Is September too early to think of winter? Not really. Before you know it, the snow will be flying, and with that comes salt and deicers on concrete. So what are the steps making sure that your concrete doesn’t become cracked and affected when Spring comes around? Here are some care techniques to help you out this winter.
In winter, precast concrete steps, stair treads, and sidewalks should be shoveled, or swept to be kept free of snow. Sand may be applied to add traction, while salt and other ice melting chemicals (deicers) should be used sparingly since they can cause spalling and pop-outs. Spalling and pop-outs can happen because salt and deicers subject the concrete to many more freezing and thawing cycles than would occur naturally. Even deicers that come in containers that state the material will not harm concrete may cause damage by creating an abnormal amount of freeze-thaw cycles.
Concrete that is less than a year old is especially inclined to this type of damage and could be affected with just one application. If salt or other ice melting chemicals need to be used, you should apply some type of concrete sealer made for protecting concrete from the effects of salt and other deicers. A sealer may prevent or reduce the amount of damage that occurs from the use of deicers. Even with a concrete sealer applied to concrete, deicer use should be kept to a minimum and any deicer residue left on the concrete should be immediately shoveled or swept off the concrete once the ice has melted. When shoveling, sweeping, plowing, or snow-blowing deicer contaminated snow, do not toss it so that it lands on or against any precast concrete or cast stone, such as site wall copings or base trim, as this could lead to spalling of those items. Since most sealers wear off over time, they need to be reapplied periodically.
Should the precast concrete or cast stone become dirty, a fiber brush can be used to scrub the affected area, using a mild detergent and water and then thoroughly rinsed with clean running water. Before cleaning, thoroughly drench all surrounding masonry and concrete to prevent the dirty water from being absorbed into it.
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