Winter can damage the concrete around your home and cause problems that might not be immediately visible. Read on to find out why this happens.
During winter, the water in the soil in your garden can freeze and expand. If this soil is underneath concrete, this expansion can push the slabs upwards which will create an uneven surface. Sometimes, when the ground warms up, the concrete will settle back to where it was, but it often remains out of place.
When snow turns to water when it thaws, it can seep under your concrete slabs. This water can then wash away the soil that supports your concrete. Without a solid layer of ground underneath, concrete can start to crack and sink. If you need new concrete Cheltenham, firms like Monster Mix Concrete can offer concrete for many uses.
Many people use salt and sand to prevent ice forming on driveways and paths. However, this can harm your concrete. Concrete is full of tiny holes that absorb water and when water freezes inside these holes, it expands and breaks the structure of the concrete from the inside. Salt is more harmful than sand, as it speeds up the breakdown of concrete by causing damage beneath the surface. Over time, this leads to cracking and crumbling concrete that looks worn and damaged.
The biggest challenge for concrete in the winter months is the constant change between freezing and thawing. Every time water freezes and melts, it creates tiny cracks. These cracks get bigger every time there is a freeze and thaw and this will slowly weaken the strength of the concrete.
You can reduce the damage to your concrete by avoiding using too much salt, checking concrete for early signs of damage and getting professional help if you see any big changes. Winter can be hard on concrete but by looking after it carefully, it can survive through many winters.