Guidelines For Concrete Maintenance We often think of concrete lasting forever, but like anything else, it can become dirty and stained over years of use. Cleaning your colorful concrete should become a part of your regular home maintenance program. With proper maintenance, you can greatly extend both the life and the beauty of the concrete. You probably have seen plain gray concrete that has become dirty, oil stained and grimy. Keep up your investment in colorful concrete with simple care and periodic maintenance. Follow these steps to keep your colorful concrete looking great: Routine Maintenance Remove dirt that collects in the joints Repair cracks to minimize water intrusion Light, general cleaning For general cleaning of concrete (for ground in dirt, grime, soil, etc.) first try water and scrub with a soft, non-metallic brush. If this does not produce acceptable results, step up to water with a mild soap, then water with a stronger soap, then water with a stronger soap plus ammonia. When possible, clean your concrete when the temperature and humidity allow rapid drying. If you use a chemical cleaner, make trial batches in an inconspicuous areas. Cleaning concrete can leave the cleaned area lighter than the surrounding concrete because surface dirt has been removed. In most cases, cleaning the entire area of concrete will be required. For a more thorough surface cleaning, use a low pressure water (less then 3000 p.s.i.) spray cleaning with a flat-fan nozzle. Resealing Concrete If a sealer has been previously applied to the concrete surface, the surface may only need a light, general cleaning and to have the sealer reapplied or touched up in high traffic areas.However, if the concrete has ground-in dirt, grime, tire marks, oil spills, grease, and other contaminants - these should be removed prior to installing a sealer. Please consult with your local concrete contractor for guidance on the removal of such stains.

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