Winter is coming and winter proofing a commercial or home property is never easy. How do you care and maintenance concrete in the winter? Often in the winter we see cracks in the concrete of sidewalks and driveways. Concrete is a very durable surface for any home or business property, but how do you protect it during the harsh winter months? The answer to that question all comes down to the do’s and don’ts of concrete maintenance. Here are the things you should not do to your concrete to properly maintenance your concrete during the winter:
Don’t use salts to clear sidewalks and driveways of ice and or other winter elements. This is especially important if you did not seal your concrete surface. Before winter begins, always use a concrete sealer. This will help you better manage thawing your concrete after a freeze. You should avoid salts with magnesium, calcium and potassium to really prevent damage to your concrete. You will know if your concrete has some type of damage if it starts to flake and scale. Scaling happens from salt contact. To better preserve your concrete, use sand instead of salt for ice problems. If you do not use salt on a new concrete surface, it will be more immune to salt damage as it ages. And be sure follow these tips:
- Remove snow before it settles on your concrete surface. This is not only an effective snow management strategy but also a great way to preserve excellent tire and foot traffic on any given concrete surface.
- Get the most life out of your concrete surface by washing off salt deposits and other damaging elements off your concrete. By washing off the salt deposits, you will protect your driveways and sidewalks from scaling, flaking and peeling. Remember, even winter slush from a car’s frame can do damage to your concrete if it has salt deposits in it.
- More importantly, do not de-ice your concrete any time the temperature goes below freezing. This is a must because concrete is a porous surface, meaning observes any kind of liquids easily — oil, water and more. Once those liquids touch the concrete, the liquids will freeze, then expand to crack your concrete. To prepare your concrete for proper concrete maintenance this winter, Testa Paving is here to meet your concrete surface needs — crack filling, seal coating, slab jacking to remove broken debris and other essential concrete maintenance services for home or business.
Concrete maintenance with Testa Paving
If you are in the need of pavement or asphalt services, Testa Paving Inc. is here to help! For over 35 years, Testa Paving Inc. has been a driving force within the industry and has been serving the areas of Maryland and northern Virginia.
Interested in one of the services offered by Testa Paving Inc.? Call us today at 301-663-5861 or visit our contact page.
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