Tips for general maintenance and maintaining concrete furniture
Why should you maintain and care for the concrete in and around your home? A valid question when we know how strong and durable concrete is already.
Concrete is an organic product that still requires some TLC on a regular basis. This is to extend its already long lifespan and retain its natural beauty. Knowing how to maintain your concrete can be the difference in attention-grabbing concrete and concrete people are scared to walk on. The good news is maintaining and caring for your concrete is simple and something that you can handle on your own. The type and amount of maintenance required will depend on the general wear and tear that your concrete surface is exposed to.
We’ve listed some tips on how to generally care for your concrete and ways to maintain the integrity of your concrete furniture.
Tips for general concrete maintenance
- Clean the surface
Probably the easiest type of maintenance is to keep your concrete clean by removing dirt, leaves and debris from the surface with a broom or a blower.
- The power of sealing
Let a sealer do all the hard work for you. By sealing your concrete surface, it will repel water, dust, dirt, grime, and debris from seeping into the surface. Plus, a sealer can provide resistance against the weather, including UV damage, and against abrasions.
- Clean up spills
Remove any stains or spills as soon as possible from the surface, even if it is sealed. By removing them early, you are preventing the spill from destroying the sealer over a long period of time and are preventing any discolouring or permanent stains.
- Make repairs
Repairing any small damage to the concrete, like cracks, can help to maintain the structural integrity of the concrete.
- Chemicals are bad
Be careful when using cleaning products, using chemicals or a product that’s not designed for concrete can cause damage to the concrete and sealer.
- Watch the weight
Although concrete is strong and durable; excessive and constant weight can cause damage. Residential concrete is not designed to hold extra heavy weight, like heavy machinery or large trucks.
Tips for maintaining your concrete furniture
Concrete furniture is timeless, durable, industrial, and organic. Engineered concrete is making a comeback in design materials for your home. If you’ve invested in concrete furniture, then this list of tips will help to keep it in the best condition possible.
- Avoid acids
Avoid using acids on the surface, as this can cause staining. This means no chopping of lemons on the bench; avoiding acid-based cleaners; be careful not to spill vinegar on the table and don’t leave the olive oil bottle out for long on the surface – you get the idea.
- Clean up spills
Spills on a concrete table can be unavoidable. To minimise any damage, act fast and clean up the spill as soon as possible. The less time liquid is sitting on your concrete furniture the better.
- The colour will vary
If you have normal grey concrete, you could see variation in the colour of your concrete. Concrete is an organic product and over time it will mottle and change colour slightly – just like your favourite leather items.
If you have oxide coloured concrete, the colour will stay the same over time, unless the surface becomes dirty.
- Hot dishes
If you want to place a hot dish on the concrete table, always have a protective mat, placemat, or coaster ready. This will help to preserve the surface below and not cause discolouring to the sealer.
- Chemicals are bad
Forget using harsh chemical cleaners, go old school and use warm water with a gentle soap applied with a soft cloth to clean your concrete furniture. Chemicals like citrus-based cleaners, acetone, alcohol or bleach will do more harm to the surface than good.
- Seal, seal, seal
We know the value of a good sealer on a concrete slab, the same applies for concrete furniture. Sealing the furniture will extend the lifespan and protect it from marks. Just remember to reapply the sealer as directed to ensure continual protection.
- Concrete pools are different
This may sound funny; concrete pools and concrete furniture are different. Be careful not to be duped into using products designed for your pool on your furniture. Concrete pool products will make the problem worse.
- Treat with care
While concrete furniture is durable and tough, don’t be too boisterous with it. Be careful about knocks with hard items as this can cause chips on corners and surfaces. It’s also wise to not drag sharp and rough objects across the surface to avoid scratching it.
