Concrete Care Tips for Winter: Prevent Cracking and Damage

Concrete Care Tips for Winter: Prevent Cracking and Damage

Cracked and damaged concrete is easily one of the biggest eyesores on a home/property, and will lead to high-dollar repairs in the future. Freezing temperatures and excess moisture are hard on your concrete, causing lasting damage or exacerbating existing damage. Part of winter concrete care is thorough preparation and after-winter repairs to ensure your home's concrete lasts as long as possible.

Patching Up Divots

Divots or pits are a walking hazard for you and your guests, and can lead to further crumbling of your concrete. They also allow moisture into the concrete’s structure, which will eventually freeze and expand, creating more damage. Using a concrete patch made of mortar or a similar compound is an easy way to prevent this unfortunate outcome and prevent further erosion. 

Repairing Cracks

As stated above, cracks in your concrete are vulnerable to freezing and expanding, potentially widening or spreading cracks further down your concrete areas (I.e., driveways, walkways, etc.). Additionally, cracks in your concrete surfaces can cause the concrete segments to separate, which becomes a major tripping hazard. Quality winter concrete care includes filling these cracks with concrete crack sealer and smoothing the areas for a more seamless appearance.

Utilizing Concrete Resurfacing

Resurfacing your concrete is one of the best forms of concrete maintenance in Roanoke, VA. However, some homeowners don’t know how to refinish their concrete or which steps they should take first. Below are the basic steps for a proper concrete finishing job:

Steps to a Thorough Resurface Job

• Remove loose material.

• Pressure wash the whole area.

• Repair concrete damage.

• Wet the concrete.

• Fill in cracks, etc.

• Finish the surface and allow it to cure.

Reseal Your Concrete

One of the final tasks for concrete maintenance in Roanoke is investing in a high-quality sealant to apply to your concrete. Sealing your concrete acts as a water-resistant shield, preventing cracking and spalling. It's essential to note that before sealing the surfaces, they must be cleaned to ensure they are porous enough for the sealant to soak in and cure properly. You should repair any existing damage before applying the sealant, and those surfaces should be allowed at least 24 hours of uninterrupted cure time before use.

Limit Use of Salt/De-icer

Salt and other de-icer materials are wonderful for preventing ice and moisture accumulation and slip-and-fall accidents. However, these products can cause unnecessary excess damage to your concrete surfaces because melted ice reforms, just to thaw again, creating a vicious cycle that wears down your concrete. You can talk to a local professional about the best ice melt products for your property to prevent damage throughout the cold season.

Trusting the Experts 

It can be difficult to entrust your home to strangers, even experts. Luckily, our team cares for your home as if it were our own and stays up to date on the best winter concrete care solutions. We share these tips to help keep your property in top shape. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to call us for more concrete winterization essentials!