Concrete Damage Prevention and Repair Tips for Dayton Homeowners

​It’s been nearly two thousand years since the Roman Empire fell. And yet its concrete structures remain standing today. Concrete is one of the few materials that last for the long haul — if you build it right and take care of it. Knowing how concrete damage occurs is the first step toward prevention. But if it’s too late for prevention, a few key concrete repair tips can get your concrete back in tip-top shape and keep it looking new for years to come.

What Causes Concrete Damage?

​Lots of things can damage concrete, particularly when it comes to the weather in Dayton, OH.
 
Freeze-thaw is one of the biggest threats in our area, which subjects the concrete to constant expanding and contracting. Moisture enters the little cracks and crevices in the concrete. Then, when temperatures rise and fall, the water freezes and thaws.
 
Heavy salting during the winter to combat the effects of freezing can also lead to concrete damage. The salt causes corrosion to occur under the top surface of the concrete, which eventually affects the entire structure. You’ll notice this when the concrete becomes cracked, discolored, or broken.
 
In addition, poor installation techniques can set your concrete up for failure. Too much moisture in the concrete mix, premature sealing, or improper joints can all cause concrete damage (sooner rather than later). This is often the case when your contractor is rushing to finish a job and doesn’t allow enough time for proper mixing and construction.

Preventing Concrete Damage: The Best Approach

​An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We hear this phrase a lot in terms of healthcare, but it’s also true for concrete. The best approach is to prevent concrete damage from occurring in the first place. This means hiring the right concrete contractor in Dayton, OH to install your concrete. And after installation, it means taking the proper steps to maintain your concrete.
 
Concrete maintenance includes cleaning, sealing, and removing stains, debris, and buildup. You also want to refrain from using the wrong chemicals that can lead to corrosion or eat up your sealant.
 
When you take care of your concrete, it lasts longer and requires much less investment in terms of time and costs. 

Concrete Repair Tips for Dayton, OH Homeowners

​If it’s too late for concrete damage prevention, you should make concrete repair a priority before any problems get worse. The good news: you can usually repair damaged concrete without having to scrap it all and start from scratch. Some of our favorite tips are:

• Clean the damaged area. Remove as much debris and loose concrete as possible.
• Make the cracks wider at the bottom than the top by using a chisel and a small sledgehammer.
• Use a stiff wire brush to clean out cracks.
• Fill in small cracks with mortar repair or crack fillers that come in a caulking gun.
• Use patch repair for larger holes and areas.

 
Our favorite tip: get in touch with a skilled concrete repair professional in the Dayton, OH metro. 

Call a Pro Today