Minnesota Concrete Blog » Concrete Maintenance

Interior Concrete Maintenance

admin — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:54:36 +0000

Concrete floors that have been stained, colored, or painted are the newest material of choice for both homer designers and homeowners. When these floors are installed, they are acid-stained then sealed with a concrete sealer so that they will be water-resistant as well as impervious to stains, dirt, and anything abrasive.

If you own a home with one of these beautiful new floors or are thinking of having one installed, it’s good to know that care and maintenance is easy and not very labor intensive.

Dusting frequently to remove dust and dirt will help safeguard against any abrasion, which may take away from the shine. Some experts recommend a micro-fiber mop and using overlapping and uninterrupted mopping motions.

To get rid of stains and set in dirt, regular damp mopping with cool water will help keep your concrete floor shiny. If you use a cleaner, use one with a neutral pH balance – not too acidic and not too alkaline. Make sure the mop is just slightly damp and not completely wet. Mops like the Swiffer Wet-Jet are not recommended because the cleaners that come with them contain solvents that will streak the sealer on your floor and leave it looking hazy.

In order to keep up the natural shine to your concrete floor, the floors can be occasionally waxed or simply buffing the floor with a polishing compound will do the trick.

If you live in the upper Midwest, Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. can help you with all of your concrete flooring needs, from installing to repairing and care and maintenance.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of concrete floors MN for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Exterior Concrete Maintenance Tips

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:02 +0000

Exterior and decorative concrete requires care and periodic maintenance. The following care and maintenance plan should be performed on a regular basis.

Scrub or pressure wash dirt, oil, abrasives such as sand or gravel
Remove leaves and fertilizers that may stain concrete
Never use an acid based cleaner. Apply a neutral cleaner to the surface with a scrub brush and rinse.

A cement sealer should always be applied to new exterior cement surfaces. Preparation for a sealer application requires performing the basic routine maintenance. Depending on the intensity of sunlight, automobile traffic and climate conditions, resealing may be necessary on a yearly basis. Chemicals and solvents can severely damage the protective coating of a sealed cement surface and it may require resealing.

Try to avoid chemical deicers and never use rock salt or any agent that contains ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, as irreparable damage can occur.

Oil stains are some of the most difficult stains to remove from concrete. However, recently, there has been a scientific breakthrough in oil stain removal. A single celled microorganism has been developed that feeds on oil. After they eat all the oil, they die and the concrete surface is clean and free of oil.

Following these few simple tips will help keep your exterior or decorative concrete looking great and keep it lasting for many seasons to come.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of exterior concrete in Minnesota for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Concrete Driveways

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:17:37 +0000

Concrete driveways offer many wonderful and applicable options to the exterior of one’s home. Concrete driveways are durable, look great, are cost effective and can be maintained well.

Most homeowners want the exterior, as well as the interior to look good and that is where a concrete driveway becomes a part of a good-looking home. What makes a concrete driveway an asset for homeowners is its color, texture and a traditional look that not only works well for most homes but highlights the property value of a home.

What some don’t know is that concrete driveways can add an enhanced look to one’s driveway with optional choices that give the appearance of slate, stone or brick. Many designs are available for the homeowner; designs that enhance and upgrade the look of most homes. Browse Lowell Russell Concrete’s photo gallery of concrete driveways for ideas and examples.

What makes concrete driveways an excellent choice for homeowners is its functionality and its many design options. In addition, concrete driveways heighten and enhance the value of one’s property. Concrete also is very durable and can last up to 30 years with little maintenance required.

Once a concrete driveway has been finished, it is advised to apply a high quality sealer on the entire concrete area. This sealer will help protect the concrete from being damaged from thaw and freeze cycles and from absorbing moisture. This is also where it pays to invest in high quality concrete and the experienced workmanship of a contractor.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of Minnesota concrete driveways for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Concrete Driveways

Environmentally Friendly Benefits of Building with Concrete

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:08:15 +0000

Decorative concrete is fast becoming known as the “green” alternative of building materials. The trend now is green building, and decorative concrete is on the cutting edge because it is an environmentally friendly building material, extremely durable, and aesthetically versatile. Concrete also helps reflect sunlight which reduces heat, and this natural method of cooling helps reduce energy costs in buildings and homes.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly floor covering, try decorative concrete. Since there are no organic materials in decorative concrete, it will not have mold or mildew. Carpets can have animal dander and dust mites, which are bad for people with allergies or asthma. Cleaners for carpets, along with the padding and adhesives can contain noxious chemicals.

Concrete is made from materials that are not scarce and contain no harmful emissions. Decorative concrete is the healthy and environmentally alternative floor covering. It is economical and safe for use in schools, hospitals, businesses, and homes. Concrete is also easy to clean and doesn’t require the use of dangerous and harmful chemicals. Concrete floors can even be painted or stained, textured, or stenciled to fit your personal style, and the possibilities are limitless.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of Minneapolis concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Environmentally Friendly “Green” Concrete Countertops

Stamped Concrete Maintenance

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:34:22 +0000

Concrete is one of the most commonly used materials in the world of construction, and can be found just about anywhere you look. Stamped concrete, in particular is prized for its durability and visual appeal, and can be used in situations where the concrete is meant to imitate another, more expensive materials.

