Tips for Concrete Maintenance in Utah
Concrete is one of the most durable materials in the world, with superior resistance to outdoor elements and extreme weather events. However, much like other natural materials, it is not invincible by any means.
The regular damage from wear and tear, lack of maintenance, and even acts of vandalism can take a toll on concrete installations in Utah.
The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to look after concrete. As long as things aren’t too far gone, you can use the following tips to keep your residential property in Utah looking as good as new. For extensive repairs and inspections, consider calling a concrete expert near you.
Keep it Clean
This may sound like an obvious tip, but there’s more to cleaning concrete than meets the eye. For starters, your biggest concern is oil and chemical stains because they can lead to concrete deterioration while also impacting its aesthetics. Concrete is a porous material and it is important to clean the stains before the stains have a chance to seep into the material.
You can buy any standard muriatic-based cleaner to wipe out the stains. Muriatic-based cleaners are effective against rust, mildew stains, and mineral build-up.
Don’t Use Deicing Chemicals on Concrete
It is not recommended to use deicers on concrete, especially if the installation is under 12 months old. It is worth noting that it’s not the deicers that cause issues; instead, it’s the freeze and thaw cycles they create at fault.
Deicing agents work by lowering the freezing point of water. During this process, they convert ice and snow into a brine solution. This solution will freeze and thaw depending on the temperature, which means that your concrete is exposed to more freezing and thawing cycles than it is designed for.
Moreover, the brine solution can move into the highly porous areas of concrete, where it leads to even more expansions and contractions due to freeze-thaw cycles. This can result in extensive damage requiring an expensive repair. Why is this a problem? Because the volume of water increases about 10% when it expands!
A better alternative is to use sand and shoveling to get rid of the ice. Sure, it’s more laborious, but it protects your concrete in Utah.
Limit the Weight You Put on the Concert
Concrete is very durable and strong, but most residential concrete pours are not designed for super heavy loads. For instance, while the driveway can handle the weight of regular vehicles, it may not be equipped to handle oversized delivery trucks.
In fact, if a delivery truck is fully loaded and allowed on your driveway, it may create massive cracks on the pavement requiring extensive repair. Always keep heavier vehicles on the street outside your driveway to keep the concrete pour safe.
Check for Cracks
Make sure to check the concrete for cracks, deterioration, or heaving as part of your regular maintenance. Minor cracks can be easily repaired and may not pose a significant problem. However, if the cracks are the width of a nickel, it’s time to get in touch with an expert.
If you are in need of concrete maintenance for your residential or commercial property in Utah, get an expert’s opinion instead of a DIY route.