Winter is brutal in most of America but it seems especially worse in North East Ohio. With the harsh winds and snow off of Lake Erie, it is important to know how to protect your concrete! The consistent freezing and thawing can ruin the entire structure of your concrete. Make sure your concrete is durable this winter by following these steps:
Fix Cracks
It is important to fix cracks as soon as they start. In winter, the ground is constantly freezing and thawing which makes your concrete far more susceptible to cracking. Most concrete is made to allow water to drain, and during the winter this causes the water to freeze and expand which leads to cracking. In order to prevent completely ruining your concrete, you should fix cracks as soon as you notice them. Walk into any hardware store and you can find a solution to this problem! Do some research on what type of concrete filler is right for your climate and concrete!
Don’t put Salt on Concrete
Salt is used to melt snow and ice during the winter months. Do you know those horrible potholes that appear after wintertime, well, those are because of the harshness of road salt! Road salt deteriorates and wears down asphalt and it does the same to your concrete. Many people think that the salt would prevent the freezing that causes cracks but road salt cannot prevent the elements from doing their job. Instead of using ice and ruining your concrete, shovel or plow the snow instead (or have your kids do it)!
Sealing Your Concrete
The best way to protect your concrete before the deep freeze of an Ohio winter is to seal it! Sealing your concrete will protect it against snow and ice. You can prevent cracking by protecting it from the elements. It is important to find a quality sealant to protect your concrete during these harsh months.
Make sure you are prepared to protect your concrete from the elements. Check out your local concrete specialists to make sure there are no concrete issues this winter!