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The average daytime temperature in Anchorage during winter is below freezing, and this extreme weather condition can take its toll on nearly everything, including your concrete installations. If you don’t take preventive measures to protect your concrete patio, driveway, or pavement, they will be susceptible to cracking and flaking. Below are some tips you can use to keep your concrete in good shape through the winter season.

How Freezing Temperatures Affect Concrete

It’s hard to find a material as tough as concrete, which is why most people choose to use it in various home installations. However, regardless of how solid it may appear to be, concrete still absorbs moisture. And when this liquid freezes during winter, it expands to form ice.

concreteThis process of expansion creates tensile force, which exerts continuous pressure on the concrete, causing it to crack. Using de-icing solutions, meanwhile, can make the concrete go through more freeze-thaw cycles that could aggravate minor damages.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Concrete

The best solution is to prevent water from seeping into the concrete to begin with. Water repellents, such as silanes and siloxanes, penetrate the concrete, forming a hydrophobic silicone barrier. These compounds shield against water from the surface but allow water from underneath to evaporate. Penetrating silanes and siloxanes also prevent salts from getting absorbed by the concrete, protecting it and the supporting rebar underneath.

You can also use a concrete sealant to protect the installation. To do this, you first have to remove snow using a shovel rather than a de-icing agent. Then, clear the surface using a power washer and cleaning solution to rid it of dirt, oil, and salt, which can prevent the sealant from bonding properly. Use a water-based acrylic sealant for easier application.

 

If you need a reliable general contractor for road repairs or driveway paving, get in touch with GMG General in Anchorage, AK. This paving company has almost 30 years of experience in providing contracting services in the area. They also offer snow removal and commercial landscaping services. Call (907) 349-7854 or visit their website to learn more.

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