Annual Concrete Maintenance

The concrete areas around your home have to stand up to a wide variety of conditions. Vehicles, weather, and general use can leave these areas looking shabby and worn. To extend the life of your garage floor, driveway, patios, sidewalks and curbs, it is important to make them a part of your annual maintenance routine.

Proper care and preservation of concrete areas will keep your home looking its best, and prevent damage or permanent staining from occuring. Taking good care of your concrete will help the surfaces last longer, and can be done fairly easily.

With a few hours over the weekend, and a little elbow grease, you can help prolong the life of your concrete areas. Investing in the care of your concrete areas is relatively simple, and in the long run, is much less expensive than having to replace concrete.

Driveways:

• Always remove stains as quickly as possible, and ensure the cause is removed. Stains from chemicals like oil, gas, and grease can cause permanent discoloration and damage the surface of your cement.
• Avoid using salt or other chemical de-icers on your driveway as they can damage the surface and weaken the structure of your driveway. Sand is a great alternative.
• Be sure to re-apply sealant at least once every 2 years.

Garage Floor:

Sweeping your garage floor free of dirt and debris is the easiest way to maintain it. At least once a season, dedicate some time to thoroughly sweeping your garage with a wide push broom.

Cleaning your floor with a scrub brush will generally remove dirt and scuffs, but rust stains are a little tougher. To scrub away rust stains, mix an ounce of trisodium phosphate (TSP) to one gallon of hot water. Pour into the concrete where the rust stain is, and let sit 15-20 minutes. You can also pour white vinegar directly onto the stain and let is soak in. Scrub the area with a stiff bristled brush and rinse with clean water.

Tend to oil spills immediately. Wipe up any excess oil, and sprinkle sawdust or kitty litter over the stain. Gently step on the material to help soak up residual oil. Sweep up the sawdust or litter and throw it away. Soak the stain with a concrete degreaser and let stand for around 45 minutes Scrub the stain with a stiff bristled brush and rinse with clean water.

Repair breaks and fill in the cracks. When you find a break or a crack, repair it immediately with an epoxy paste. Use a chisel to remove any broken chunks or jagged edges, and vacuum away the debris. Work the paste into the crack with a putty knife, pushing down to remove air. Once the crack is full, remove excess and smooth over with a trowel.

Apply a sealer. Applying a concrete sealer will help to protect your garage floor from further damage or staining.

Sidewalks & Curbs:

Clean regularly to eliminate dirt, gum and stains. Sweep thoroughly at least once a season. Use a putty knife to scrape up dirt and other clumps. Deep clean stained areas with a scrub brush and cleaning solution.

Keep joints free of weeds and debris. Pull any weeds growing in the cracks, and remove any rubbish that’s lodged there.

Tend to cracks right away. Use epoxy paste to fill in any cracks before they get worse.

Ensure curbs aren’t damaged or obstructed. Curbs should lie straight and be free of debris.

Making your concrete areas a part of your regular maintenance routine will help to prevent cracking or pitting, and will extend the life of your concrete surfaces.