The drawback to beautiful decorative concrete is that you notice when it is dirty. Your new surface must be maintained properly to keep its beautiful appearance and functionality. The information below will give you the knowledge needed to keep your surface looking its best.

Using During Curing:

Newly installed floors are normally cured 72 hours after final coat of wax. However on newly installed overlays the concrete reaches its maximum strength in about seven days. You can place furniture or heavy items 24 hours after final coat of wax. Avoid dragging items during curing time.

Regular Maintenance and Care:

Your custom interior floor will last a lifetime if properly maintained. A good rule of thumb is to treat it as though it were a hardwood floor. Plastic glides, felt pads or Magic Movers should be affixed to heavy furnishings or those that you will move frequently. A doormat at the outside (hemp or rope style) and inside entrance (one with a solid backing that can be shook off outside) of a home will pick up over 85% of the dirt that would otherwise be tracked inside.

Plastic-backed products should NOT be used for your mats. An acrylic or plastic-backed mat can cause discoloration under and around the mat. This phenomenon, called "plasticizer migration," occurs when a plasticizer in a floor mat or floor material transfers itself (migrates) into the floor finish or sealer. A plasticizer is an ingredient of a floor finish (or flooring/mat product) that makes it more flexible and less brittle. This is accomplished with an additive that reduces intermolecular forces in the polymers. Since the intermolecular forces are reduced, the molecules in the plastic mat surface next to your floor will actually want to bond with the molecules in the sealer MORE than the sealer bonds to the concrete.

Then when you pull up the mat, you may be tearing up part of your sealer. If a solid backed mat is used, it should be a mat with a backing of 100% Rubber material.

Daily dust mopping removes the fine dust and grit which can grind away floor finish. It will help prevent major floor finish deterioration caused by normal foot traffic. The best results are obtained by using a Micro-Fiber Dust Mop. The following procedures should be followed:

1. Damp mopping with cool water and a neutral ph cleaner extends the floor finish life. It will not dull the finish and will enhance the gloss retention.

2. Follow the recommended dilution rates on label directions.

3. The mop should be wrung out tightly so that it is just damp. Do not allow the cleaning solution to puddle.

4. NEVER use ammonia, bleach or Pine Sol because they will serve to break down the wax and sealer over time.

5. NEVER use a "Swiffer Wet-Jet" type of cleaning tool. The liquid in these devices contain trace amounts of Solvent material. The Solvent will not harm the sealer but will cause the wax to weaken.

Waxing:

We recommend NCL’s Withstand as the sacrificial coating to protect the sealer and bear the brunt of the scuff and scratches. Your floor was installed with at least 2 coats of wax for the initial protection. The wax may be bought at JWS Janitorial Supply in Fort Worth, among other places.

1. How often you need to re-wax depends on the use you, your children or pets put on the floor. It varies by owner and may be anywhere from every 4 months to every year.

2. Use a finish mop. (a looped-end Rayon mop, distinguishable by its blue string mixed into the mop threads)

3. Use a mop bucket, or pour a dinner-plate sized puddle on the floor and spread it evenly and thinly. Spread the material across the surface and let it dry for 1 hour. You are now ready for foot traffic again.