Concrete withstands tons of weight day after day. That’s why it seems so surprising that a little water can damage it.
But water can be deceptively destructive to your concrete. Luckily, you can take some steps to avoid water damage to your concrete. Below, you’ll find some of the most common ways that water harms concrete and how to prevent it.
1. Shifts the Earth
It’s clear from looking at the Grand Canyon and other national parks that water has a significant effect on the earth around it.
Even a little can have an impact on your home. When it rains, water carries soil down the path of least resistance. Sometimes this path is underground. You might not be able to see it, but you’ll notice the effects on your pavement.
Your concrete slabs may begin to shift, with pieces becoming sunken, raised or uneven.
It’s frustrating to drive and walk on damaged concrete, and it’s also more likely to crack or break. Getting a professional concrete-lifting team to level your pavement will resolve this issue.
2. Degrades the Concrete’s Foundation
Concrete is naturally porous. This means that it’s easy for water to seep into it. While a simple rainfall isn’t enough to cause damage, over time, you may begin to notice your concrete cracking.
This sometimes comes a result of a weakened foundation. It’s important to purposefully direct the water flow when installing your pavement so that it doesn’t pool underneath the concrete foundation and further degrade it.
3. Freezes in Pores
Living in Utah, you’ll need to worry more about the water freezing in the pores of your concrete than flooding it.
When water freezes, it expands. If the water is sitting in the pores, it will swell as it freezes until something gives. If you have uneven concrete, this damage will get worse as time goes on.
The concrete will continue to push against or pull away from each other. Either way, the result is the same — cracks and uneven pieces. There are two simple solutions for this.
First, if you notice cracks in your concrete, get them repaired with concrete filler. Second, if the slabs are uneven, get them lifted and leveled. Here at Lift Up Concrete, we can help you level and protect your concrete so that it lasts much longer.
Stop water from ruining your concrete — call us for a free estimate on our services.
