How to Care for Your New Concrete
Owner Guidelines and Proper Care Instructions for Your New Concrete
Standing behind the concrete Wisconsin businesses & residents stand on – Dornbrook Construction
Basics
- Do not drive on new concrete for at least 7 days and walk on it for 36 hours.
- Do not allow drain water to undermine the slab and cause settlement cracks
- Do not allow snow and ice to build up on the surface-remove them as soon as possible.
- If possible do not allow downspouts to discharge on the concrete during the winter months as this may cause surface damage and deterioration around the control joints due to the expansion and contraction of the freeze-thaw cycle.
- Avoid placing items on concrete that hold moisture against it as it may cause surface deterioration and discoloration. Two examples would be doormats and flower pots.
- Your new concrete has been designed for normal residential vehicle traffic. Do not use your concrete for nonresidential purposes, such as delivery vehicles as this may result in crack development.
De-icers
You wouldn’t use a strong caustic soap to clean your wall-to-wall carpet. Nor would you use acid to clean your kitchen or bathroom fixtures. In fact, most people are very careful about how they clean and take care of the inside of their home.
Yet, what about the outside concrete walks, patios, driveways, porches, and steps. While concrete is the most durable product available for your home, proper care is a requirement for long-lasting beauty and wear.
One of the most damaging things to a new concrete surface is the use of deicers – especially in the first winter. Here are a few tips to properly care for your exterior concrete.
- Refrain from using deicing chemicals (salt or calcium chloride) for snow and ice removal during the first winter. Sand Can be used for traction.
- Even when deicing chemicals are not used, they can be inadvertently carried on the undercarriage/tires of your vehicle from public roads onto your driveway. It is imperative to properly maintain your driveway to protect it from surface deterioration due to deicing chemicals.
- Broom off these areas where the salt drops off of vehicles. Sealing concrete is also a great way to protect your new concrete from damage caused by deicers.
- Never use materials that contain ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. These chemicals are often packaged and sold as deicers, but they will rapidly disintegrate concrete. Common garden fertilizers containing these two chemicals, or urea may cause disintegration as well.
- The use of a high-quality concrete sealer will help to prevent damage caused by deicers
Sealers
While concrete is one of the most useful materials used today in buildings and various applications, it is vulnerable and should be protected. Concrete sealants can increase the strength and longevity of your concrete for years and years to come. Sealing concrete is easy and cost-effective.
- Use a high-quality siloxane sealer such as TK-290 or TK-Final Seal. They are siloxane sealers that penetrate below the surface of the concrete and form a hydrophobic barrier against water and deicers.
- Application is recommended on all new concrete surfaces…Especially before the first winter. You should allow 28-days for the surface to cure before applying any sealer.
- Make sure the surface is clean and thoroughly dry before applying
- Apply an even coat of sealer with a low-pressure sprayer and back roll with a medium nap roller. This will ensure proper penetration. Back rolling not needed with TK-290 Do allow sealer to pool in any area.
- Follow manufacturer instructions for application rates. Do not over apply sealer
- Sealers can be purchased from the following suppliers
Multiple Concrete Accessories Corporation
4365 N. 124th St.
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-781-4600
NOTE: Concrete sealers have the potential to discolor concrete. Dornbrook Construction, Inc. is not to be held liable for any discoloration caused by the concrete sealer
Preventive maintenance and care will help improve
durability and service life!