Winter Concrete Care

Winters in North Idaho are beautiful—but they’re also tough on concrete. Between freeze-thaw cycles, de-icing products, heavy moisture, and shifting ground, concrete surfaces can take a beating if they aren’t properly cared for. As a local concrete contractor, we’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference a few simple winter-care steps can make in preserving driveways, patios, walkways, shop floors, and garage slabs.

We often get questions about how best to protect concrete as winter arrives.  Here are some tips for good management of your concrete surfaces:

Use Safe De-Icers (and Avoid the Harmful Ones)

Some de-icing chemicals are extremely damaging to concrete.

Avoid:

• Rock salt (sodium chloride)

• Magnesium chloride (common on roadways—can be tracked onto your driveway)

• Calcium chloride (harsh on new or unsealed concrete)

These products accelerate freeze-thaw damage and can cause surface scaling.

Better options:

• Sand for traction

• Kitty litter (non-clumping)

• Ice melt designed specifically for concrete safety (look for calcium magnesium acetate)

Keep Snow Cleared Off

Leaving snow piled up on concrete allows more meltwater to soak into the surface, increasing the risk of cracking.

Also consider what you are bringing home with you and into your garage.  In north Idaho the road and highway departments do a good job of putting down de-icers in preparation for upcoming storms, as well as placing materials to help with traction on already snow and ice covered roads.  While this is great for your driving needs it also accumulates on your vehicles tires, wheels, and under carriage.  Consequently it makes its way into your garage and other concrete parking surfaces and melts or drops off your vehicle.  Be sure to clear this off your surfaces as well.

Use a plastic shovel instead of metal to avoid scratching your surface.  If using a snowblower, keep the metal skids slightly raised to avoid scraping.

Consider Mats or Entry Pads

For high-traffic areas like porches, steps, or garage entries, use rubber or non-slip mats. They reduce direct contact with snow and ice, and they prevent road salts from vehicles from causing surface wear.

Winter Care Makes Your Concrete Last Decades Longer

Concrete is built to be strong, but even the best-poured slab needs some seasonal care—especially in North Idaho’s harsh winters. A little maintenance now can prevent major repairs (and costs) later.

As Always – please drive safe this winter!!