Wisconsin weather puts decorative concrete through heavy stress. Between the heavy snow loads we get near Wakanda Park and those brutal freeze-thaw cycles every spring, your stamped patio or driveway takes a beating. If you want to keep that textured surface from fading, cracking, or turning dull, you have to stay ahead of the upkeep. Here is what Genesis Concrete Co tells customers around Dunn County when they want to protect their concrete surfaces for the long haul.
How to Extend the Life of Your Stamped Surface
Sealing is the key to protecting decorative concrete. Stamped concrete is not just poured and left alone; it needs a quality acrylic sealer to block out moisture and road salt. Around Menomonie, you should plan on resealing every two to three years. If water stops beading on the surface and starts soaking into the concrete, you are past due. Keep heavy snow blowers with metal scraping edges away from stamped patios, too. Use a plastic shovel and give the sealer a fighting chance.
What Regular Maintenance Looks Like
You do not need a fancy pressure washer to keep stamped concrete clean. In fact, blasting it on high pressure can strip the sealer right off and ruin the antique release color. Grab a regular garden hose, a push broom, and some mild dish soap to scrub away dirt and leaves. Fall is an important time for this around Menomonie because wet oak and maple leaves left sitting on stamped concrete all winter will leave stubborn tannin stains that are very difficult to get out.
- Sweep off debris weekly so it does not grind into the texture.
- Wash down the slab a couple of times a year with gentle soap.
- Check the expansion joints before winter hits to make sure caulking is not missing.
Warning Signs of Trouble
Keep your eyes open for hairline cracks that start widening out, or areas where the colored top layer is flaking off, which is a process known as spalling. If water gets underneath the surface through a tiny crack and freezes, it expands with massive force. You might also notice a white, powdery haze forming, which means moisture is trapped under the sealer. Catching these issues early is the only way to keep a small cosmetic fix from turning into a major replacement job.
When to Call Genesis Concrete Co
Some things you can handle with a jug of sealer and a roller on a Saturday afternoon, but other times you need professional backup. If you see sinking slabs near your back door, widespread scaling, or deep structural cracking, give us a call at Genesis Concrete Co. Genesis Concrete Co will come out, take a look at what the local frost heave did to your concrete, and get the work finished before the next round of bad weather hits.