How to Protect Concrete Deck Coatings in the Winter
“How do I protect my concrete patio in the winter?”
This is a common concern for homeowners and business owners each year. Winter weather is already pummeling the northeast U.S., and it’s fast approaching areas like Raleigh, NC. With so little time to plan, it might seem like there’s nothing you can do to prevent winter’s wrath from wreaking havoc on your concrete deck. Concrete coatings will provide some level of protection to your deck, but what’s shielding these coatings from harm? Here’s how to protect your concrete deck coatings (and by proxy your concrete deck) during the winter and beyond.
Make Repairs Prior to Winter’s Worst Weather
The first step toward protecting your concrete deck this winter is closely inspecting its surfaces. If your region has endured a particularly harsh year up to this point and/or you haven’t kept up with regular maintenance, you might find a number of cracks and areas where previous coatings have begun to peel away. Knowing that worse weather is on the way, you might be tempted to leave things alone and worry about it in the spring. This is a mistake. Deteriorated coatings and fractured surfaces will allow moisture from snow to make its way inside the concrete – as temperatures dip, this water will freeze, exacerbating cracks in your concrete. If you want to protect your concrete deck and its coatings this winter, then you must repair any glaring issues before the worst winter conditions arrive.
Reseal Your Concrete Deck
As you’re examining your concrete coatings and underlying surfaces, you might find that the most efficient solution to preparing your deck is to completely reseal it. Indeed, typical epoxy concrete deck coatings need replacing about every 3-5 years. More durable coatings, on the other hand, such as Penntek polyurea concrete coatings, might not need resealing for decades. That said, it may be worthwhile to provide an additional layer of protection to your concrete deck coatings to get through the winter via concrete wax. Make sure your current coatings can receive these additional coatings before applying, of course (you might also have to wait until things have warmed up and dried out before resealing or waxing).
Stay on Top of Snow Removal
Preventative measures go a long way, but protecting any deck coating requires a proactive approach as well. Though winters are relatively mild in Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas, this region still gets its share of snow, sleet, hail, and rain throughout the season. Keeping these forces at bay is imperative for decreasing their damaging effects on your deck coatings. So, shovel snow off your concrete deck after each and every snowfall, look for other ways to keep water away from your deck (i.e., make sure gutters and drainage systems are functioning properly), and try to avoid using salt and other chemical de-icing agents, as many of them can corrode your deck coatings. The more you actively attempt to keep snow and ice off your concrete patio, the more protected it will remain.
Carefully Consider Covering Your Concrete Coatings
This last tip comes with a major caveat. In some cases, shielding your concrete deck with some sort of tarp or covering will help protect its coatings from a number of threats, including sunlight, snow, ice, and more. However, keep in mind that air and moisture can get trapped between your deck and the cover in question, potentially causing more moisture to enter your concrete surfaces. If you’re not sure how to approach this project, research “what can you put on concrete to protect it?” and ask reliable local contractors for their input as well.
Winter is here, but it’s not too late to take steps that will shield your concrete deck coatings from harm. At Anderson Painting, we specialize in the installation and maintenance of Penntek polyurea concrete coatings, and we’re happy to help our clients get their surfaces ready for winter. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
