Concrete flooring is very popular in commercial and contemporary settings and ticks so many boxes; it’s hard wearing, cost effective, low maintenance and it’s generally considered to have a small carbon footprint. Designers and self-builders have long been fans of its industrial vibe and, in recent years, it’s become more mainstream.
Much like polished or honed natural stone, polished concrete contains lots of tiny pinholes which make it porous and prone to staining. Unsealed concrete can also be very dusty. Polished concrete densifiers are used during the grinding/polishing process to improve wear resistance, before applying a sealer or a coating. Before grinding begins, it’s good practice to prepare your concrete surface by washing it with a dilute solution (1 : 10) of ECOPROTEC Stone & Tile Intensive Cleaner.
Concrete toppings
The new breed of concrete toppings or ‘micro toppings’ are another option and they’ve extended the design potential of concrete enormously. Concrete toppings are generally used to upgrade or repair existing concrete surfaces. They consist of a thinner layer of specialised concrete which is applied over an existing surface. Toppings are hardwearing and they come in lots of decorative colours. Most are honed, but you can also polish them. They don’t require application of a densifier but they are porous, so it’s good practice to apply a sealer to improve their resistance to staining.
Protecting impregnators and wax finishes
An impregnating sealer, like water-based ECOPROTEC Natural Finish Stone Sealer or ECOPROTEC Colour Enhancing Stone Sealer for deeper enhancement can be applied to both types of surface. If the concrete is sufficiently dense, and a matt finish is desired, then an impregnating sealer can be used without the need to apply a finishing wax. During application, the first coat is spread out evenly using a sealant applicator and, once absorbed, a second coat is applied 30 minutes later. Then, 45 minutes after the final coat, the sealer is dry buffed using a rotary machine with a white pad. Sometimes, the surface may look a little patchy after treatment, especially if the sealer is applied to concrete when it’s still slightly damp. The patchiness is caused by retained moisture. This is normal and it will eventually dry out.
An additional wax treatment is very popular for both polished/honed concrete and concrete toppings and is used to provide an extra barrier of protection and enhance the appearance. Options that we recommend include our ECOPROTEC Satin Finish Wax which is a hard-wearing metallised flooring grade acrylic wax that reinforces protection and embellishes the surface. Binding qualities within the seal help to prevent dusting and degradation, and facilitate cleaning and aftercare. The protector is applied onto clean concrete and spread out evenly with a sealant applicator. The first coat is then left to dry for 45 minutes and the two further coats are applied using the same method. For a darker aesthetic, up to six coats can be applied.
Ongoing maintenance
Correct maintenance is really important. Although polished concrete is very durable, it can be vulnerable to non-neutral solutions; acidic cleaners will dull the polish and alkali treatments will remove the sealer.
If a satin finish is applied and the traffic is moderate, and the concrete is only washed using a daily pH neutral detergent, signs of wear or evidence of tracking in the most heavily walked areas may begin to show. Routine mopping with ECOPROTEC Natural Stone & Porcelain Aftercare Cleaner, with a couple of caps of ECOPROTEC Satin Finish Wax is recommended here; the detergent lifts the daily dirt and grime and, as it dries, any minor scuffs and scratches are repaired.
If the concrete is finished with an impregnating sealer and there is no wax applied, then we recommend ECOPROTEC Natural Stone & Porcelain Aftercare Cleaner. This will keep surfaces clean without compromising the protection or altering the aesthetic. Washing routinely with the additional capfuls of ECOPROTEC Satin Wax Finish is also an option here too, if you want to gradually build a slight sheen.
For more advice, browse ECOPROTEC TV on YouTube, contact the ECOPROTEC team direct on 01823 662722 or email technical@ecoprotec.co.uk
