Proper care and maintenance of concrete is extremely important for a job that will look good and last a lifetime. Once your new concrete has been installed, there a few things you should know to keep it looking new and in great shape for years to come.
- Curing.To keep your new driveway from cracking, don’t drive on it for at least 7 days after installation for normal traffic. The concrete is considered “green” and needs to cure and harden before it can be open for normal use. There are Different psi concrete levels, for concrete to cure and be ready to drive on In 24 hrs.
- Concrete should be sealed to extend its life. This will protect your concrete from chemicals that can destroy the surface of the concrete and cause deterioration from things such as, salt from your vehicle and oil. Oil isn’t a major structurally problem it’s just unsightly, but if you get a stain, use a commercial degreaser and a heavy bristled scrub brush, some water and a good scrub to clean the stain.
- DO NOT USE SALT ON CONCRETE! To prevent your concrete from deterioration don’t use any ice melt/salt products on you’r driveway, patios or sidewalks. When you spread rock salt on your concrete to melt snow and ice, the salt dissolves the snow and makes a salt water mush. The melting action of the salt allows water to enter the concrete. If the temperature then drops and the water freezes, the growing ice crystals can blast apart the concrete. There is an alternative to using rock salt. You can use sand. The sand will not melt the snow and ice, but it will provide you with traction.Sealing your concrete driveway is a way to prevent the salt off your car from damaging your driveway. If you want the full life out of your concrete you should seal it annually.
- Freshly poured concrete is most susceptible to damage. Concrete placed in the late fall needs at least 30 days of drying time. This young concrete is still highly saturated with water. The water within the concrete can freeze and cause the surface to pop off. However, if enough cement was in the initial mixture and this cement was not diluted by the addition of water, the concrete will be able to resist the damaging forces of the freezing water
- Keep heavy equipment off your new concrete, such as trash trucks, concrete trucks, and other heavy vehicles and equipment. If you plan to have heavy equipment on your driveway this is something you should tell your contractor so he can use the correct concrete mixture for your concrete needs.