HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR CONCRETE

THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE STAMPED CONCRETE. THE FIRST IS THE VARIETY OF STYLES AND COLORS THAT CAN COMPLIMENT ANY OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE. THE SECOND IS THE RELATIVELY LOW MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT NEEDED TO KEEP YOUR PATIO LOOKING ITS BEST. CARE OF A STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO MOSTLY CONSISTS OF KEEPING THE SURFACE CLEAN AND PROTECTED. WE WILL PROVIDE THE BASICS OF STAMPED CONCRETE CARE, SO YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PATIO LOOKING GREAT. CLEANING SPILLS ON A STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO CAN BE ADDRESSED USING A BASIC DISHWASHING LIQUID AND A NYLON BRISTLE BRUSH. ONCE THE STAIN HAS BEEN THROGUGHLY SCRUBBED, RINSE WELL WITH A GARDEN HOSE UNTIL THE SOAP IS COMPLETELY GONE. DRY THE AREA USING A LEAF BLOWER OR ALLOW 24 HOURS FOR THE SPOT TO AIR DRY. IF THE ENTIRE SURFACE NEEDS A GOOD CLEANING, USE DISHWASHING SOAP AND A PUSH BROOM TO SCRUB THE SURFACE. A PRESSURE WASHER CAN ALSO BE USED TO CLEAN STAMPED CONCONCRET EFFECTIVELY, HOWEVER YOU MUST TAKE CARE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE LOW. SEALING WHEN YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE WAS CONSTRUCTED, IT WAS TREATED WITH A SEALANT TO PROTECT IT FROM SUN, WATER AND DUST DAMAGE. THIS SEALANT WILL NEED TO BE REAPPLIED REGULARLY TO MAINTAIN THE PROTECTION. THE FIRST APPLICATION SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION. SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS CAN BE DONE EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS AFTER. MAKE SURE YOU APPLY SEALANT TO A FRESHLY WASHED SURFACE THAT HAS DRIED FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS. ONLY APPLY SEALANT WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BETWEEN 55 AND 90 DEGREES. THE BEST TIME FOR APPLICATION IS GENERALLY IN THE FALL OR SPRING, OR IN THE MORNING OR EVENING HOURS DURING THE SUMMER. A SECOND COAT OF SEALAT CAN BE USED WHEN THE FIRST LAYER IS NO LONGER TACKY TO THE TOUCH. ALLOW AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE WALKING ACROSSE RE-SEALED CONCRETE. PROTECTING IN ADDITION TO SEALING YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE REGULARLY, THERE ARE OTHER STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT THE SURFACE. MAKE SURE ALL PATIO FURNITURE HAS PLASTIC GLIDES AFFIXED TO THE BOTTOM TO AVOID SCRATCHING THE PATIO SURFACE. IT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO USE DISHES UNDER ALL POTTED PLANTS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU APPLY A LOT OF FERTILIZER TO YOUR PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. USE CAUTION ON WET OR ICEY SURFACES, SINCE STAMPED CONCRETE CAN BECOME SLIPPERY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH SUNLIGHT MAY FADE THE COLOR OF YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO SLIGHTLY, A NEW APPLICATION OF SEALANT SHOULD REVIVE THE COLOR QUITE EFFICIENTLY. ADDITIONAL TIPS AVOID USING DEICING SALTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST WINTER AFTER INSTALLATION. AVOID FREEZING AND THAWING. USE A BROOM BRUSH OR PLASTIC SNOW SHOVEL TO REMOVE ANY ACCUMULATION OF SNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DURING THE FALL, REMOVE ANY LEAF ACCUMULATION, AS THIS CAN STAIN THE STAMPED CONCRETE.

CLEANING

SPILLS ON A STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO CAN BE ADDRESSED USING A BASIC DISHWASHING LIQUID AND A NYLON BRISTLE BRUSH. ONCE THE STAIN HAS BEEN THROGUGHLY SCRUBBED, RINSE WELL WITH A GARDEN HOSE UNTIL THE SOAP IS COMPLETELY GONE. DRY THE AREA USING A LEAF BLOWER OR ALLOW 24 HOURS FOR THE SPOT TO AIR DRY. IF THE ENTIRE SURFACE NEEDS A GOOD CLEANING, USE DISHWASHING SOAP AND A PUSH BROOM TO SCRUB THE SURFACE. A PRESSURE WASHER CAN ALSO BE USED TO CLEAN STAMPED CONCONCRET EFFECTIVELY, HOWEVER YOU MUST TAKE CARE TO KEEP THE PRESSURE LOW.

SEALING

WHEN YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE WAS CONSTRUCTED, IT WAS TREATED WITH A SEALANT TO PROTECT IT FROM SUN, WATER AND DUST DAMAGE. THIS SEALANT WILL NEED TO BE REAPPLIED REGULARLY TO MAINTAIN THE PROTECTION. THE FIRST APPLICATION SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION. SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS CAN BE DONE EVERY 2 TO 3 YEARS AFTER. MAKE SURE YOU APPLY SEALANT TO A FRESHLY WASHED SURFACE THAT HAS DRIED FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS. ONLY APPLY SEALANT WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BETWEEN 55 AND 90 DEGREES. THE BEST TIME FOR APPLICATION IS GENERALLY IN THE FALL OR SPRING, OR IN THE MORNING OR EVENING HOURS DURING THE SUMMER. A SECOND COAT OF SEALAT CAN BE USED WHEN THE FIRST LAYER IS NO LONGER TACKY TO THE TOUCH. ALLOW AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE WALKING ACROSSE RE-SEALED CONCRETE.

PROTECTING

IN ADDITION TO SEALING YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE REGULARLY, THERE ARE OTHER STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT THE SURFACE. MAKE SURE ALL PATIO FURNITURE HAS PLASTIC GLIDES AFFIXED TO THE BOTTOM TO AVOID SCRATCHING THE PATIO SURFACE. IT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO USE DISHES UNDER ALL POTTED PLANTS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU APPLY A LOT OF FERTILIZER TO YOUR PLANTS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. USE CAUTION ON WET OR ICEY SURFACES, SINCE STAMPED CONCRETE CAN BECOME SLIPPERY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH SUNLIGHT MAY FADE THE COLOR OF YOUR STAMPED CONCRETE PATIO SLIGHTLY, A NEW APPLICATION OF SEALANT SHOULD REVIVE THE COLOR QUITE EFFICIENTLY.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

AVOID USING DEICING SALTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST WINTER AFTER INSTALLATION.

AVOID FREEZING AND THAWING. USE A BROOM BRUSH OR PLASTIC SNOW SHOVEL TO REMOVE ANY ACCUMULATION OF SNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DURING THE FALL, REMOVE ANY LEAF ACCUMULATION, AS THIS CAN STAIN THE STAMPED CONCRETE.