NON-RESILIENT TILE:   CONCRETE FLOORS

Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, crushed stone or gravel, added into a slurry with water.  It is poured and then troweled.  It sets as a solid mass due to a chemical reaction of the cement with water.  Like traditional Terrazzo most concrete is porous and will stain.  Therefore it must be sealed.

CAUTIONS

• Concrete is harmed by the same things that harm Terrazzo, i.e. acids, abrasives and crystalline cleaners.
• Prevent dusting.  Concrete has a natural tendency to dust as it ages.   Sealing will prevent this.
• Neutralize alkalinity.  All concrete is alkaline in nature.  Before painting or sealing with oil-containing sealers, neutralize by any standard method.
• Silicate hardeners.  Concrete treated with solutions of silicates have increased surface density, hardness and gloss.  It almost non-porous and cannot be sealed unless sanded or mechanically abraded to allow the seal to adhere to the surface.