer itself. No matter what type of finish you choose, if you have strong preferences about the level of shine, please be sure to discuss this with our team in advance, and we will be happy to help you achieve the finish you want.

Choose A High-Quality Sealant

The type of sealer can have a vast impact on the final finish of your floors.

There is a wide range of sealers available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. As such, you will need to pick the one that’s most suitable for the finish you want to achieve (and maintain). At Polished Concrete Floors Sydney, we use a high-quality sealant that results in a beautiful, longer-lasting shine.

Sweeping And Mopping

Dust and dirt can dull even the shiniest of surfaces. So, to keep Polished Concrete Floors looking their finest, regular cleaning is important. Thankfully, this couldn’t be easier!

Keeping your floors dust-free is as simple as a nightly sweep with a microfibre mop. If you don’t have one of these, a cotton or soft-bristled broom will also do the job.

Then, once a week, go over the area with a damp mop. This will remove any residual dust and really get your floors shining again.

Use A Polished Concrete Floor Cleaner

Exposure to acidity will quickly dull the shine of a Polished Concrete Floor. As such, if you choose to use a floor cleaner, you need to make sure the pH is right.

Polished concrete has a slightly higher pH than most people would expect. Because of the coatings and treatments applied, it usually sits in the 10 to 12 range.

By contrast, most floor cleaners are considered “neutral” and have a pH range of 6 to 8. This means they are acidic compared to Polished Concrete Floors and can damage and dull the finish.

However, there are floor cleaners available that are specifically designed for Polished Concrete Floors. If you want to keep your floors sparkling clean for as long as possible, seek one of these out… or just stick with warm water!

Clean Up Spills Swiftly

Further to the previous point, if something acidic – like orange juice or wine – is spilled on Polished Concrete Floors, it can leave a stain. With this in mind, quickly cleaning up any spills is critical to maintaining the shine and finish of your floor.

Also, as concrete is porous, it is susceptible to water damage. Any liquid left sitting on the surface can seep in and cause a mark or discolouration. The water-resistant coating can help prevent this but mopping up any spills as quickly as possible is always the best protection.

Use Entrance Mats

While Polished Concrete Floors are fairly scratch-resistant, marks are likely to show up if sharp objects are dragged across the surface. This can have a significant impact on the overall look of your floor, particularly if it happens regularly.

One of the most common causes of scratch00.3ing is stones caught in the tread of people’s shoes. However, this can be easily prevented by placing mats at any entrance point. Doing this will also help limit the amount of dust and dirt dragged in from outside.

Watch Out For Signs Of Damage And Aging

While Polished Concrete Floors are one of the most robust flooring options available, inevitable aging will occur therefore regular maintenance is important, and repairs may be required every few years or so.

Most problems will start out minor so, by following our above-mentioned tips, you will be able to spot issues early and keep on top of maintaining your Polished Concrete Floors.

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