Concrete pavers are an amazing addition to any home. They are sturdy, reliable, affordable and look fantastic, and are a great way to upgrade your old patio.
Once your concrete pavers are installed, it’s important to protect them so that they can last long and maintain their original look. This is especially true in cold climates, where ice and snow put extra pressure on the material.
In these climates, de-icing salts are often used to remove snow and ice, and to prevent the surface from becoming slick. While these products are great, they can cause significant damage to concrete pavers.
That’s why it’s so important to select the products you use carefully, apply appropriate sealers and follow specific maintenance strategies. Here is a comprehensive guide to ensuring the longevity and appearance of your concrete surfaces.
Introduction to Concrete Protection
Salt-based products are great for melting ice, but they can also do significant damage to concrete surfaces.
Because concrete is a porous material, water is able to soak into concrete rather easily. When salt is applied to concrete, the calcium chloride that’s in it reacts with the calcium hydroxide that’s in the concrete.
These two chemicals form inside of concrete in colder temperatures. The crystals will then expand and cause the concrete to develop internal cracks. Over time, the concrete will crumble from the inside out and flake on the surface, which is called spalling.
The salt makes this process even worse, as it lowers water’s freezing point and, in turn, increases how much pressure the frozen water puts on the concrete.
Rock salt will also accelerate this deterioration that is caused by the freeze-thaw cycle in winter, and will ultimately shorten the concrete’s lifespan.
Understanding Sealers
While salt-based products are great for de-icing, they can obviously do damage to concrete pavers. One way to counteract this is to apply the proper sealer to the concrete pavers.
There are two main types of sealers — film forming and penetrating sealers. Both work by creating a protective film on the surface of your concrete pavers to protect them from both moisture, and wear and tear.
Film-forming sealers can either be water- or solvent-based. Water-based sealers will provide a low gloss look, not a lot of darkening on the concrete itself, and an increased resistance to chemicals.
Solvent-based, meanwhile, will be high gloss and will darken the concrete, but will also result in increased development of the pavers’ color.
Penetrating water sealers protect concrete from any water getting inside at all. In essence, these sealers actually prevent anything from soaking into the concrete, which repels the salt-based products as well.
From a look standpoint, penetrating water sealers don’t change the look of the concrete pavers at all. This type of sealer often provides the best long-term protection for pavers, since it prevents anything from soaking into the material.
Sealer Options for Different Needs
There are many different types of sealers, and each has a specific purpose.
As mentioned above, water-based versus solvent-based is really a personal preference based on the desired look — in other words, whether you like a matte or glossy finish.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you should stay away from all wet sealers. Because concrete pavers are porous, any liquid will soak into the pavers.
Trapping in moisture is never a good idea for concrete pavers, as that can result in shortening their lifespan.
Another tip is to avoid switching back and forth between water-based and solvent-based sealers. Whatever one you choose initially, stick with it for the lifespan of your pavers.
If you switch from one to the next, it will destroy your pavers and leave them with a white milky appearance that is impossible to remove.
Preventative Measures
There are many preventative measures that you can take to protect your concrete pavers. As you’re choosing among concrete vs. brick paver porches, there are things you can do before it’s even installed.
Opting for air-entrained concrete could give you extra years of protection. This type of concrete has billions of air cells that are microscopic in nature that are injected into it. The air pockets that are then in the concrete relieves its internal pressure, as the air pockets are essentially small chambers that water can expand in during a freeze.
After the concrete is already installed, you should use concrete-safe de-icers. There are many different types of this product that can be used, including calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, and urea.
Any product that uses these chemicals are considered less corrosive, which will result in less damage to the concrete pavers.
Maintenance and Care
Like most paver products, regular maintenance is necessary to keep your concrete pavers looking great and lasting long. These pavers are low maintenance, but there are some steps you should take to extend their lifespan.
First, make sure that they’re free of debris and dirt. This will help the pavers to retain the luster for a longer period of time. Simply sweeping the debris and dirt away and rinsing the pavers with water will help.
Every one or two years, it’s also a good idea to power wash your concrete pavers. Just make sure that when you do so, you use the lower setting so that you don’t do inadvertent damage to the pavers. You can amp up the pressure if you have particularly tough grease or oil stains.
You can even integrate a mild detergent to help keep the pavers clean. Just make sure you don’t use any brush that has wire bristles, as that can cause the surface to scratch.
Another good idea is to use Saltguard WB. This water-based water repellant is a chloride screen for your concrete pavers. It has low odor and is alkaline-stable, which will help to protect your pavers from water and salt damage.
Surfaces that are treated with Saltguard WB don’t trap in moisture, providing effective protection from not just de-icing products but also salt air. Whether you’re applying the product on a horizontal or vertical surface, this product works great to provide long-lasting protection to concrete pavers.
