Winter-Proof Your Concrete Surfaces With These Tips

Living in a climate like Vancouver’s with intense winter weather can be tough on your home or business’ concrete surfaces. Between the freezing cold temperatures and the snow and ice, it’s no wonder that many homeowners start to see problems with their concrete driveways, garage floors, and walkways. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to prepare your concrete surfaces for winter and help keep them looking good throughout the season. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best tips for winter-proofing your concrete surfaces.

At Quantum Concrete Lifting, we help  homeowners and businesses level their concrete surfaces before winter sets in. We also offer services for municipalities and public works projects. By leveling your concrete surfaces before the winter weather hits, you can help prevent serious and costly damage and keep your concrete sound for years to come. Learn more about our Vancouver concrete leveling services.

Why Winter is So Hard on Concrete

One of the main reasons why winter is so tough on concrete surfaces is because of the freezing and thawing cycles that occur. When water freezes, it expands. This expansion can cause cracks and other damage to your concrete. The freeze-thaw cycle can also cause existing cracks to grow larger and deeper. This damage can then lead to more serious problems like potholes.

Another reason why winter is hard on concrete is because of the salt, brine, and deicing chemicals that are often used to make roads safer after snowfall and ice accumulation. These chemicals can eat away at your concrete and cause damage. Over time, the damage caused by these chemicals can render your concrete surfaces unsafe.

Finally, the snow and ice that accumulate on your concrete surfaces during the winter can cause problems. The weight of the snow and ice can cause cracks and damage, especially if it is allowed to build up over time. Additionally, when you shovel or plow your concrete surfaces, you can unintentionally scratch or chip the concrete.

Level Concrete Before Winter Sets In

One of the best ways to protect your concrete surfaces from winter damage is to make sure they are level before the cold weather hits. When concrete surfaces are not level, they are more susceptible to cracking and other damage. This is because when water seeps into cracks and then freezes, it expands and puts pressure on the concrete, causing it to crack.

If you have noticed that your concrete surfaces are not as level as they used to be, now is the time to do something about it. At Quantum Concrete Lifting, we offer concrete leveling services in Vancouver and surrounding communities to help homeowners and businesses level their concrete before winter sets in. We use a process called poly jacking to raise sunken concrete slabs and make them level again.

Fill Cracks

Another important tip for winter-proofing your concrete surfaces is to fill any cracks that you may have. Cracks in concrete can become larger and deeper when water freezes and expands inside of them. This can lead to serious damage like potholes.

If you have cracks in your concrete driveway, garage floor, or walkways, now is the time to fill them. You can use a polyurethane caulk purchased from a hardware store to do this project yourself, or call in the experts to help.

Seal High-traffic Concrete Surfaces

If you have high-traffic concrete surfaces like driveways and garage floors, it is a good idea to seal them before winter sets in. Sealing your concrete can help prevent damage caused by salt, brine, and deicing chemicals. It can also help prevent staining from oil and other liquids. This is another project you can do yourself using hardware store-bought concrete sealer (be sure to pressure wash your driveway first!) or you might consider hiring a professional to do this for you.

Invest in a Containment Mat

If you have a concrete garage floor, one way to winter-proof it is to invest in a containment mat. These mats are placed over your concrete and catch any salt, brine, deicing chemicals, oil, or other liquids that may fall on them. This helps prevent the chemicals and liquids from coming into contact with your concrete and causing damage.

Ready to Level Your Concrete? Call Quantum Today.

If you are ready to level your concrete or take other steps to winter-proof your concrete surfaces, call Quantum Concrete Lifting today. We offer a variety of concrete services to help homeowners and businesses protect their concrete from winter damage. We serve Vancouver and the surrounding communities. Call us today to learn more!