The Complete Guide to Winterizing Your Home’s Concrete Surfaces

You don’t need us to remind you that Wisconsin winters can get… well… cold. As you go through the process of winterizing your home and getting ready for the seemingly endless stretch of subfreezing temperatures we get from December through March every year, it’s important to pay just as much attention to your concrete surfaces as you do to your landscaping and exterior fixtures.

Here’s a quick overview of how you can work with local concrete contractors in Crivitz, WI to winterize your concrete surfaces.

Perform any necessary repair work

Any cracks or holes you have in your concrete already will only get worse over the winter with the constant freezing and thawing cycles. Therefore, the best way to prevent that damage from spreading is to fix it before the cold weather really arrives in full force. So long as the slab is level and the ground hasn’t frozen deeply yet, you should be able to tackle the job yourself.

With cracks, you should fill them with a type of flexible sealant, according to manufacturer instructions. This will create a watertight bond with the surface of the concrete that blends in with the texture of the concrete surface. Once it’s dry, the sealant is flexible and doesn’t fall away from the sides of the crack, even during freezing and thawing.

Seal your concrete

If it’s been a while since you last sealed your concrete surfaces, doing so before the winter can help you protect your pavement. By sealing the concrete before the temperatures really start to dip, you can prevent more moisture from getting into the surface of the concrete. If left unchecked, moisture in the concrete could weaken the material when it freezes, so it’s a good idea to seal the surface to do what you can to prevent that type of damage.

Again, depending on the condition and size of your concrete paved area, you may be able to take on sealing work yourself, but we generally recommend working with a professional for larger areas and for a guaranteed higher quality of work.

Protect statues and sculptures

It’s not just your concrete pavement that needs to be protected. You should also consider the steps you can take to winterize any statuary, sculptures or fountains you have on your property.

Any lighter items could be moved to a storage shed for the winter, where they won’t be exposed to potentially damaging moisture. But for larger, heavier fixtures, you should make sure to cover them as you’re able. For birdbaths or fountains, make sure to drain and invert them before covering them up to prevent standing water from collecting and freezing in those bowls, as it could result in cracks.

These are just a few examples of some of the most important steps to take to prevent damage to your concrete surfaces and items over the winter months. To learn more about keeping your concrete in good condition all year long, contact the local concrete contractors in Crivitz, WI at Kwiatkowski Construction Co., Inc.

Categorised in: Concrete Contractors

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