Is your concrete looking worse for wear, and you’ve been wondering how long does concrete last
anyway? It’s a valid question, especially if you can see cracks or other imperfections within it.
Well, we won’t keep you guessing. Concrete can last 50-100 years, but (and it’s a big but) even this lifespan can be significantly reduced or improved depending on several important factors.
Unfortunately, like everything else, concrete degrades over time. That is a fact of life, but the level of degradation depends primarily on how you look after the concrete. What’s also probably important for you is keeping your concrete looking in tip top condition rather than it’s structural integrity.
Let’s take a look at how you can significantly improve the duration that your concrete will last and be looking good for.
How To Make Concrete Last Longer
Clean The Concrete Regularly
If you keep on top of cleaning your concrete, there is less algae, moss, weeds, and other contaminants that will grow on top of it that can weaken the material. This is especially important if your concrete has any cracks and other imperfections that can be infiltrated by these menaces.
We highly recommend cleaning your concrete at least every year. Particularly after the winter months as this is when concrete has been exposed most prominently. The easiest way to clean concrete is probably pressure washing, but you could also try to soft wash it as well.
Make Repairs To Cracks Immediately
Having cracks is a big factor in how long your concrete will last. Cracks will weaken it enough for your concrete to break. This is especially true if you tend to leave heavy items on the concrete (such as cars). To avoid any mishaps, make sure that you repair any cracks immediately.
You can try to do this yourself but we would highly recommend hiring a contractor to fill in those gaps for you because they will be more efficient as well as knowledgeable about the best way to repair the concrete.
They can also identify whether the concrete is actually fixable or if it needs replacing. Trying to repair concrete that is irreparable could end up costing you more if the concrete fails and something goes wrong.
A good concrete repair company is Watco. They can identify and repair your concrete wherever possible.
Treat Any Weeds Surrounding The Concrete
Weeds can be really strong. They have the ability to weaken your concrete over time on the edges and grow within the concrete crevices. This is something that many people miss because it just sounds so unbelievable that weeds could do this, but trust us they can!
To avoid this, simply keep on top of any weeds that may surround your concrete, especially around the edges. You may even want to get rid of any soil surrounding it (if possible) to avoid weeds growing in the first place.
Apply Sealants
A good sealant applied to your concrete will protect it in the winter months and make is easier to clean in the spring. This will keep your concrete looking better for longer, preventing damage that can occur over time.
There are many concrete sealants that you could use on the market. We won’t recommend one personally because we aren’t in the business of sealing concrete, we remove it! But a company called Smartseal apply sealants for a living, including on concrete.
Conclusion
Like everything else concrete degrades over time. How long it takes for your concrete to degrade and the condition of it is entirely in your hands though. If your concrete has come to the end of it’s lifespan and needs replacing, it might be time to give us a call so that we can remove it for you.
We work with many contractors who let us do the hard work of removing the concrete while they do the fun work of applying the new concrete. We offer discounts to these contractors as we know that having a strong working relationship is beneficial for everyone.