13 Oct Why Does Salt & Water Damage Concrete Floors?
Why Does Salt & Water Damage Concrete Floors?
You may have asked yourself, why does salt damage concrete? Living in the upper Midwest we are quite familiar with salt, ice, and water on our roadways. Every spring our roads are littered with potholes that are caused by these elements, and every spring these potholes need to be repaired. A similar thing occurs with interior concrete floors. Our cars and trucks bring these elements in from the roadways and when the snow and ice melt from our vehicles the salt drops with it. We will explain further why salt damage occurs and how SwedeBro can help prevent and remedy the condition of worn and damaged concrete floors.
Why does salt damage concrete?
Even though concrete is a very strong, hard substrate, bare concrete is also subject to deterioration. The salt that lands on the concrete acts as an acid, attacking the top layer of concrete. It breaks it down to expose a porous surface underneath. Any water, snow melt, oil or other fluids can easily penetrate and break apart the concrete in this state. It also becomes more prone to frequent wear & tear or impact after this occurs. The salt doubles up its destructive nature by absorbing water, drawing it into these pores which further speeds up the process of deterioration.
How can salt damage to concrete be mitigated?
Most often the type of damage we are talking about occurs in garages. While frequent cleaning of the concrete in the garage can help delay the onset of salt damage, ultimately the elements will win on an uncoated surface. Replacing or repairing damaged concrete is expensive and often ineffective because the concrete is still unsealed. Epoxy flooring provides an extremely durable, seamless barrier that is chemical, impact, and abrasion resistant. It is the best option to extend the life of your concrete floor.
Can salt damage to concrete floors be reversed?
Though salt damage can’t be reversed, it can be treated by repairing or restoring the concrete. As part of our installation process, we patch and fill pitted and worn surfaces.
Does salt damage affect the strength, durability, or safety of a concrete floor?
Concrete that has been damaged due to salt and water can create an unsafe floor. Loose concrete and pits can become trip points for personnel and equipment. Excessive deterioration can cause the concrete to lose its structural integrity and the rate at which concrete will deteriorate will accelerate as more damage occurs.
Overall, if you’ve found yourself asking why does salt damage concrete and what can be done to fix my floor you might be needing an expert, so our team at SwedeBro is here to provide you with an analysis of your existing conditions and a plan for repairing your concrete floor today!