Everything You Need to Know About Maintaining Concrete
One of the biggest reasons why decorative concrete is so popular is because of the fact that it is very low-maintenance and incredibly durable. While it is one of the most damage-proof materials you will find in construction, it still needs to be maintained in order to keep it clean and in good condition for years to come.
Cleaning and maintaining your concrete surfaces properly not only ensures that they will continue to look great, but it can also end up saving you money in the long run and prevent dirt, debris, and other materials from building up and making your concrete a potentially dangerous surface. In order to maintain your concrete so that it will last for years to come, follow these tips, and if you are in need of a quick and easy-to-use concrete repair product, shop FASCRETE today!
Treat Your Concrete With Care
While concrete is an incredibly tough material, it does not mean that it is indestructible. It is still important to take necessary precautions in order to stop concrete from cracking and ensure that it isn’t under unnecessary pressure.
In order to avoid this, try not to subject your concrete surfaces to very heavy vehicles and machinery in order to prevent cracking. It is also important to take precautions and be as careful as you can when you are shoveling or plowing your concrete surfaces after it snows. This is because metal tools can cause damage to the concrete surface over time, especially after repeated use.
Reseal Stains as Quickly As Possible
While concrete sealant does an excellent job at protecting concrete surfaces from stains, it is still crucial to remove oil, grease, gasoline, or any other difficult-to-remove materials as quickly as you can.
If you need to remove oil or grease, alkaline degreasers work well for taking care of this. Dishwasher detergent is also a great option as it helps to quickly prevent them from absorbing into your concrete.
Avoid Harmful Chemicals
While concrete is a very tough material and can withstand a lot of wear and tear and chemicals that others can’t, there are still certain chemicals that you will want to avoid exposing your concrete surfaces to. This is especially true if your concrete has a lot of texture or crevices where the chemicals can build up.
Believe it or not, even deicers can cause surface damage to concrete as they cause moisture to repeatedly thaw and refreeze. Some of the most harmful types of deicers are those that contain:
- Ammonium sulfate
- Ammonium nitrate
- Calcium chloride
- Sodium chloride (rock salt)
- Magnesium nitrate
- Magnesium acetate
- Magnesium chloride
It is also important to keep in mind that newer concrete is much more likely to become damaged by deicers than older concrete, making it a good idea to avoid all potentially damaging chemicals like the ones mentioned above for the first year after the concrete is poured.
Clean Your Concrete Regularly
By regularly cleaning your concrete, you will allow it to look like new for years to come as this will help to prevent dirt, moss, algae, and other debris from accumulating over time. Luckily the cleaning process does not take much work as long as you keep up with it on a regular basis.
While pushing a broom or using a garden hose to spray off your concrete will generally get the job done, keep in mind that debris build-up is more likely to build up during certain times of the year. For example, when the leaves fall in autumn, concrete services are much more likely to accumulate debris and may be a bit more difficult to clean with wet leaves piled up.
Another great way to prevent moss and algae build-up is to increase the amount of sun your concrete gets by trimming back plants and tree limbs that produce shade to your concrete surfaces such as driveways and patios.
Periodically Reseal Your Concrete
Debris build-up over time is inevitable, and while regular maintenance and cleaning will definitely help to keep problems at bay, it is still suggested to have your concrete pressure washed and resealed periodically. This is a relatively quick process and will help to preserve both the appearance and durability of your concrete surfaces while protecting it from stains, cracking, and other damage.
While concrete is a tough material, it can still become damaged over time. While regular maintenance will help to preserve and protect your concrete, cracks can still occur seemingly out of nowhere. If this is the case for you, don’t fret — FASCRETE concrete repair products are quick and easy to use solutions to your damaged concrete. Shop today!