Winter Concrete Care

By Admin

Winter is here!  Removing ice and snow from concrete is part of the winter routine in a northern climate!  Caring for your concrete in the winter is not complicated but does require a conscientious effort. 

• Remove snow before driving on it.  Driving on the snow on your concrete constantly will put in motion the frost and thaw cycle that causes so many of the pot-holes in our roads.  Snow, ice, water and any pollutants are forced into the concrete then freeze and thaw and push up through the surface in the form of small marks or divots. 
•  Do not use salt or de-icing chemicals the first year or two.  Using these materials on new concrete is harmful and may cause spalling and scaling.   As an alternative, use sand for traction, and remove snow manually.

The photos below are examples of the two extremes of concrete care.  The first photo is a driveway that is only one year old but salt and de-icers were heavily used throughout the first winter.  The second is a driveway that is over 30 years old but the owner has never used salt or de-icers, has never driven on the snow and always removes new snow immediately.    Adopting a care method for your new concrete really makes a difference!   Your concrete looks beautiful now and can still look great decades from now with a little uniform effort.