The best way to protect concrete through a Colorado winter is to keep it sealed, keep de-icing salts off it, and get snow and water off it quickly. Front Range concrete goes through dozens of freeze-thaw cycles every winter, and most winter damage starts with water soaking in and freezing. Here is what to do now, in the fall, and once the snow starts.
Why winter is hard on Colorado concrete
Concrete is porous. Water from melting snow soaks into the surface, freezes overnight and expands, then thaws the next afternoon. Repeated all winter, that cycle can break down the surface and widen existing cracks. De-icing salts make it worse by keeping the surface wet and adding more freeze-thaw cycles. The result is flaking and pitting, called spalling, which is one of the most common reasons homeowners call us for concrete replacement.
Before the first big snow
- Seal your concrete. A sealer slows the water that soaks in. Most sealers need dry weather and mild temperatures to apply, so fall is the window. This matters most for stamped and colored concrete, which should be resealed every few years to protect the color.
- Check your drainage. Make sure downspouts empty away from driveways, walks and patios, not onto them. Water pooling on a slab is water that will freeze on it.
- Look for open cracks and sunken sections. Water gets under a slab through gaps along the edges and wide cracks, and freezing underneath can lift sections. If a walkway or driveway has already heaved, it is worth getting it looked at before winter makes it worse.
- Get any planned concrete work scheduled early. Cold weather limits pour days, especially at higher elevations.
During the winter
- Skip de-icing salts on new concrete. Keep de-icers off any concrete poured this year. On older concrete, use them sparingly, and avoid products containing ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, which attack concrete.
- Use sand for traction. Sand or kitty litter gives grip without the chemical damage.
- Shovel early and often. Removing snow before it melts and refreezes cuts down on freeze-thaw cycles.
- Use a plastic shovel on sealed and stamped concrete. Metal blades scratch the sealer.
- Watch where plows and heavy vehicles go. Keep snowplow trucks and heavy equipment off the edges of driveways, where slabs are weakest.
Extra care at higher elevations
Homes in Evergreen, Genesee and Morrison get longer, colder winters, and snow sits longer on steep driveways. A broom finish gives the best traction on slopes, and keeping driveways clear and drained matters even more up the hill.
Garage floors and epoxy
Cars carry snow and road salt into the garage, and that slush sits on the floor and soaks in. Sweep or squeegee it out regularly. An epoxy floor coating seals a garage floor against salt and stains and makes winter cleanup much easier.
Can you pour concrete in winter?
Concrete can be poured in cold weather with the right precautions, but timing depends on temperatures. If you are planning a driveway, patio or walkway, call us and we will tell you what is realistic for your project. More answers are in our concrete FAQ.
Winter-ready concrete across the west metro
Golden Concrete Company builds every slab for Colorado freeze-thaw weather, with a compacted base, reinforcement and planned control joints. We serve Golden, Arvada, Lakewood, Westminster, Broomfield and the rest of our service areas.
Ready for a quote? Call (720) 636-8986 or request a free concrete quote and we will call you back to schedule a free concrete consultation.