Close-up of a crack in a gray concrete surface, showing rough texture and irregular line.

Protect Your Concrete This Winter

There is no doubt about it that the concrete on your property, whether it be your stairs, walkway, or driveway, will need to be replaced at some point or another. But there are a few things you can do this winter to better protect your concrete from becoming damaged.

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During winter, concrete has a higher chance of becoming damaged due to the cold temperatures and the harsh elements that come into contact with it. By following the tips listed below, your concrete has a better chance of making it through the winter without any damage, saving you more money and more time.

Tips for Protecting Concrete

1. Clean up any leaves and debris on your concrete

Making sure that any leaves or debris on your concrete are cleaned up before the first snowfall is very important. If you do not clean up these things before snow and ice form, you could be dealing with a number of issues such as mold growth and attraction of pests. Taking the small amount of time to rake up leaves, twigs, debris, etc. will help you avoid more serious problems down the road.

2. Fix any potholes or cracks before they worsen

If you notice any potholes or cracks along your concrete, you will want to get these fixed before more severe weather hits. Waiting until after winter to get concrete issues fixed will only worsen them and cause you to have to spend more money in the long run. Give a reputable, affordable foundation repair company a call to have them come and fix these concrete issues right away.

3. Remove snow and ice after every fall

Removing snow and ice after every fall will help you in many ways this winter. Allowing snow and ice to pile up on your driveway will allow it to freeze and unfreeze multiple times on the concrete. This will only make it more difficult to remove for you and cause additional snow removal equipment to be needed. Shoveling snow and ice after every fall will be much easier to remove and will be more gentle on the concrete.

4. Don’t destroy your concrete while shoveling

When removing snow and ice from your concrete, be sure to use a plastic shovel rather than metal. Using a metal shovel will chip at and damage the cement as concrete is more prone to damage from sharp objects. While shoveling, be sure to be gentle as stabbing at the concrete will do nothing but cause cracks and chips.

5. Find an alternative to salt

Many homeowners use salt to melt the snow and ice among their driveway, walkway, and steps. While it may seem like the easiest way to remove snow and ice, putting these harmful chemicals down on your concrete so often will do more harm than good. The chemicals in salt will cause your concrete to deteriorate much quicker than it would if you were using an all natural snow and ice remover. Do some research and look into using a deicer that uses all natural ingredients.

The tips above will save you time and money that can go into fixing concrete issues that may arise. If you are in need of concrete repair solutions, contact Basement Authority of West Virginia today. We offer a number of foundation repair solutions, including leveling concrete. For more information on this or any other foundation repair services we offer, contact us here.

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Disclaimer: By “concrete leveling,” we mean the process by which cracked, uneven concrete is stabilized, and in many cases lifted, by means of our PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam. Basement Authority of West Virginia does not guarantee that PolyRenewal™ can make your concrete perfectly level.