While you might love watching snow fall through the winter months, the devastating effects of this weather can’t be ignored. As snow piles up, the roads are covered in rock salt in an attempt to keep ice buildup at bay. Although this quickly cuts through snowfall, making roads safer for drivers, it also builds up on your tires and finds its way into your garage.
You might not think much of this salt accumulating in your garage, and instead focus on other household responsibilities. However, ignoring it can have devastating consequences on your untreated concrete floors. In this blog, we’ll break down how rock salt interacts with your concrete floors and the steps you can take to keep your floors safe this winter.
What is Rock Salt?
Rock salt, also known as halite, is a naturally occurring form of sodium chloride, but is much larger and coarser than traditional table salt. During the winter months, this salt is commonly used to melt ice and snow on driveways, sidewalks, and roads. When spread over icy surfaces, rock salt lowers the freezing point of water.
This lower freezing point helps break the bond between ice and pavement. When this bond is broken, surfaces are less slippery and much safer for walking and driving. Road crews love using this during the winter months because it is effective, easy to apply, and more cost-efficient than other ice melting options.
How Does Rock Salt Damage Concrete Floors?
Although rock salt does a wonderful job of keeping drivers safe through the winter months, it can be incredibly harsh on concrete surfaces. When concrete is first poured, it forms a flat, smooth surface, ideal for spaces like driveways, sidewalks, and garages. However, constant exposure to this salt can quickly deteriorate the surface.
While concrete is incredibly durable, frequent exposure to salt may also introduce the risk of repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Over time, this repeated expansion and contraction can weaken the concrete, leading to spalling. When dealing with spalling on your concrete, the surface will go from smooth to chipped and pitted.
Damage from exposure to this salt may also result in cracking, scaling, and surface erosion across the floor. New concrete is especially susceptible to this damage if it hasn’t had time to cure before being subjected to regular use and exposure to rock salt. Although this salt can be damaging, you can protect your concrete from premature degradation.
How to Keep Your Concrete Safe This Winter
If you live in an area that experiences frequent snowfall, protecting your concrete floors from rock salt is crucial. But what is the best way to keep your concrete safe during the winter months? To ensure your floors look and perform their best, you should consider investing in a concrete floor coating.
Professional floor coatings serve as an effective barrier against rock salt and moisture penetration. When your concrete is untreated, salt and water may seep into the porous surface. Over time, this puts you at risk of dealing with spalling and cracking, which can compromise the structural integrity and safety of your floors.
By preventing this penetration, you won’t have to worry about the freeze-thaw cycle expanding and contracting your concrete floors, which can damage them over time. Installing a floor coating is especially important if you’ve just poured a new concrete slab. The installation of the coating can help you protect your floors from the moment they’re cured.
Do You Need to Patch Spalling Before Installing a Coating?
If you’ve decided that a floor coating is the right option for your home, you may wonder whether you need to make repairs to the floors before your appointment. To ensure you get the most out of your floor coating, it is best to consult with a trusted floor coating professional to schedule an in-home consultation.
During this consultation, they can inspect your floors and determine whether you need to make major repairs before scheduling an appointment. Many floor coating professionals will make minor repairs and patch small cracks across your concrete. However, if the damage is too significant, they may recommend working with a concrete installer to make more substantial repairs.
The Best Floor Coating Options for Denver Homeowners
Before scheduling an appointment with your trusted floor coating professional, consider your floor coating options. With numerous options available on the market, it can be challenging to determine which one is best suited for your home. Many homeowners find themselves drawn to the modern, beautiful epoxy coatings.
These coatings are easily customizable and ideal for homeowners seeking a more contemporary aesthetic. However, epoxy has a longer curing time of approximately two weeks, which may not be feasible for everyone, especially in high-traffic areas. For homeowners who need a faster and more reliable option, consider Polyaspartic coatings.
This advanced floor coating has a fast 24-hour curing time, making it ideal for homeowners who want to return to regular use of the space sooner. Additionally, your floor coating professional can incorporate nonslip additives to the coating, making your floors safer when they get wet from winter weather.
If you’re unsure which floor coating is best for your home, don’t hesitate to speak to your trusted floor coating professional. They can take your aesthetic goals and space use into consideration and make the best recommendation for your home. With their support, you can trust that you’re choosing the best coating for your space.
Reliable Garage Floor Coatings in Denver, CO
If you’ve dealt with the devastating effects of rock salt on the concrete floors in your home, don’t let it plague you for another winter. Instead, turn to our team at Solid Garage Floor Coatings in Denver for support. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the ideal floor coating for your home, regardless of your specific needs or preferences.
When you’re ready to install a high-quality garage floor coating in your Denver home, don’t hesitate to contact our team to schedule a consultation.
