Do It Now: Seal Any Concrete Walkways, Driveways, And Other Features
No matter where you live in the United States, the next few months promise a wild ride due to El Niño. While some areas are forecast to get less rain, more areas are forecast to get a lot of rain. If you haven't sealed the concrete that forms your patio, walkways, or other hardscaping features, do it now. If you don't, you could be looking at a big concrete repair job in a few months.
An Icy Mess
For areas that are forecast to get a lot of moisture and that will still have cold temperatures, unsealed concrete can absorb moisture that then freezes. As ice forms inside the concrete, the ice expands and cracks the concrete. Sealing the concrete protects it from moisture, preventing water from soaking in and freezing.
A Blooming Problem
For areas that are forecast to see a lot of rain but not see a lot of cold temperatures, such as areas in the southern portions of the country, rain can still cause a problem with unsealed concrete. As the concrete dries when the rain takes a break, the salts in the concrete can ooze to the top of the concrete, creating whitish lines known as efflorescence. These are plain ugly and difficult to clean off.
A Matter of Timing
To add to the fun, you have to time the sealing so that the sealant is completely dry by the next time that it rains. If water gets onto the newly sealed concrete before the sealant is dry, the rain can leave spots and bubbles in the sealant. It can also make brush marks more prominent.
A Matter of Protection
Even if you're in an area forecast to get less rain than normal, seal the concrete. You'll protect it from oil droplets from your car, as well as things like rust if metal touches the concrete.
If you'd like to know more about how sealant can keep your concrete garden and yard features safe, talk to landscaping and hardscaping companies. They can point you toward reputable suppliers of concrete sealant, and they can give you pointers on timing for the sealing job if a lot of rain is forecast, as well as ways to apply the sealant efficiently. Adding sealant to concrete may sound like a dull job, but all you have to do is remember how much damage youd cause by leaving the sealant out.
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