Question: We freeze fresh cranberries in totes. Berry juices drip onto the floor and acid from the juice is eating up the cement. We are planning a building expansion and would like to know what we can do to prevent corrosion. We are not able to make drastic changes to how we treat the cranberries (e.g., blast freezing).

Answer: The high acid levels, including quinic, citric, malic, and benzoic, that make cranberries so healthy are not good for concrete floors, unfortunately. Over time, they will eat away at the cement leaving the stone aggregate. The best bet for floor protection is to add hardener to the finish troweling operation and after the floors have cured sufficiently, coat them with urethane sealer.

Answer provided by Bob Hampson, active member of the IARW-WFLO Past Chairman’s Council and longtime industry leader. 

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