How to Care for Your Masonry and Concrete

The masonry and concrete features of your home stand out, and for good reason—they are often handcrafted and carefully installed by a masonry contractor in Racine, WI. Masonry and concrete features don’t require much upkeep to retain their beautiful appearance. However, that doesn’t mean you can go forever without cleaning or caring for them.

Because of the level of care that goes into these structures and the importance they hold in a room or outdoors, you want to make sure that you’re taking good care of them so they last a very long time. To do this, you’ll need to understand the basics of masonry care and upkeep.

Routine cleaning

To make sure your flat masonry surface doesn’t accumulate dirt or grime, you should sweep and hose it down regularly. This will help prevent thick layers of dirt from hardening, which can be much more difficult to remove later.

Vertical structures such as indoor walls or retaining walls should be scrubbed down using water and a stiff-bristle brush. Never use steel brushes on masonry or concrete, since they can scratch the materials and leave marks or stains.

Using water on masonry is the safest method of routine cleaning because it won’t corrode the materials. If water alone isn’t working, you can add a small amount of a mild cleaning detergent to scrub.

Deep cleaning

Sometimes, mild scrubbing isn’t enough to keep your masonry work clean. In that case, a deeper clean using more specialized cleaners will be necessary. Be careful when choosing chemical cleaners for masonry—harsh chemicals can be corrosive and leave lasting damage like deterioration or discoloration on the structure.

Look for a specially formulated masonry cleaner if you require a chemical to do a deep clean. Before you begin scrubbing, test the cleaner on a small area that isn’t as easily visible, just to be safe.

Finally, always make sure to rinse the masonry before and after you apply chemical cleaners. This process helps protect the masonry from being deteriorated during the cleaning process.

If your masonry or concrete has become stained, as is common on patios or driveways due to oil and grease, you’ll want to act as soon as possible to remove them. Sprinkle cat litter on the stain and let it soak up overnight, then sweep the area clean. Afterwards, scrub the stained area and rinse with water.

Special considerations

In wintertime, never use de-icing products or salt on your masonry or concrete. Salt can eat away at concrete and cause lasting damage.

Additionally, if your masonry was sealed upon its completion, you’ll want to maintain the upkeep on sealing, as well as cleaning. Sealers can reduce the amount of damage done by the elements or stains and can make cleaning easier, but only if you reseal every few years to maintain the protective coating.

Not sure what to do? Ask the experts!

If you’re unsure of how to handle a masonry or concrete cleaning job, you can’t go wrong by contacting a masonry contractor in Racine, WI. Langenfeld Masonry & Concrete provides masonry and concrete services for both residential and commercial clients, and we can assist you in learning what you need to do to keep your masonry in top shape.

Categorised in: Masonry Contractor