For instance, many people use stamped concrete that resembles brick for the walkway to the front door, as stamped concrete is very attractive but costs only a fraction of what more expensive materials might cost. Other stamped concrete imitations include slate, wood and even tile.

Caring for stamped concrete is not unlike maintaining any other form of concrete. What must be taken note of, however, is that stamped concrete has grooves in it while regular flat concrete does not. It is important to take extra care in making sure these grooves are free of debris. Power washing with hot water is the best way to make sure your exterior concrete is clean, and is an easy, inexpensive method. However, a quick spray with the garden hose will suffice with regular maintenance. For oil stains, you may want to use an alkaline degreaser with the wash.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of stamped concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Exterior Concrete Maintenance Tips and Benefits

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:12:28 +0000

Maintaining your exterior concrete is simple: keep it clean and sealed. Decorative or stamped concrete should be sealed after about a week, depending on the type of sealer and the type concrete. Sealer is especially important on stained concrete to maintain color. The sealer also protects the concrete from staining from traffic. Sealer should be reapplied every two years or whenever the finish starts to dull.

It is good to keep the concrete free of debris–sweep it with a soft broom, or use a leaf blower. You can clean your concrete with your garden hose or a pressure washer too. First rinse the concrete, then you can apply a detergent, like liquid dish soap, and work it with a wide broom or scrub brush. Then rinse the concrete again until there are no more suds. It will take 24 hours to dry in mild weather, or you can blow dry it with a leaf blower. If there are stubborn stains, use a stain remover specifically designed for that kind of stain. It is best to remove stains immediately, if you can.

Heavy vehicles, high traffic, and extreme temperatures and weather can make your concrete show wear faster. Regular resealing can help protect your concrete. Deicing chemicals should be avoided for decorative concrete, and heavy salt should be avoided for at least the first year. Use plastic snow shovels to avoid scratching the finish coat when removing snow from the concrete.

With a little maintenance, the beautiful look and design of your concrete patio or drive from Lowell Russell Concrete will last for many years.

If you want to investigate the many possibilities of exterior concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Concrete Patios

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:41:11 +0000

An exterior concrete patio is a wonderful extension of the home which is brought outdoors. A patio can be built around a pool, or as a place for seating, tables, and an outdoor grill for the whole family to enjoy. And concrete is one of the best construction materials to build a patio with because it’s affordable, low maintenance, and visually versatile.

Patios can be made of wood, different types of stone, or concrete. Wood and stone patios can be expensive and they come with certain disadvantages. If a patio is built of wood, excessive rainfall can cause the wood to splinter and stick into bare feet and hands. Annoying bugs and mites also tend to live in wooden materials. When a patio is made of stone or slate, the materials can be expensive and weeds and grass will continuously grow up out of the cracks between the stones making weeding a routine chore.

Concrete is a versatile and inexpensive material with which to build a patio. Concrete patios hold up extremely well to harsh weather extremes for lasting durability. Concrete patios last longer and are cheaper to build than a stone patio, but the concrete can be poured, colored, and stamped to make the concrete patio look as if it were made of actual stone. Concrete can be colored and stamped to replicate almost any type of stone or brick, and because it is stamped, there are no holes or cracks for the underlying grass and weeds to creep through. The concrete can be stamped into rectangles and dyed a grey green to resemble slate, or dyed an orange red color and stamped in small rectangles to resemble brick.

It is also very easy to maintain concrete patios. The process for cleaning a dirty concrete patio involves spraying it down with a hose or power washer, using soap and a push broom to clean it, and then thoroughly rinsing the soap suds off the patio with the hose.

If you want to investigate the many possibilities of concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Decorative Concrete Patios

Stamped Concrete Maintenance

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:23:47 +0000

Stamped concrete is a technique that allows craftsmen to make concrete look like brick, slate, flagstone, ceramic tiles, inlaid stone, and even wood. There is a huge variety of colors and patterns available and the effects can be incredibly intricate or fairly simple, depending on the owner’s taste and needs. Stamped concrete can be used anywhere: a driveway, deck, as a floor in your home, an outdoor walkway–anywhere you want a beautiful, durable surface! Concrete provides a wonderful canvas for creating the illusion of very expensive materials at a price range within everyone’s budget.

The installation of stamped concrete is about 33% less than that of actual pavers, and is indistinguishable from the real thing. The sealed concrete surface is also highly durable and nearly impenetrable against moisture and the elements. In addition, the stamped concrete surface requires very little maintenance.

The method of care depends upon whether the surface is interior or exterior. For interior floors, care for them as you would any other hard surface floor: simply sweep and mop them as usual. Exterior surfaces may be rinsed with a garden hose or pressure washer. If they need a more thorough cleaning, simply apply a small amount of cleaning solution to the surface and scrub it with a brush (a push broom works well), and then rinse again until all soap suds are gone.

Stamped concrete will need to be resealed every few years. Concrete sealers are the barrier between your surface and the environment. They prevent stains and provide protection against abrasives and chemical damage. They also provide protection against moisture and sun damage. The actual time frame in between sealings depends on the amount and type of traffic on the surface.

Enjoy your beautiful stamped concrete surface, but keep it beautiful with good maintenance. The maintenance requirements are few and will keep your surface looking vibrant and new for years after it was poured.

If you want to investigate the many possibilities of decorative stamped concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.