While the untreated concrete floors in your home are strong enough to withstand a great deal of day-to-day activity, they aren’t infallible. Over time, concrete can break down, leaving it looking dull and dirty. However, there is a much larger risk to this concrete breakdown that can significantly impact your family’s health and well-being.

Concrete floor dusting might seem innocuous, but it can lead to severe respiratory irritation and illness, making it essential to treat it as soon as it emerges. If you have untreated concrete floors in your home, keep reading to learn more about concrete floor dust and how to keep your family out of harm’s way. 

What is Concrete Floor Dusting? 

Your concrete floors face a great deal of friction every day. With every step you take, this surface breaks down slightly. Over time, this repeated friction may lead to a thin layer of dust collecting across the floor’s surface. Concrete floor dust is a combination of concrete mix, aggregates, concrete fines, and dust and debris from your environment. 

While this is most commonly caused by constant friction, there are a few other factors that may contribute to concrete floor dusting, including: 

• Low-Quality Concrete Mix: When using inexpensive mixes for your concrete pad, they often don’t have enough cement in the formula. This low cement content, coupled with improper curing, may leave your floors vulnerable to concrete floor dusting. 
• Your Environment: If your concrete pad is exposed to frequent inclement weather like heavy rain and the freeze-thaw cycle, this may compromise its strength, contributing to an increased risk of dust formation. 
• Inadequate Sealing: Concrete sealing products create a barrier between the floor and water, chemicals, and other debris. If you don’t invest in a sealer, your floors may break down more rapidly than anticipated. 
• Poor Maintenance: While concrete is low maintenance, this doesn’t mean it requires no maintenance. If you don’t clean your floors regularly, they may begin to break down, leading to dust collection. 

The Risk of Exposure to Concrete Dust

Dust collects around your home every day, and you might not think much of it. But, when you experience concrete floor dusting, it is essential that you address it as soon as possible. Failing to properly address this dust formation over time can significantly impact your and your loved ones’ respiratory health. 

In individuals with asthma, concrete floor dust can lead to increased irritation. However, this isn’t your biggest concern. Exposure to this dust is also known for causing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This incurable disease is progressive, making it increasingly difficult to breathe as your symptoms advance. 

Finally, in more extreme cases, some individuals will develop Silicosis. This disease is caused by breathing in silica, and is most common in individuals who work on construction or mining sites. However, it is still something to be aware of, as it causes permanent lung tissue scarring, making breathing more difficult.

Individuals with Silicosis are also at an increased risk of developing tuberculosis, COPD, lung cancer, and kidney disease. If you want to keep your loved ones, including elderly family members and pets, safe from this respiratory irritation, it is essential that you address concrete floor dusting as soon as it emerges. 

How to Prevent Dusting

The easiest and most reliable way to prevent concrete floor dusting is by investing in a professional floor coating, like epoxy or Polyaspartic. These floor coatings are designed to protect your concrete floors from the wear-and-tear of everyday friction, from foot traffic to the weight of heavy vehicles. 

In some cases, you may need to consider pouring a new concrete slab before installing your floor coating to ensure it is strong enough to support the coating. If you’re not sure whether you should install a new slab, it is best to speak to a floor coating professional. They can examine your floors and determine if they can make repairs or if replacement is best. 

Choosing the Right Floor Coating for Your Home

When choosing a floor coating to prevent concrete floor dusting in your home, the most popular options among homeowners are epoxy and Polyaspartic coatings. But which of these coatings is your best option? There are many benefits to each, including: 

• Epoxy: These coatings create a seamless surface that seals concrete, preventing dust particles from breaking loose. It stops the wear and tear that causes dusting, making floors easier to clean, safer, and more resistant to friction damage.
• Polyaspartic: These advanced coatings cure quickly and form a tough, moisture-resistant barrier that prevents concrete surface degradation and dust formation. They offer superior adhesion and abrasion resistance, minimizing dusting.

If you’re on the fence about which floor coating is best to help you avoid concrete floor dusting, contact your trusted floor coating professional for support. They can help you work through the pros and cons to ensure you have a floor you love. 

Your Trusted Floor Coating Team in Louisville, KY

If you want to protect your loved ones from concrete floor dusting, invest in a high-quality floor coating from our team at Diamond Custom Coatings. Whether you love the sleek shine of an epoxy floor or want the resilience and reliability of Polyaspartic, our team is trained and prepared to install it all. With our quality coating installed in your home, you can breathe a little easier.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment to install a floor coating in your Louisville home, don’t hesitate to contact us today.