Do Epoxy Floors Need Maintenance
Epoxy floors offer a variety of great benefits for residential and commercial properties, including durability, style, and low maintenance. While cleaning is required, it doesn’t take much to keep the floor looking great. Proper care can help your epoxy flooring last for years. Here’s how to maintain your epoxy floor.
Does Epoxy Flooring Need Maintenance
Yes, epoxy floors do need maintenance. Fortunately, these floors are very easy to clean and take care of. Regular light cleaning will help prevent dirt and grime from building up, and you can easily do a deeper cleaning when needed. Epoxy floor coatings are resistant to water and chemicals, and the smooth surface makes it easy to wipe up most messes. Proper maintenance of your epoxy floor will help it stay in good condition and extend its lifespan. Whether your epoxy floor is in the garage, basement, or a commercial building, proper care is a must for a clean epoxy floor.What are Epoxy Floor Coatings Made Of
An epoxy floor is a concrete floor that has been coated with epoxy, a type of resin. Epoxy resin is made by combing a polyepoxide resin and a polyamide hardener, which causes a chemical reaction that bonds the two parts together as well as bonds the epoxy to the concrete floor below. When the epoxy cures, it creates a smooth yet durable surface that looks great and is easy to maintain. Epoxy flooring is perfect for a garage floor, basement floor, or a floor in an industrial or commercial space.How to Get a Clean Epoxy Floor
When it comes to cleaning epoxy floors, a little bit of effort goes a long way. Remove dirt and dust from the floor using a dust mop or add a soft brush attachment to a shop vacuum to use on the floor. The frequency of cleaning needed will depend on how dirty the floors get, but at least once per week is recommended, and daily if needed. Dirt, sand, and other debris left on an epoxy floor over time can become embedded in the surface and scratch the epoxy floor coating, so it’s important to clean regularly. You can also choose to clean epoxy floors with warm water. If your floors tend to get dirty quickly, you may need to do a more vigorous cleaning every few months with water and a hard mop. Spot cleaning is also important. When liquid spills or other noticeable messes occur, clean them up immediately. Mop up liquids and vacuum up solids to keep your epoxy floors clean and in quality condition.
How to Clean Stains
Epoxy is resistant to stains, which can help your garage floor or other epoxy-covered surface stay looking clean. However, stains can still happen, so it’s important to clean up messes quickly. If you notice a stain on the floor, sweep over the area with a dust mop or broom with soft bristles to remove any dirt and debris. Then, use a mixture of approximately 2-5 ounces of ammonia per one gallon of hot water to clean the stained surface. Be sure to use a mop with synthetic fibers or scrub gently using a brush with soft bristles or a kitchen sponge when cleaning the stain to avoid scratching the epoxy floor coating. When you’re done, use clean water to rinse the floor and a towel or squeegee to dry it.How to Clean Oil and Chemical Spills
Engine oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals often found in a garage can stain or damage the surface of epoxy garage flooring if left on the floor too long. If you notice recent oil or chemical spills, use a shop towel or paper towel to clean them up immediately. Then, use clean water to rinse away any remaining chemicals and use another towel to soak up the water.Products to Use When Cleaning Epoxy Floors
When cleaning your garage floor or other epoxy floor, it’s important to use products that won’t damage the floor. The right epoxy floor cleaner can be as simple as warm water. If a stronger cleanser is needed, try a mixture of ammonia and hot water. In the event of chemical spills, you can use a neutralizing agent to help prevent chemicals from staining the epoxy floor. A dust mop, shop vacuum with a soft brush attachment, kitchen scrubbing sponge, or brush with soft bristles are all acceptable cleaning tools to use on epoxy garage flooring and other epoxy floors.Products to Not Use on an Epoxy Floor
There are products you should not use when cleaning garage floors or some other epoxy-coated surface. Vinegar and citrus can damage the glossy finish of epoxy flooring, so avoid using products that contain vinegar or citrus. Even mild white vinegar, which is often used for household cleaning, should be avoided. Soap-based cleaners can cause a buildup of soap scum, making the epoxy flooring appear less glossy. You should also not use steel wool or cleaning tools with hard bristles, as they can scratch the coating of the epoxy floor.More Tips for Maintaining Epoxy Floors
In addition to regular cleaning, there are steps you can take to help reduce the amount of dirt that gets on the garage floor and other epoxy floors and to help prevent damage to epoxy floors. Place a mat by the door to collect dirt and debris from shoes as people enter the room. This will help keep the garage floor or other epoxy floor clean. Be sure to clean the mats on a regular basis. When moving furniture, machinery, and other heavy items, place a mat underneath them or use plywood to move them more easily and help prevent them from scratching the surface of the epoxy flooring. Even when heavy items are stationary, it can be helpful to have a mat underneath them to prevent damage to the epoxy floor surface.
How Often Should You Clean Epoxy Floors
Regular maintenance is important for keeping epoxy flooring clean and in good condition. Sweeping epoxy flooring daily or at least once per week can help prevent dirt, dust, and grime from becoming embedded in the epoxy or scratching the surface. Deeper cleaning may be needed once a month or once every few months. Spot cleaning should occur immediately when there’s a chemical or oil spill, or if you see areas with excessive amounts of dirt. Regular epoxy floor cleaning helps extend the life of your epoxy floors while making your garage floors and other epoxy-covered concrete surfaces look great.When to Recoat the Floor
Although epoxy floors can last for years, wear and tear over time can cause damage to the epoxy and recoating may eventually be necessary. It may be time to have your epoxy floor recoated if the surface looks worn out and cleaning doesn’t fix it, if there’s bubbling or peeling, if there are scratches or holes, or if the epoxy floor coating is peeling away from the underlying concrete. Before an epoxy floor can be recoated, it must be properly prepared. This can involve cleaning the epoxy floor, buffing it or sanding it, and vacuuming it. You can try applying a new coat of epoxy to the garage floor yourself, but it’s often easier to have a concrete flooring professional handle the work. Experts at a concrete flooring company can examine the epoxy floors and the concrete below to determine whether you need a whole new epoxy floor or only need to recoat specific areas.
