Keeping up with concrete maintenance during the winter can help prevent damage and prolong the life of your concrete.
Concrete is incredibly durable; yet, all slabs eventually develop cracks. Here in Northern Utah, the repeated wintertime freeze-and-thaw cycles can bring on the problem more quickly.
Fortunately, you can take steps to safeguard the integrity and ensure the longevity of your concrete surfaces. Here’s how expert contractors handle winter concrete maintenance.
Any moisture that gets into a slab can freeze when the temperature dips, and then cause cracking and flaking once warmer weather arrives. To avoid this, always try to remove snow and ice as soon as possible, before it has a chance to build up and lead to damage.
Deicing salts make ice removal easier, which is why they’re so popular. Unfortunately, their chemicals also make it easier for water to seep into concrete. So, when you need traction, don’t reach for a deicer; spread sand or gravel on the surface instead.
When snow and ice melts from your rooftop, where does it go? If the your downspouts send water flowing toward your driveway, patio or sidewalk, melting precipitation could create settlement and cracking problems. Prevent this by making sure your gutters, downspouts and drainage flow away from your concrete.
Applying a high-quality sealer can help block moisture from penetrating a slab, protecting the surface against the effects of Northern Utah winter weather. Sealant is often recommended for newly-poured slabs, but sealers can also be effective as concrete maintenance for older surfaces.
You may not use deicing salts on your property, but the products are still commonly used to melt ice and snow on Utah roadways and parking lots. As you drive along, your car picks up the salts and, when you get back home, the damaging chemicals are transferred to your driveway. To prevent this problem, consider parking on the street or hose the undercarriage of your car before parking on the slab.
One of the best concrete maintenance tips is to repair slab cracks immediately, once they appear. As soon as you notice a crack developing, contact a professional contractor and have the problem fixed. The longer you hold off on getting the repair, the more melting snow and ice will enter the slab – and more moisture means more damage. And, of course, the greater the damage, the costlier the repair.
Do you need to repair slab cracks on your property or do you have questions about concrete maintenance? Lift Right Concrete LLC, Northern Utah’s leading professional concrete services company and has a reputation for providing exceptional quality service at an affordable price.
Lift Right Concrete offers free, no-hassle consultations to homeowners and businesses throughout the greater Salt Lake City area. Contact our Grantsville or West Jordan office to learn more about concrete maintenance or to discuss your repair options today.
