Cold Weather Concrete Care and Maintenance
Posted on: 2012-11-30
Snow and winter weather go hand in hand. There simply isn’t any way to avoid it, just as there isn’t any way to avoid having to remove it from your concrete sidewalks, driveways, steps and patios. The unfortunate side effect of snow removal is that it can chip, scratch and even crack the concrete that makes up everything that you need to remove it from. To avoid damaging your pretty, stamped concrete and even your basic, utilitarian concrete sidewalks and driveways, here are several rules to follow:
No Chemicals
Do not use any de-icing fluids, salts or other substances on your new concrete sidewalks or stamped concrete. These can damage the finish of the concrete, and cause pits and gouging. With that said, you should remove as much of the snow and ice as possible, and if you need to add anything to help aid with traction, use sand.
Seal It In
Make sure that your concrete is well sealed before the snow starts to fly. This should ideally be done right after the concrete hardens and is cut, but just in case – apply a quality sealer that will help prevent winter weather damage.
Choose Your Shovel Wisely
Be careful when shoveling – and use a shovel with a plastic scoop instead of a metal one. A metal one may scratch or dent the surface of your concrete, especially when you need to scrape as far underneath of the snow as possible to remove it. A shovel with a plastic scoop is less harsh, but you still need to be careful not to cause scratches.
Leave It Alone
Do not park your vehicles on your new concrete driveway for the first winter. This may be unavoidable, but if you can get away with it, avoid leaving your vehicle on your new concrete for as long as possible. This is due to the fact that the de-icing chemicals used on the streets can build up underneath your car or truck and then fall onto your new driveway.
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Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
