Blog

6 Reasons to Clean Your Concrete

6 Reasons to Clean Your Concrete

When boosting your home or business’s curb appeal, it’s easy to think of the landscaping and the buildings themselves as needing regular maintenance. But your concrete driveways and sidewalks are a huge part of what makes your property stand out, for better or worse. 

Cleaning your concrete yourself is difficult, so hire a professional concrete cleaning service to do the hard work for you. Not only will your property look immaculate, but a professional cleaning team will also make your concrete safer. 

The Clean ‘N Seal team has put together a few reasons why you should have your concrete professional cleaned regularly.

1. Cracks

Along with being unsightly, cracks in your concrete can quickly grow out of hand and become a safety hazard. Minnesota weather plays a key role in how this happens as water seeps into your concrete, freezes, and expands. The freeze effect causes your concrete to crack, worsening every year if nothing is done.

With the right professional equipment, have your concrete pressure washed. A good service team will remove all debris, dirt, and grime from the top of your concrete and clean out and repair any existing cracks. 

For concrete that is less likely to crack in the first place, especially in Minnesota’s harsh climate, cover your concrete driveways and walkways with a quality sealant. Concrete sealing is the best way to prevent it from succumbing to water seepage and cracking. 

2. Stains

With so much happening on your driveways, patios, and sidewalks, you'll eventually stain your concrete. Stains accumulate over time, from car engine oil dripping on your driveway to grease leaking from your grill to your patio. But those stains pose a slippery safety risk if not cleaned off.

To keep your concrete stain free and safer to walk, drive, cook, and play on, have them professionally cleaned and sealed. 

3. Moldy Growing Things

In Minnesota’s wet climate, you might notice mold, mildew, and algae growing on your concrete surfaces, including concrete swimming pool decks. Especially in areas of your property that are shady or don’t drain well, you can expect to see black, white, or tan discoloration to indicate mold and mildew growth or fuzzy green algae dimpling your concrete. 

While gross, these organisms also make concrete slick and treacherous to walk on, and if left alone long enough, they can degrade the integrity of your concrete. Use a professional service to clean and seal your concrete when you see signs of these growths. 

4. Weeds

Like mold and other growing things, weeds breaking through the cracks or popping up between your concrete slabs are an eyesore and a safety concern. If left untreated, weeds will keep growing, enlarging cracks or creating new ones throughout your concrete. 

Pulling the weeds is time-consuming and back-breaking work that usually only breaks the stems, so the plants grow back with their roots still in the ground. Spraying weed killer on them can destroy the weeds, but you still have to dig them out, and the weed killer can wash into your yard, killing your grass. 

Instead, remove weeds the easiest way with a professional concrete cleaning that loosens and washes them away. Then have your concrete sealed to ensure they don’t grow back. 

5. Your Concrete’s Lifespan

The immediate effects of cleaning your concrete are obvious. Watching dirt and grime wash away before your eyes instantly proves how beneficial concrete restoration is. But the lasting impact should also please you. 

When you have your driveways and sidewalks pressure washed regularly, it increases the lifespan of your concrete by years! Oil stains, salty grime, and algae erode your concrete over time, so by cleaning them off routinely, you prevent them from degrading the integrity of your concrete.

6. Sealant Application

Applying sealant to your concrete surfaces is the surest way to protect them from developing cracks, stains, growing things, and all the stuff that makes them lose their curb appeal. But the only time to apply sealant is after a thorough cleaning. 

If you want to ensure the longevity and beauty of your concrete areas, have them professionally cleaned, and then seal them with a high-grade, long-lasting sealant guaranteed to protect them from all the wear and tear your outdoor living may bring. 

Restore Your Concrete With Clean ‘N Seal

Don’t wait until it’s too late to clean your concrete! Keep your business and home’s concrete surfaces safe to use and looking beautiful with Clean ‘N Seal’s expert services. With over a decade restoring exteriors throughout the Twin Cities and Brainerd areas, we have the low-down on everything you need to know about concrete cleaning.

Our team ensures the highest standards when restoring residential and commercial exteriors, and we are dedicated to treating your property like our own. That is why we’ve invested in state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly technology that cleans more efficiently and protects your exterior surfaces better.  

See our exceptional paver restoration and concrete cleaning work in our gallery, and contact us today at 952.393.9588 or connect with us online to start your concrete cleaning project!