Poor weather can be incredibly hard on your entire home, especially your driveways, sidewalks, and other concrete surfaces. When snow melts and permeates the surface, it can freeze, expand, and cause severe damage. As the temperature drops, here are a few simple tips for preparing concrete for winter weather.

How to Prepare Concrete Surfaces for Winter

1. Check for Existing Damage

If your driveway already has cracks, chips, or spalling, that damage will become worse when the snow starts falling. To prevent issues, hire a concrete repair business to check your surfaces for damage, and make the necessary repairs. By cutting out damaged sections and pouring new slabs, you can eliminate issues and protect the damage from spreading to the rest of your driveway. 

2. Seal the Surface

Concrete sealers work by sealing the microscopic pores in the concrete and creating a surface that is impenetrable to water and more resistant to damage. If your driveway is in good condition, clean the surface with a power washer until all dirt and grime are removed, let the surface dry, and apply a concrete sealer. Don’t forget to apply a sealer to the approach pad, which often takes the most abuse from vehicles entering and exiting your driveway. 

3. Remove Snow Carefully 

Never use snowmelt or road salt on your driveway, since salt lowers the freezing point of water, attracts more moisture, and increases the pressure ice creates when it freezes, all of which damage concrete faster. Instead, focus on removing snow by hand with a snow shovel or a snowblower. Scrape snow away as carefully as possible, paying particular attention to edges that may tend to chip. 

Whether you need snow removal for your driveway or you need base materials or excavation, the fully licensed and bonded professionals at Simak Trucking & Excavating can help. Since 1956, these experts have been focused on offering comprehensive services to customers, helping people to create more functional properties. Find out more about how they can help you by visiting their website or by giving their office a call today at (440) 224-1992.