While an epoxy floor coating won’t last forever, it can be maintained properly over time to extend its life span and maintain its beauty. However, not all floors need the same amount of care. A coated concrete floor requires less maintenance due to its non-porous nature.
The maintenance frequency of your epoxy floor coating depends on many factors, such as the environment at work and the amount of dirt and spoilage that has been accumulated. Dust and dirt can be abrasive, and liquids can stain or damage the floor coating, ultimately decreasing its lifespan. Your floor coating should be cleaned more often if the soil is accumulated and the environment is harsher.
You should create a maintenance plan for your epoxy floor coatings to extend the life of your investment in new flooring. These six tips will help you keep your floors in top condition while you do this:
1. Sweep Your Floors Daily
To prevent dirt and dust from building up, sweep your floors with a broom daily or a mechanized cleaning device. Use a soft bristle brush if you are using a robot sweeper. Hard bristles can scratch the floor coating and cause a loss in gloss. To minimize dirt and moisture accumulation, it is a good idea to place mats close to any entranceways.
2. Give your Epoxy Floor Coating a good scrub every week.
The amount of spoilage in epoxy floors will determine how often you scrub them. It is recommended to scrub floors at least once per week and high-traffic areas daily with the appropriate brush and detergent. You will need to pay special attention to areas that are prone to oil and grease. Use a mop, bucket, or, for greater productivity and efficiency, a mechanized scrubber.
3. Make sure to immediately clean up spills.
Make sure to clean up any liquid spillages immediately. They can damage or pose a danger to the floor. Also, harsh liquids like acids, caustics, and solvents can cause a floor to become soft, discolored, or even removed. For information on the chemical resistance of floor coatings, consult the manufacturer if chemicals are present in the area.
4. Floor Coatings may need to be repaired for any scratches or gouges.
Also, it is important to fix any scratches or gouges in the floor coating immediately. Without proper protection, avoid scraping, dropping, or sliding heavy machinery, pallets, or sharp objects across the floor. This can lead to deep cuts and gouges. These areas can cause moisture to seep beneath the coating, which can lead to peeling. Avoid using harsh bristle brushes or caustic cleaning products on your floors.
These steps will help you repair any damage to your floor coating.
- Use TSP detergent to clean the area from grease, oil, and soil.
- Use 100-grit sandpaper to sand the scratches/gouges manually. Then feather the edges until they are smooth
- Rinse the floor well and let it dry completely
- As per the instructions, repair the damaged area using the original coating material.
5. Keep on top of stain prevention & removal.
Start with a mild solution to remove any stains from your epoxy floor coating. Then, move on to stronger cleaners until the stain is gone. When working with chemicals, always wear rubber gloves and eye protection.
Grease & Oil Stains
Oil and grease can stain the floor coating, especially if they remain on the floor for longer than 24 hours. It is important to immediately scrub any spilled substances with TSP and follow the instructions on detergent labels.
Dried Spills & Stubborn Stains
If you don’t react quickly to a spill, and the liquid dries in its place, it can leave a film or a hard-to-remove stain. Use a plastic tool to get rid of any remaining residue. Be careful not to scratch the floor coating. Next, use an ammonia household cleaner to clean the area.
6. Removing any rubber burns from the floor coating.
Rubber burns can be caused by rubber tires from forklifts and other vehicles. These rubber burns can be removed by following the steps below.
- Use a citric acid cleaner to clean the area. Next, use a stiff brush or mechanical scrubber to agitate the area. Follow all label instructions.
- To make an emulsion, add TSP or detergent to the water.
- Clean the floor thoroughly.
- Rinse well with water.
You can reduce scratching caused by abrasive dust and soil buildup and prolong the floor’s life expectancy.
