Concrete is known as one of the strongest most durable materials, which is why buildings and many other structures are built with concrete, but that doesn’t mean that it is completely unable to be damaged. Different concrete structures, parking lots and floors are susceptible to certain damage even if it is stronger than other options. Concrete floor repair doesn't need to happen very often since it is so adverse to wear and tear, but if concrete does end up needing repairs, there are ways that it can be repaired easily and efficiently.
Before we begin to discuss how polished gets repaired when needed, let’s first figure out what types of things can cause damage in the first place to help you avoid them.
What can damage your floors?
Though polished concrete is incredibly durable, there are some things that can still have an effect on them. Polished concrete can suffer from small scratches. This could be from wheels like in a grocery store or hospital setting. Your concrete floor may also suffer from cracking, regardless of how well you take care of it or how well it is installed. The biggest reason that concrete floors crack is due to thermal stress. This is when the concrete heats up and then cools down, causing it to expand and then shrink. Things that are acidic that are spilled on your polished concrete may also have a negative effect on the surface of it and cause discoloring.
Scratches
The only way to repair scratches in your polished concrete floors is to regrind and repolish. This means that regrinding will take place to remove the existing polish, which will ultimately remove the scratches. It will then be repolished. This can be a fairly easy concrete floor repair process if the area that is scratched and needs to be fixed is small. A good contractor will be able to match any dyes or stains in order to make the repair seamless.
Staining
You want to be careful not to have acidic substances sit on your polished concrete. If a spill happens, do your best to have it cleaned up right away. These acidic substances can include soda, pickles, mustard and other items. If left on the surface, they can etch it, which will require regrinding and repolishing. If you have a set in stain caused by oil or grease, you can actually remove that pretty easily. Use an oil or grease stain remover to pull out any tough stains. If they are set-in, you may need to apply the stain remover more than once.
Cracks
Cracking can be common for concrete floors that are exposed to heat and cold. Concrete floor repair isn’t as extreme in this case as you may think. A concrete contractor will be sure to remove the polish on top and then use a polyurethane/polyurea polymer to fill in the crack. It will be overfilled and then grinded down. Once it is set and dried, a new layer of polish will be applied. They should be able to match your existing stain or finish to make it seamless and undetectable!
At Custom Concrete Creations, we can create a beautiful polished concrete floor for you today! Give us a call and let’s get started on your newest project or have us help you with any concrete repairs you may have!