When you think about concrete, you usually don’t think about maintenance. Concrete is durable and long-lasting, and most people don’t think it really needs much upkeep. The fact is, properly maintained concrete lasts longer and looks better. Maintaining concrete, especially decorative concrete, can extend its life and beauty and keep it looking clean and bright, rather than faded, dirty, and stained. Why wouldn’t you want to keep your investment protected? Let’s learn how to properly maintain our decorative concrete structures!
Maintaining concrete, especially decorative concrete, can extend its life and beauty and keep it looking clean and bright, rather than faded, dirty, and stained. Why wouldn’t you want to keep your investment protected?
Four Steps to Maintaining Your Concrete Masonry
- Clean your concrete at least annually
Concrete is pretty low-maintenance, but you should clean it at least once a year to remove dirt and grime build-up as well as rust and other types of stains.
- Repair any cracks
Cracks can cause major problems with the sub grade, so you’ll want to repair them as quickly as possible to maintain a structurally sound surface and minimize water intrusion.
- Seal joints in the concrete
This step will minimize any water intrusion through the joints, eliminate dirt collecting in the joints, and eliminate weeds sprouting up through the joints – all of which are unsightly and impact the beauty of your decorative concrete structure.
- Seal the concrete’s surface
If you take the time to seal your concrete’s surface, it will repel water, dust-proof the surface, provide resistance to abrasions, and make the concrete resistant to UV sunlight. This will keep it from fading, cracking, and scratching over time.
- If you have decorative concrete…
Give Del Prete a call to find out what extra steps your concrete may require. There are special sprays on some decorative finishes, and we can recommend types and brands of toppings and dressings.
Build Your Next Concrete Masonry Project with Del Prete Masonry!
While there are many other materials that we use at Del Prete Masonry, we’re not about to abandon concrete anytime soon. It has proven its worth many times over and we know that we can bring you a solid masonry structure with it. To find out more about your masonry options including concrete masonry, please contact our office today at 410-683-0650 or email us at mike@delpretemasonry.com. We serve Baltimore City, County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. Keep up with our blog for masonry related information, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.