Installing a new concrete driveway or patio refreshes the look and appeal of your home. But professional installation is just the first step: as a homeowner, it will be your job to keep your new concrete looking great. Here are 5 important tips for concrete care and maintenance.

Seal Your Concrete

When your new concrete is fully cured (at least a month after installation) apply an appropriate concrete sealer to resist dirt and stains. Ask your contractor for a recommended sealer for the mix of concrete they used to pour your new driveway or patio. Concrete should be resealed every few years, after a good cleaning, to keep it looking fresh.

Clean Concrete Surfaces Properly

There are a variety of concrete cleaners available, but some are formulated specifically to remove oil stains, while others are for more general cleaning. Concreate is a porous surface, so improper use of power washers can do more harm than good, driving dirt, pollen, and spores deeper into the surface.

The best strategy is to clean spills and stains immediately, before they have a chance to sink in to your concrete. If your driveway is heavily stained or discolored, it’s time to consider professional concrete services. In Montgomery County, TX, that means calling Green Coast Construction. We’ll assess your concrete and propose a solution to restore it and keep it looking great.

Repair Small Cracks Quickly

If your concrete was professionally installed, it should have control joints. These are shallow cuts in the concrete at regular intervals that contain inevitable cracking as the concrete cures. Cracks will tend to occur in the control joints rather than in the middle of concrete surfaces.

However, control joints can’t prevent all cracking. Repair and seal small cracks as soon as possible. If you have cracks that are wide enough to insert a nickel, contact a professional concrete contractor for assistance.

Use Ice Melt Products Sparingly

Freeze-thaw cycles are destructive to concrete, causing repeated rounds of expansion and contraction as water freezes and pushes against the interior of the concrete, and then thaws, causing the concrete to contract again.

Sections of the country that rarely experience freezing are now seeing harsher winters with freezing temperatures more often. This may tempt you to douse your driveway with ice melting chemicals. But these chemicals can cause pitting and other damage to your concrete surfaces. Sometimes, it’s necessary to melt ice on your driveway and walk, but use an eco-friendly formulation and follow the instructions to use it sparingly. If warmer temperatures are expected within hours, you may find that simply spreading sand is effective to prevent slips and skidding.

Watch Your Weight

Residential concrete driveways are built to handle passenger cars, not heavy equipment. Delivery drivers usually park in the street. But if you’re having major construction work done, ask your contractor to ensure that heavy equipment, including dumpsters, are permitted to park in the street rather than on your driveway. Overloading your driveway can damage your concrete.

Residents of Montgomery County, TX should call Green Coast Construction for professional concrete installation, repair, and for decorative concrete options.