Caring for Your Concrete
Help Protect Your New Concrete Driveways |
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Do not drive on new concrete for at least 7 days. |
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Do not allow snow and ice to accumulate on concrete, especially during the first winter. Shovel your driveway instead of using de-icers. |
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Do not apply de-icing chemicals on new concrete for snow and ice removal for at least one year. |
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As a safe alternative, sand (plain) may be used anytime for traction. |
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Avoid parking in driveway after driving on wet or snowy streets treated with magnesium chloride or salt mixtures. These deicing chemicals dripping from the vehicles may contribute to damage of concrete surfaces. |
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Do not use rock salt on your driveway to prevent pitting or other damage. |
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If you must use de-icers after the first winter, sodium chloride or calcium chloride de-icers are less harmful to your new concrete. Never use deicers containing ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or potassium acetate; these aggressive chemicals will attack your concrete. |
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Your new driveway is poured with standard residential specifications of 3,500 psi for normal light to medium duty vehicles. Adjustments in the psi measurement can be made to allow for possible cracking from the parking of heavier vehicles. |
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Stamped concrete will require more maintenance than non stamped concrete. The use of surface sealers is recommended to protect your concrete for years of quality service, usually every two years. |
