Your Floors Say a Lot About You
As much as we’d all love to be the superman of clean homes, we have lives to live, and things get dirty. Let’s face it, maintaining a home isn’t easy! Thankfully, there is grace for even the busiest households. Here at HammondKnoll, we’re your partners in ensuring the clean atmosphere of your home. A big part of that is by upholding your floors. In this article, we’ll focus on your concrete floors and what they require to have a long, attractive life. Here’s everything you need to know how often–and how much it costs–to clean them.
Do Concrete Floors Really Need to be Cleaned?
Concrete floors and stamped concrete are all the rage right now in entries, kitchen floors, and counters. One of the reasons people love them is that they’re so hard-wearing and can take a ton of foot traffic and abuse. They’re so easy to take care of that you don’t even have to clean them, right?
Unfortunately, while it may seem that concrete flooring doesn’t need professional cleaning, this is not actually true. Take a look around the heaviest-traveled area in your home. While it may not be as noticeable as other types of flooring, concrete floors deteriorate just like every other surface.The edges probably look lighter than the center, which indicates wear and tear. The lighter edges remain the original color of the concrete, while the darker shade is actually dirt and grime. Countertops can get scratched, and the coating may not be even anymore. Bottom line: concrete floors, (and countertops), must be cleaned regularly.
How Much Will Cleaning My Concrete Floors Cost?
Several factors come into play when determining the exact cost of having your home’s concrete floors cleaned, but here’s a general idea of what you can expect.
Basic Cleaning
The cost for Basic Cleaning is $.95 – $1.95 per square foot, but there are several other variables that will affect the overall cost:
- How much grime/soil/dirt is on the floor.
- If the concrete is located inside or outside.
- The age of your concrete floor(s).
- How much traffic it gets.
The minimum for residential concrete floor cleaning is $450
Stripping
Cost for Stripping: $.75 – $1.00 per square foot. Stripping, the process of removing the top layer of concrete in order to get a new finish, probably isn’t in your bucket list of potential home-renovations. However, it might need to be. If the wrong coating was initially applied to your floor, or the coating you have now is cheap or ill-made, it’s probably time to get some renovations.
Sealing
Cost for sealing: $.75 – $1.00 per square foot, though these costs can fluctuate due to factors like:
- Whether you want a shiny a matte appearance.
- Whether the concrete floor is indoors or outdoors.
- How porous the concrete floor is.
How Often Do My Home’s Concrete Floors Need To be Cleaned?
The frequency that your floors need to be cleaned depends on the amount of foot traffic the floor endures. For example, outdoor spaces such as patios and entries should be cleaned annually–typically in the Spring, after winter has left its mess. A busy household, such as one full of family members and pets, should be cleaned every 1-3 years, and a household that does not have much traffic, let’s say that of a retired couple, can get away with cleaning their concrete floors once every 3-5 years.
Don’t Risk Expensive Concrete Restorative Cleaning
This may sound surprising, but the more often you have your home’s concrete floors cleaned by professionals, the more money you’ll save. Wondering how that math checks out? Without regular maintenance, your floors build up on dirt and gunk. You’ll actually have to pay more to do a complete restorative cleaning than regular maintenance. The reason for this is simple, a restorative cleaning is a lot more work! It’s a process that involves lots of scrubbing, hand brushing, and scraping. It may even require stripping the coating off the floor and applying a new one, which is time and money consuming. That’s why we recommend you make the job easier for everyone involved and choose regular cleanings over one restorative cleaning.
Everyday Maintenance
For regular, everyday touchups, consider using a dust mop to remove surface dirt. For more stubborn stains, a damp mop with a mild cleaning solution can be effective. In outdoor areas, a garden hose might be sufficient to remove excess water and keep your floors looking great. Avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the concrete and instead opt for natural cleaners like white vinegar for a gentle clean.
Why Trust Hammond Knoll?
Here at Hammond Knoll, we understand the importance of a beautiful home. We believe that a good experience starts in a clean space, and your floors are a big part of that. Whether you have oriental rugs, hardwood, tile, or even concrete, you can count on us to get the job done in a way that satisfies you, no matter how difficult. Contact us today for a free quote, or visit our about page to learn more.
