1. Do I really need to seal my type of concrete?

Exposed Aggregate Concrete is designed to be sealed, usually with a high gloss sealant to create that "Wet Look". One of the reasons it must be sealed is because of the open pore design of the surface that if left un-sealed, water and contaminants to can easily enter the concrete and cause damage from freeze/thaw cycles (as well as staining the concrete). Stamped concrete is also designed to be sealed and like all designed concrete will require maintenance to protect it's finish.

The colour coat is extremely thin, be very careful not to do irreparable damage with a pressure washer.

2. So what about all the other types of concrete?

It makes sense to maintain your concrete and avoid the substantial expense and hassle of replacing it after it becomes damaged. For concrete, sealing is a good preventative action to help prevent stains and damage from freeze/thaw cycles as well as environmental hazards.

All types of concrete can be sealed with several different types of sealant to choose from. Even the mostly overlooked garage floor is a great candidate for protection. Your garage floor takes most of the punishment during winter months because your car drops salt and debris collected from the road and deposits it on the concrete where it attacks the surface often resulting in pitting, chalking, and flaking. If you own a vehicle that leaks oil you know how hard it is to clean off the oil after a winter of leaking, even with a good pressure washer.

One popular type of finish for garage floors is epoxy based products that come with a very long service life and are available in many colours. Epoxy based sealants can also be installed with a grip surface to dramatically improve traction when wet. This type of finish is resistant to all oils, battery acid, brake fluids and of course salt.

The Crackman also sells and installs all types of chemical resistant laminates on garage floors. There are all types of great patterns to choose from that can really make your garage a showcase area for your prized vehicles.

3. How do I care for my concrete in Winter?

You can help maintain concrete by shoveling the snow from your driveway, sidewalk and steps. By keeping the snow cleared, these is less chance that it will compact down - eventually freezing into the surface that accelerates the freeze/thaw cycle. The less number of times that water enters concrete and freezes, the less likely that it will become damaged.

Use a plastic shovel instead of a metal one. Bent/sharp corners of a worn metal shovel can damage the surface of certain types of concrete.

4. Is it okay to use salt as a deicer?

The short answer is NO. Salt is very corrosive to concrete and will eventually, if not immediately, cause damage to many types of concrete.

5. What about "Environmentally Friendly" deicers?

There are four primary types of deicing salts that all have different characteristics and are each designed to work in certain temperature ranges.

The common property of all different types of deicers is that they all seem to have the potential to damage concrete and some are harmful to the environment. Another potential problem with using a deicer of any kind is the damage caused by increased freeze/thaw cycles. For example, when a product rated for -9 C melts snow and ice, it will enter the pores of the concrete as salty water. When the temperature drops below the rated temperature for that particular salt it can refreeze and expand in the pores of the concrete causing damage.

Many types of salt deicers are marketed as "Environmentally Friendly". Be careful when using these products and read the directions carefully.