The effects of the cold winter weather on your Concrete Driveway Denver are significant. Even the greatest concrete surfaces can deteriorate in reaction to freezing temperatures and increasing precipitation if they are not properly maintain. The dangers are significantly greater for concrete that already has fissures and structural problems. Here’s how winter might affect your home’s concrete contractors Denver www.concreteservicesdenver.com/ surfaces.
It Can Speed Up Surface and Structural Failure
Water can move into the subgrade & pool under the principal top layer if your concrete has fractured. As the temperature drops, the moisture in the air condenses and expands. Repetitive deformation will create additional cracking over time. The surface will eventually sink and deteriorate, necessitating expensive repairs or complete replacement.
This may be avoided by contacting a qualified contractor to inspect your concrete surface & fix any fractures before the weather gets chilly. If your concrete is cracked or drooping, you may have it restored to its original, long-lasting form via mudjacking, which involves injecting a supporting natural sand slurry beneath the concrete surface.
Regularly clearing snow and ice off your driveway before it melts can also help to limit the danger of damage. Make sure your drainage system is in good working order so that rainfall and melting snow can flow away from your driveway and pedestrian paths and onto the street.
It Can Leave You Vulnerable to Lawsuits
You don’t want someone to get hurt because they slid on your icy concrete surface, whether it’s the mailman or a home visitor. You may lessen your risk of liability problems related to accidental wintertime falls by maintaining your concrete sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
While utilizing snow-melt chemicals and salt can assist, it’s critical to rinse these chemicals away as quickly as possible to avoid their deteriorating your concrete surface. Keep in mind that certain deicing products, such as magnesium acetate, might cause harm to your concrete, especially if it’s kept in situ for an extend period.
It Can Keep New Concrete From Curing
Due to a simple reaction known as hydration, wet concrete transforms from a semiliquid to a durable solid substance. When water is add to dry cement powder, a chemical reaction occurs, causing the cement to crystallize. The pace of this chemical reaction is determine by the temperature of the concrete, which is determine by the weather. When it’s hot outside, the response takes place quickly. The response, on the other hand, slows slower in the winter.
While fresh concrete may appear to be dry after only a few hours, the curing process might take months. The stronger the concrete grows as the surface cures. The curing process will slow or even halt if the temperature falls below 14 degrees early in the life of fresh concrete. It’s for this reason that it’s better to avoid pouring fresh concrete during the winter.
It Can Lead to Flooding
Water can pool up on concrete surfaces when heavy snows melt, increasing the danger of subsurface penetration. This water can occasionally make its way to a home’s foundation or basement, causing catastrophic structural damage. It’s critical to shovel snow as soon as possible before it melts. To avoid snow from gathering in your window wells and infiltrating into your basement as it melts, you may need to install plastic coverings.
It Causes Wear and Tear
During the winter, constant freezing and thawing can cause surface damage. Shoveling and scraping, on the other hand, might make your concrete seem old and ruined until spring arrives. While a good sealer might help, keeping concrete appearing clean after a tough Colorado winter isn’t always doable. While some problems are just cosmetic, keep an eye out for any new cracking or sagging that requires immediate attention to prevent water from leaking into the subgrade under your concrete surface.
