Caring for New Concrete Through Its First Winter

Summary:

Cesar names de-icing salt as the fastest way homeowners damage concrete without realizing it. Salt works on ice, but it draws water into the concrete and drives the freeze-thaw cycle harder than it would run on its own, and the effect is worse on a slab still in its first winter while the concrete is young. His alternative for traction is plain sand, which grips without attacking the surface. His second warning concerns pressure washing: held close to the surface, a pressure washer strips concrete, and on a broom finish it removes the very texture that provides slip resistance. He recommends backing off and using a wider tip, and keeping water moving off the slab.

Answer:

The fastest way people wreck concrete around here without knowing it is salt. Everybody wants to throw de-icer down when it's icy out, and it works on the ice, but it's hard on the surface. It pulls water into the concrete and it drives that freeze and thaw cycle harder than it would go on its own. On a slab that's still in its first winter it's worse, because that concrete is still young. If you need traction, use sand. Sand gives you grip and it doesn't do anything to the surface at all. The other one is pressure washing. People get a pressure washer and hold it right up against the concrete, and that will take the surface right off, especially on a broom finish where you're stripping out the exact texture that's keeping you from slipping. Back it off and use a wider tip. And keep water moving off it. Water sitting on a slab all winter is working on it the whole time.