Care Sheet for Stamped & Decorative Concrete

Thank  you for choosing Tomaro Construction Co., Inc. for your decorative concrete professional needs.  We appreciate and value your business.  To  protect your new  investment,  we would like to recommend some simple  guidelines to help keep your stamped concrete looking new. We appreciate and value your business. 

To  protect your new  investment,  we would like to recommend some simple  guidelines to help keep your stamped concrete looking new. 

Care:

1.  Do not use salt, or any sodium-based compound to melt snow. Sand or kitty litter may be used to prevent slippery surfaces. 

2.  Use a plastic shovel or snow  blower with rubber fins for snow  removal.  The blade of a snowplow  could scrape or scratch the  concrete. 

3. Clean the concrete with water based cleaners only (i.e. simple green), do not use acid based cleaners. 

Sealing instructions: 

1. Sealing  your concrete is just like waxing your car;  it helps protect the color  and keeps the surface clean from foreign substances. Your concrete  should be sealed every 2-3 years in the spring or fall. 

2.  Concrete should be cleaned (to clean for resealing, use a minimum 4000  PSI pressure washer with a yellow  tip spray nozzle 6-8 inches from the  concrete) thorough and completely dry before applying sealer.   Never  reseal in direct sun light, evening is the best time. 

3.  We recommend using diamond shine or super stamp seal (matte finish).   These are UV resistant, solvent based acrylic, co polymer, concrete  sealers.  Coverage is estimated at: 250-300 square feet per gallon.   Sealer may be applied using a short nap roller with a solvent resistant  sleeve; these can be purchased at most hardware stores.  avoid leaving  puddles.Care Sheet for Stamped Concrete

Your new Stained Concrete, Decorative Concrete Overlay or Epoxy Floor must be maintained. 

Your  Custom Interior Floor will last a lifetime if properly maintained.  Plastic glides, Felt Pads or Magic Movers should be affixed to heavy  furnishings or those, which will move frequently. Use the same  precautions you would use for a Hard Wood Floor. A Door Mat at the  outside (Hemp or Rope style) and inside entrance (one with a solid  backing that can be shook off outside) of a home will pick up over 85%  of the dirt that would otherwise be tracked inside. Here is how to care  for your floor:

Daily dust mopping removes the fine dust and  grit, which can grind away floor finish. It will help prevent major  floor finish deterioration caused by normal foot traffic. The best  results are obtained by using a Micro-Fiber Dust Mop. The following  procedures should be followed:

1.    Dust mop the floor in one  continuous movement without lifting the mop off the floor. Overlap your  stroke on each pass (you can also vacuum). 

2.    Clean the dust mop after each use by shaking it outdoors, brushing it with a brush over a garbage can, or vacuuming it. 

3.     NEVER use a Swiffer Wet-Jet type of cleaning tool. The liquid in these  devices contain trace amounts of Solvent material. The Solvent will not  harm the sealer but will cause the wax to eggshell. Also, you should  not use Ammonia, Bleach or Pine Sol. 

Damp mopping - use cool water

1.  Damp mopping with cool water and a neutral PH cleaner extends the floor  finish life. It will not dull the finish and will enhance the gloss  retention.

2. Follow the recommended dilution rates on label directions.

3. The mop should be wrung out tightly so that it is just damp. Do not allow the cleaning solution to puddle.

4. NEVER use  a Swiffer type of cleaning tool. I know this is a repeat from above but  I must state this again. The liquid in these devices contain trace  amounts of Solvent material. The Solvent will not harm the sealer but  will cause the wax to eggshell. Also, no Ammonia, Bleach or Pine Sol.

     WAXING

Wax  is the sacrificial coating to protect the sealer and bear the brunt of  the scuff and scratches. Your floor was installed with 2 coats of wax  for the initial protection. We use Easy Shine Liquid wax by Kemiko. No  Mop-n-Glo or similar wax should be used.

1.    How often you  need to re-wax depends on the abuse you, your children or pets put on  the floor. It varies by owner and may be anywhere from every 3 months to  every year. 

2.    Use a microfiber mop or similar applicator. 

3.     Always run wax trough a paint filter. Either spray or pour a  dinner-plate sized puddle on the floor and spread it evenly and thinly.  Spread the material across the surface and let it dry for 1 hour. You  are now ready for foot traffic again. 

The use of a Floor Mat on the Outside and Inside of entry doors will pick up about 85% of dirt that would enter a home.

                                Troubleshooting:

Problem                                   Cause                                                    Solution

Floor  is Streaky                     Floor was still dirty or a dirty                                   1. Allow floor to dry and dust mop or vacuum. 

                                               mop/water was used.                                              2. Clean mop and use new solution  mixture.

Footprints at entrance           Dirty Walk-Off Mat(s).                                             Shake/Clean walk-off mats.

Floor is Spotty                       Too much solution water remained on floor.          

                                               Water solution shouldn’t  puddle.                           Use a just damp mop so liquid will not  stand on floor.

Floor is Sticky                       Too much  cleaner solution in water.                       Re-mop floor with clean  water to remove excess cleaner.

                                                                                                                               Solution ratio: Use 1  OZ of solution to 1 Gal of clean water. 

Floor has a Milky                   Something wet remained on floor causing the       Wipe up  any remaining liquid and allow floor to dry. 

White  Spot                            acrylic in the sealer/wax to discolor.                        Once dry, the Milky spot will fade to clear.

​*Don't forget to rinse & clean the mop & bucket & shake/brush off dust mop before using*