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Hubbardj
Mar 24, 2011, 12:11 PM
Hi
We have a concrete driveway which has had salt sprayed over it during the freezing weather in December/January.. the concrete is breaking up. Would this be as a result of the salt ? What would you recommend to stop it breaking up further.
Cheers
Jeff

tickle
Mar 24, 2011, 01:46 PM
I don't think your concrete driveway breaking up is a result of the salt, quite frankly. What time of the year was it put down and how long ago ?

Tick

smoothy
Mar 25, 2011, 05:44 AM
If it's a new driveway... that hasn't completely cured yet... salt can do that... and even if it was... salt can damage concrete. As tempting as it is to use... I have avoided using it as a result of that. SInce it cost well over $10K to put in a new driveway over 10 years ago... I really don't want to do it anytime soon again.

DO you know roughly how old the driveway is?

tickle
Mar 25, 2011, 02:28 PM
If its a new driveway...that hasn't completely cured yet....salt can do that.....and even if it was...salt can damage concrete. As tempting as it is to use...I have avoided using it as a result of that. SInce it cost well over $10K to put in a new driveway over 10 years ago....I really don't want to do it anytime soon again.

DO you know roughly how old the driveway is?

Maybe in ontario only... concrete diriveways are not damaged by salt, no matter how early in the season before they have been installed. Sorry Smoothy. Maybe it's the exceptionally good concrete we use up here.

Neighours have no problem over our really bad winters with concrete driveways.

Tick

smoothy
Mar 25, 2011, 06:41 PM
My concrete guy... (He's damn good) says to avoid it until its fully cured. And even then be careful what kid of deicer.

Once its cured... its going to take time for the damage, its not going to fall apart in a year... take care of it and it should still look new (with periodic pressure washing) for 30+ years.

You guys don't have better concrete. But you do have far fewer freeze/thaw cycles than we do.