The effective way for you to maintain patios is to distinguish what to do from whatnot. It’s also going to be very helpful to check out the pros and cons of epoxy outdoors. Remember our previous post?
Here, in today’s post. You will learn five do’s and five don’ts when taking care of your epoxy porch.
A Quick Look at the Epoxy Porch:
Porch and patios need durable outdoor floors to withstand weathering. Concrete is often used among these areas. Using epoxy coating as the finishing will enhance the floor in both form and function.
Yes! That’s right! You can now use epoxy for outdoor concrete. And here are the benefits of using epoxy for the porch and patios
- Epoxy flooring is more robust than concrete.
- Epoxy enhances slip-resistance on the flooring
- Reduce heat and UV ray damage to the floor
- Protects surface from constant scratches
- Maintain a polished-looking outdoor surface
Patio Maintenance Tips: 5 Do's
Now, let’s get down with your maintenance. Sometimes it is common sense to know the right things to do. Yet, we list here five of the dos of patio maintenance for your guidance.
- Clean the surface free of any solid debris
Remove grits of sand or soil on your epoxy patio floors. It is not surprising if sands and grits from cement and earth will become a common issue on the epoxy porch. Polymer coatings are like plastic wherein gritty solid objects scratch the surface, causing minor abrasions.
2. Test all products before applying
DO this! And do not be scared if it will ruin the floors.
BUT, do this in a small area first. What to do is to choose a small corner where it is not too evident in your space and test a cleaning product on the epoxy surface.
Take note that staining, fading, closing whitish blotching appears on the spot. It tells you that the material is not compatible. What works best with epoxy floors are simple water and mild soap solutions.
3. Use soft materials for wiping the dirt or stains off the surface.
A reminder of number 1, do not let solid objects scratch the surface. What to do is to use soft scrubbing tools. A soft, absorbent sponge will do. That is if you are cleaning a small area.
Check out your local cleaning shops and get a mop or scrubber with a 3-M white pad. This has a soft wool-like cloth that effectively removes sticky dirt on a smooth surface without scratching it.
4. Scrub a newly coated epoxy floor once a week, but do not use abrasive materials
Next, this has something to do with the frequency of your cleaning. For newly coated floors, have scheduled a quick wiping or cleaning at least once a week. But do not overdo it. GO back to the first three lists above ade make sure you use the proper cleaning tool.
5. Give time for a cleaning material to react on one spot before going through the cleaning.
Remember the number two tip? So here is another crucial piece of information to do when testing. Let every product you try react on the surface by giving it time. Do not get satisfied when you see that the cleaner you used seemed okay to use. Most mistakes happen when you do maintenance in haste. Give it time. Most products will show you signs that they aren’t a good fit within a week.
What to Avoid: 5 Don'ts
It could also be that you have done all the things to do. However, even if you do what is right and still do the harmful practices, you are entirely wrong.
It would help you best to see a list of the things NOT to do when cleaning or maintaining your epoxy porch floorings.
Here are five DON’Ts:
- Do not scrub the epoxy flooring
- Do not use bleach for cleaning
- Do not put wax or sealers
- Do not mix various types of cleaners
- Do not use cleaners with crystallization salt and harmful alkali compound