7 Essential Concrete Maintenance Tips for St. Louis Homeowners

1. Seal Your Concrete Every 2–3 Years

As mentioned earlier, sealing your concrete is simply a requirement in the St. Louis area. Free-thaw cycles in the St. Louis region can completely ruin unsealed concrete.

• Seal your concrete every 2–3 years.
• Select a sealer for outdoor surfaces that has UV protection
• Apply sealer when temperatures range from 50° to 80° Fahrenheit for optimal results

2. Immediately Clean up Any Spills on Your Patio

BBQ Sauce is what makes St. Louis so great; unfortunately, it can also stain your concrete patio. Be proactive and quickly clean up spills to prevent staining.

• Have a bottle of concrete cleaner available.
• To remove an oil spill, place cat litter over the spill and allow the excess to absorb into the litter before cleaning
• Do not apply harsh chemicals to the surface, as they may damage your concrete

3. Take Care to Properly Drain Your Patio

Heavy rains are typical in the St. Louis region, and proper draining is essential.

• To allow for water to run off, ensure that your concrete surfaces have a slight slope
• Repair any areas of low points where water collects

4. Deal With Small Cracks Before They Become Big Problems

Our soil conditions can sometimes lead to settling and cracking of the concrete. Do not disregard small cracks:

• Utilize a concrete crack filler to fill hairline cracks
• For large cracks, contact us for professional repair options
• Check for new cracks in your concrete after experiencing extreme temperature variations

5. Protecting Yourself From Free-Thaw Damages

Winters in the St. Louis region can be quite difficult on your concrete. Here are ways to protect your surfaces from freeze-thaw damage:

• Do not use de-icing chemicals on new concrete (newer than one year old).
• When possible, utilize sand for traction rather than salt.
• Remove snow from your patio as soon as possible to prevent moisture from entering the concrete.

Bonus Tip: Have a Professional Inspect Your Concrete Periodically

Regardless of how much effort you put into maintaining your concrete, it is always a good idea to have your concrete inspected by a professional on occasion. At St. Louis Concrete Works, we can conduct a thorough inspection of your concrete to detect and repair potential problems.

Why Maintaining Your Concrete Is Important in the St. Louis Region

The St. Louis area’s climate provides its own special set of challenges to maintaining concrete:

• Extreme temperature variations can result in concrete expanding and contracting
• Humidity levels in the St. Louis region are high enough to create moisture-related problems
• Heat from the summer sun can cause concrete to dry out and potentially crack

Following these maintenance tips will help to protect your investment and maintain the appearance of your concrete surfaces for many years to come.

Do You Need Assistance With Your Concrete?

Whether you need a professional inspection of your concrete, some repair work, or are planning a new concrete construction project, the professionals at St. Louis Concrete Works are ready to assist you. We understand the specific requirements for concrete in the St. Louis area and can provide customized solutions for your property.

Contact Us for a Consultation

Well-maintained concrete not only looks great, but it also lasts longer. By utilizing the above maintenance tips and working with St. Louis Concrete Works, your concrete will be able to withstand anything the weather in the St. Louis region decides to throw at it.