Ottawa Concrete Maintenance Tips for Winter

by TRP Ready Mix on October 2, 2017

Here are a Few Tips for Maintaining Concrete Surfaces during the Winter Months in Ottawa

Winter is almost here, and if you’re a property owner in Ottawa, you’re probably not looking forward to dealing with ice and snow for the next several months. Ottawa’s harsh winters take a toll on concrete sidewalks and driveways. The packed snow and ice, along with the freeze-thaw cycle, cause unsightly cracks in concrete that are annoying to deal with every year. So, if you’re sick of the winter’s effects on your concrete in Ottawa, consider these maintenance tips to avoid damaging your driveway and walkways this winter.

Repair & Apply A Sealer Before Winter Starts

If you have any damage to your concrete, repair it before winter starts. These repairs include filling cracks and slab jacking to remove broken concrete. Once repaired, apply a sealer coating to further protect your concrete from the harsh winter weather. A concrete sealer will protect the porous surface of concrete and prevent freezing. This sealer will also help avoid damage during the winter months caused by de-icing products and the freeze-thaw cycle.

Don’t Use Salts on Your Driveway or Walkways

Salts with calcium, magnesium, and potassium cause concrete to scale and flake. Over time, the concrete will worsen from the use of these salts. Instead of pouring salt to deal with ice and snow, use sand to make your driveway and walkways safer in the winter.

Stay on Top of Snow Removal

If you shovel your walkway and driveway before the snow settles, you can prevent the snow from hardening and forming layers of ice. Once snow hardens, it makes shovelling even more strenuous and time-consuming. This will not only protect your concrete from the harsh effects of snow and ice, but it will also keep your concrete safe and easy to walk and drive on.

Don’t De-Ice Below Freezing

Since de-icing products cause ice to melt, the water will just freeze and turn into ice again if the temperature is below freezing. So save your concrete from further freezing damage, and spare yourself the wasted time and energy. If you want to use de-icing products, wait until the temperature is above zero outside.

Clean Salt Deposits from Concrete

Even if you don’t use salt on your driveway, cars will often carry salt deposits and other harmful elements found in slush that sticks to the bottom of cars. So if you notice this slush, shovel it out of your driveway to remove the damaging salt deposits. Also give your driveway a good wash whenever the temperature is above freezing. By keeping salt off your driveway, you can extend the life of your concrete and avoid peeling, flaking, and scaling.

Although this may seem like a lot of work, it’s worth the bit of extra effort to maintain your concrete in Ottawa’s harsh winters. You can extend the life of your concrete with these simple tips, and keep your walkways and driveways safe all winter long.