Although polished concrete is a highly durable flooring option, it can succumb to damage after a long time. The damage usually occurs and can be caused by; using harsh soaps to clean it, stains caused by other liquids seeping through the concrete, exposure to high foot traffic, and exposure to high impact are the issue with epoxy.
We interviewed an epoxy flooring contractor near marlboro NJ can also wear and tear if the contractor laid the foundation improperly. Improperly laying the polished concrete can cause air pockets and bubbles inside the concrete. These bubbles later worsen and crack.
Luckily, there are ways to fix the small imperfections that occur over time. Read on to find out how to repair polished concrete floors.
Repairing Dulling
A polished concrete floor can become dull when exposed to high traffic, usually by foot. This can occur in places like restaurants, school’s common areas, or grocery stores. Typically, this happens when the floor features a burnished tropical treatment or a sealer to give it a shiny look. These features usually wear out fast over time. You can look at these tips from a company in Texas.
If you went for a mechanically polished concrete floor where physical buffing is done to produce a shiny appearance, your floor’s shine might last for a while compared to when you use chemicals to get the same effect. Nevertheless, the polished concrete floor is bound to become dull after some time, no matter how well it is polished.
A mere rebuffing process can make your polished concrete shiny again to fix the dulling. The floors will look as good as new once a professional rebuffing is done.
Fixing Cracks
Besides dulling, cracking is another common problem for polished concrete floors. And just like dulling, you cannot entirely avoid cracking. Cracking usually occurs when the chemicals used in making the concrete floor shrink. Also, adding more water to the concrete puts the concrete at more risk of cracking.
However, unlike dulling, cracking is not easy to fix, especially when the cracks appear in small areas. Replicating a good finish can be challenging in such areas, and pouring more concrete into the cracks will not do the trick. When your concrete develops small cracks, the advisable thing to do is to consult a professional contractor first to assess the extent of the damage and have them give their advice on the best way to fix the cracks.
Typically, an epoxy repair mortar is used to repair concrete cracks. The other alternative is by using control joints. Control joints are more of a preventive measure than a repair method since they are fixed on the concrete floor when the concrete is being laid. The control joints help provide stable and durable flooring and limit the threat of cracking.
Fixing Crazing
Cracks are known as crazing when they become interconnected, forming a hexagonal shape. The cracks result in a sloppy and unsightly appearance.
Crazing occurs when the finishing of the concrete floor is poorly done or when the concrete dries too fast. Fortunately, concrete contractors can fix the crazing when it occurs during the construction. They do this using a method known as moist curing. Moist curing is a popular repair product that features a spray-on with chemicals that fix the crazing. Alternatively, the contractor can use other stiffer and drier mixing solutions.
Other more straightforward methods that do not involve chemicals include using a broom to brush over the concrete floor in the final stages. This method is useful in masking cracks and other surface blemishes of a minor scale. Prompt repair of crazing is necessary to avoid severe damage when the crazing is left for longer.
Finally, since it is almost impossible to prevent the concrete floor from dulling and cracking, the best thing to do is to ensure you involve professional contractors when installing the polished concrete floor. This will enable you to at least enjoy your beautifully shiny concrete floor before you have to think of repairing it. But make sure you involve professional flooring contractors to get quality results.
