Concrete maintenance

Sealer is not decoration on exterior flatwork — it slows water and chloride entry, which is what drives scaling and freeze-thaw damage. NRMCA specifies breathable silane or siloxane-based products designed for concrete slabs, applied when the concrete is reasonably dry, and names late summer after several dry days as an ideal window. Professional sealing costs about $1 to $2 per square foot per Concrete Network.

Deicers are where good slabs die. NRMCA says calcium chloride and sodium chloride (rock salt) are considered acceptable for concrete, but to never use ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate — those are chemically aggressive and destroy concrete surfaces. It also flags magnesium-based salts used for pre-snow road deicing, which cars track onto driveways and garage slabs. Where conditions permit, hose off accumulated salt.

Stamped and colored concrete needs more attention than broom finish, because color and sealer both age. Budget for periodic resealing at the outset rather than being surprised in year four.

Resurfacing at $3 to $10 per square foot can rescue a scaled or worn slab, but NRMCA is blunt about the limits: the repaired surface is only as strong as the base it bonds to, and repair material will not match the color and characteristics of the original concrete. Where scaling is excessive and progressing, repair may not be feasible at all.

How to choose

Skip deicers entirely the first winter

NRMCA's rule. Use clean sand for traction instead. New concrete is at its most vulnerable in its first freezing season.

Know which deicers are safe

Calcium chloride and sodium chloride are considered acceptable per NRMCA. Ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate are never acceptable — they attack concrete directly.

Fix drainage before you fix the slab

NRMCA notes poor drainage lets salt solutions accumulate on the surface, increasing exposure severity. Standing water on a slab is a maintenance problem with a landscaping solution.

Seal on a dry slab, not a damp one

Sealer applied over trapped moisture can fail or cloud. NRMCA specifies applying when the concrete is reasonably dry and follow the manufacturer's directions.

Pressure wash carefully

Professional washing averages $175 to $300 per Concrete Network. Too much pressure on a scaled or weak surface accelerates the damage you're trying to clean.

Repair while it's small

Resurfacing an intact slab at $3 to $10 per square foot beats replacement at $5 to $8+ per square foot for plain concrete, but only if the base surface is still sound.