How to Maintain Your Exterior Concrete

One of the best attributes of a exterior concrete project is how little maintenance and routine care it will need over its lifetime. But no exterior material—including concrete—is truly maintenance-free. Here are some tips for preserving the life and appearance of your investment.  Following these simple suggestions and tips will lend to the extension of the life of your exterior concrete project.

Clean and Reapply Sealer as Needed

Cleaning your exterior concrete on occasion and keeping it sealed are the best measures you can take to keep it looking its best. How often you clean and reseal will depend on the weather conditions the concrete is exposed to and the amount of vehicle and foot traffic it receives.  Generally, you should reseal exterior concrete every two years, or when the finish begins to show wear. Good commercial cleaners and sealers are available from concrete material suppliers and hardware stores. Or contact Hardscape Designz, LLC for recommendations. Always apply the cleaners and sealers according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Remove Stains Immediately

While a sealer will help to protect concrete from stain absorption, it’s still a good idea to remove oil, gasoline, grease and other spills as soon as possible. If the concrete does discolor, pressure washing and certain cleaning chemicals will remove most stains.

Avoid Using Deicing Chemicals

Using deicers on your exterior concrete in the winter can cause surface damage—primarily scaling and spalling—by forcing the thawing and refreezing of moisture. Products containing ammonium nitrates and ammonium sulphates are especially harmful because they will actually attack the concrete chemically. Rock salt (sodium chloride) or calcium chloride will do less damage, but they can harm vegetation and corrode metal. Avoid the use of any deicers the first winter after concrete placement, since new concrete is more susceptible to the harmful effects of these products.  As an alternative, use sand for traction, and remove snow manually.

Treat it With Care

Although concrete is one of the most durable exterior materials for construction use, the typical residential exterior concrete project isn’t engineered to support heavy vehicles (like a huge moving van) and large construction equipment. Also use care when plowing or shoveling your exterior concrete. Avoid the use of metal blades that might scrape or scratch the surface.