Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:19:45 -0700, "Ook" Ook Don't send me any
freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin'
spam wrote:

Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?

One thing I learned from the several houses that I've owned over the
years is that using salt to remove ice from the sidewalk can really
tear up concrete, but it depends upon the concrete mix.

I had big divots in the concrete at one house in Colorado, but very
little effect on a second house in the same town. The sidewalk at the
second house was only a few years old, while the first house had a
30-year-old sidewalk, so age may have played a part.

The composition of the sidewalks was different. The older sidewalk had
visible gravel in the concrete, while the newer one did not.

Mark

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:19:45 -0700, "Ook" Ook Don't send me any
freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin'
spam wrote:

Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
last?

If you want to make the driveway last, make everything else first.

In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?

Keep it wet for at least a few days after it is poured, a week is even
better.

Didn't they used to use burlap for that? Is it that there's not
enough scrap burlap these days? Someone mentioned hay, or a
sprinkler.

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:09:40 -0400, Mark K wrote:


I had big divots in the concrete at one house in Colorado, but very
little effect on a second house in the same town. The sidewalk at the
second house was only a few years old, while the first house had a
30-year-old sidewalk, so age may have played a part.

Are you saying the 30-year old driveway was good until you used salt
on it?

And that caused divots?

I'd been led to believe that after a year or two it was safe to use
salt.

(and I used a little this year for the first time in 28 years.)

The composition of the sidewalks was different. The older sidewalk had
visible gravel in the concrete, while the newer one did not.

Mark

Ook wrote:
Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make
it last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded
concrete. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this? Any
coatings that don't look ugly, but actually extend the life of the
cement?

Well you already are past some of the most important.

First is the foundation. The gravel base under the concrete and
preparation. Next is the design including re-bar, wire, thickness, and
strength rating of the concrete. Next is the installation. For example
under working or over working the concrete will make for a weak surface that
will scale very easy.

Now, assuming it was just put in, you can keep it damp for at least a
few days to a week or so. That will allow it to cure slowly and develop
full strength. Drying means it will not properly cure and will always be
weak.

After that, keeping salt off, especially during the first year is
important. Other than than trying to keep stains off it so it looks nice is
about it.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:19:45 -0700, "Ook" Ook Don't send me any
freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin'
spam wrote:

Now that I have my nice new concrete driveway, what can I do to make it
last? In my neighborhood, there is a lot of badly erroded concrete. Is there
anything that can be done to prevent this? Any coatings that don't look
ugly, but actually extend the life of the cement?


imho, i was told:

The first steps would have a good contractor. Using washed ag, and
covering your concrete with plastic, to retard evapaoration too fast.

Then don't use rock salt at all. Any icemelt you do use is to break
up the ice, and then remove it with a shovel. Don't let any product
just sit on you concrete.

I was warned about keeping my car well maintained since oils and
fluids could react with the concrete as well.

Just what I was told.

tom @ www.FreelancingProjects.com

after the concrete has cured, perhaps 6 months apply liberal amount of
thompsons water seal. it penetrates the concrete so water can get in
the poors freeze and cause breaking up of the surface. it will darken
the surface but is well worth it.

first application poor on spread with broom, after that all you will
need is a light coating.

concrete fails because water gets in the surface. thompsons also
protects from damage by rock salt. again it cant get into thje poors
and cause grief.

On 20 Mar 2007 13:58:53 -0700, "
wrote:

after the concrete has cured, perhaps 6 months apply liberal amount of
thompsons water seal. it penetrates the concrete so water can get in
the poors freeze and cause breaking up of the surface. it will darken
the surface but is well worth it.

first application poor on spread with broom, after that all you will
need is a light coating.

concrete fails because water gets in the surface. thompsons also
protects from damage by rock salt. again it cant get into thje poors
and cause grief.


Now I'm not a Thompsons fan, because I heard this story. When used on
horizontal surfaces, it causes water to easily puddle. Which can
freeze and turn your walking areas into ice skating rings.

Just what I was told.

tom @ www.FreelancingProjects.com

wrote in message
ps.com...
after the concrete has cured, perhaps 6 months apply liberal amount of
thompsons water seal. it penetrates the concrete so water can get in
the poors freeze and cause breaking up of the surface. it will darken
the surface but is well worth it.

first application poor on spread with broom, after that all you will
need is a light coating.

concrete fails because water gets in the surface. thompsons also
protects from damage by rock salt. again it cant get into thje poors
and cause grief.


How about the apparent eroding of concrete by water? Here in Oregon it rains
a lot (like most of the time) and if you can find a slab partly protected
from the rain, you will immediately see how the concrete has eroded from the
rain water.

Ook wrote:
wrote in message
ps.com...
after the concrete has cured, perhaps 6 months apply liberal amount
of thompsons water seal. it penetrates the concrete so water can get
in the poors freeze and cause breaking up of the surface. it will
darken the surface but is well worth it.

first application poor on spread with broom, after that all you will
need is a light coating.

concrete fails because water gets in the surface. thompsons also
protects from damage by rock salt. again it cant get into thje poors
and cause grief.


How about the apparent eroding of concrete by water? Here in Oregon
it rains a lot (like most of the time) and if you can find a slab
partly protected from the rain, you will immediately see how the
concrete has eroded from the rain water.

To some extent, but rain water, even Oregon rain, is not much of a
source of damage to concrete. However before it cures (generally two to
eight weeks for his situation) it can be damaged and that damage can show up
years later. During the first day or two some large rain drops can leave
their impressions.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

wrote:
after the concrete has cured, perhaps 6 months apply liberal amount of
thompsons water seal. it penetrates the concrete so water can get in
the poors freeze and cause breaking up of the surface. it will darken
the surface but is well worth it.

first application poor on spread with broom, after that all you will
need is a light coating.

concrete fails because water gets in the surface. thompsons also
protects from damage by rock salt. again it cant get into thje poors
and cause grief.

I find water sealers are good in freeze zones but not of much use in
areas that seldom get freezes. One important part of this is the salt
damage and the other is the expansion in cracks, even the very very small
ones.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit