Maintenance

PERMAGUARD® MAX and PERMAGUARD® PLUS epoxy floor coatings provide a seamless decorative and protective coating over concrete floors. With proper maintenance and upkeep, they will provide years of durable protection and beauty.

View PERMAGUARD Maintenance Guide >

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The following directions can help extend the life and beauty of your PERMAGUARD™ epoxy floor:

Dirt and Grime

PERMAGUARD® floors are seamless and dirt and grime will remain on the surface if not removed. These act as abrasives, which can eventually mar the finish over time. As such, it is important for PERMAGUARD epoxy floors to be properly maintained on a regular basis to remove any excess dirt and grime. The use of doormats or walk-off mats at doorways and entrances is recommended and can help limit the amount of dirt and grime on the floor.

Spills

Spills should be removed from the surface of the floor to avoid wet areas which could become slippery. In addition, spills of petroleum distillates, hydrocarbon type solvents, lighter fluid, oil, gas and alcohols must be cleaned up as soon as possible before they can damage or stain the floor.

Cleaners & Cleaning Agents

When cleaning PERMAGUARD® epoxy floors, do not use actual soap because it will create a film that can be difficult to remove with rinsing. A film left behind after cleaning causes two issues: (1) the film will become slippery when wet and (2) this film attracts dirt and debris, which actually causes the floor to look unclean soon after it has been washed. Floor stripping agents, citrus-based cleaners and corrosive chemical degreasers are not recommended as they can damage a floor if they are applied and left to sit for an extended period of time. A simple mixture of PERMAGUARD® Cleaner and Degreaser epoxy concrete floor cleaner (diluted 1 part Cleaner to 8 parts water) is recommended for regular maintenance. See the product datasheet for additional cleaning instructions.

Floor Maintenance Tools

• Mops – If you incorporated epoxy flooring traction additives to the floor coating be sure to use a rayon mop instead of a cotton one. Rayon mops use synthetic fibers, which are less likely to get hung up on the surface and leave fiber residue.
• Soft-Bristled Brush – For more difficult to remove stains, a soft-bristled brush may be used to agitate dirt and debris. Be sure to use a brush with soft bristles as hard bristles may mar the surface over time.
• Foam Squeegee – Use a foam squeegee after you mop to remove any excess water. Water left on the surface of the material can become a slip/ fall hazard.
• Bucket - A standard mop bucket with a wringer can be used to distribute the pH neutral cleaner (e.g. PERMAGUARD® Cleaner and Degreaser) or rinse water.
• Wet-Vacuum – A Wet-Vac can be used for removing excess water after rinsing.
• Dry Mop – A mop that is dry or lightly damp can be used for periodic dust removal.

Cleaning PERMAGUARD® Epoxy Floors:

1. Sweep the entire floor to remove any loose dirt and grime with a dry mop and/or soft-bristled broom. This limits the ability of these loose materials to wear or mar the floor prematurely.
2. For every-day general cleaning purposes, use PERMAGUARD® Cleaner and Degreaser epoxy concrete floor cleaner diluted in a ratio of 1:8 (Cleaner:Water). For medium or heavy-duty cleaning please review the product datasheet for proper mixing ratios.
3. Apply a cleaning agent with a squeegee or rayon mop and let stand for a few minutes so it can react with the surface.
4. Thoroughly mop surface with a wet mop to remove any stains. For heavy soiled areas, a soft-bristled brush may be used to lightly scrub the surface.
5. Rinse the floor with clean water and use a wet vacuum or squeegee to remove the excess water. A second rinsing is also recommended to ensure that no residue is left behind. Proper attention must be paid to removing the resultant emulsion of the cleaning solution and soil.
6. Once dirty water has been removed, the floor must be allowed to dry prior to returning to service. A wet surface may become slippery.
7. Dispose of contaminated water while paying special attention to local regulations governing the introduction of certain chemicals into surface water drains and sewer systems.