Many people think that concrete patios allow them to make several memories in the summer seasons, but they are bound to neglect this space in the harsh winter conditions. Although concrete is known to have an elegant yet solid appearance, this material is porous. It allows easy penetration of snow, water droplets, and other materials into the surface.
In the winter season, these penetrated water droplets start freezing, and they expand by almost 9%. This process leads to an increase in cracks in the flooring. This seasonal variation makes installing concrete patios a big mistake. The winter weather makes concrete patios to deteriorate. Therefore, it is essential to take appropriate steps to protect your investment. This guide can help you take preventive actions to maintain a concrete patio from harsh weather conditions.
Tips to protect the concrete patio from harsh winter weather:
Here we have listed few details about how to protect your concrete patios during harsh winters. This information may help you take appropriate steps to prevent extensive damage to the floors at your residential or commercial unit:
Repair and patch up cracks
The first thing you need to do to maintain your concrete patio slabs in all weather conditions is to identify the signs of damage on time. If you notice some cracks on the surface, you have to prevent further damage by repairing them on time. It is important to apply a flexible sealant to create a strong bond over surfaces. Experts advise following trusted techniques to repair the cracks on time.
Seal any concrete surfaces
You can use concrete sealing services to protect the floors during harsh winters. These specially designed coatings can prevent damage caused by snow and ice in the winter months. One of the best recommendations from experts is an epoxy coating that can prevent moisture from soaking into concrete patio surfaces. Therefore, the coated floors do not get weakened when the temperature reaches freezing points.
Avoid pouring salt concrete
Although salt doesn’t cause any chemical reaction with concrete, it can easily attract moisture into the surface. This means that salt can lead to corrosion below the concrete layers, and it further increasing the possibility of flaking and cracks. Furthermore, salt cannot stop the thawing or freezing process in the concrete slab; instead, it can increase stress in the pores inside the concrete. To avoid salt pouring from concrete flooring, you should shovel off snow and ice on time.
Now you have gone through some of the most common solutions to prevent concrete floor damage during the winter months. One of the best recommendations from experts is to use an epoxy coating on your concrete patio floors. This high-quality coating material can prevent damage in the winter as well as summer months. This additional protective layer can avoid the entry of water droplets and snow below the concrete surface. Even if you have already installed concrete flooring, you can now renovate it with epoxy coating.