Three Critical Steps for Winterizing Your Concrete

With winter quickly approaching there are a few things you should do to protect your concrete surfaces. Taking the time for some winterizing maintenance on concrete sidewalks, walkways, parking lots, and other structures will ensure that these locations will be safe and functional once the temperatures begin to rise again and spring arrives.

With mostly mild late autumn temperatures this year, there is still time to prevent any damage that may occur with the change in seasons before temperatures drop lower. Below are three critical steps to take to winterize your concrete.

Patch and Repair

If your concrete surfaces are showing signs of damage, like small surface cracks or spalling where the surface starts to chip away, apply a crack sealant. The sealant forms a watertight bond with the surface and will blend with the surface of the concrete. Once dry, the sealant holds a level of flexibility and will not pull away from the sides of the crack even as the concrete expands or contracts with temperature fluctuation.

Seal the Surface

Sealing is the best way to protect any concrete surface. Sealing before temperatures drop will help prevent any moisture in ice and snow from soaking into the surface causing it to weaken when it freezes. Once patches and repairs have been made to any existing cracks or spalling (when the top layer of concrete flakes away to reveal pitted patches), a high-quality acrylic sealer will protect it. The concrete sealer will protect against water as well as harsh chemicals and salts used to de-ice walkways, sidewalks and parking lots during winter.

Avoid Water Damage

The main cause of concrete damage during the winter is moisture. Keeping water from pooling on the surface will help prevent the concrete from contracting and expanding when the temperature dips and rises. Proper drainage to move water away from your concrete surfaces is a key step to avoiding damage.

Concrete is porous and susceptible to moisture unless it has been properly repaired and sealed. Implementing the steps above now to do smaller repairs will save you time and money in the spring by not having to make larger, more costly repairs due to improper preventative maintenance.

Team Cam is the company you can trust for quality concrete repairs and management in Baltimore, Maryland and its surrounding areas. Call us today at (443) 304-2237 for a free estimate.