| Using concrete on a variety of surfaces has now | | | | viable options is to resurface the concrete. Doing so |
| become the preferred option for homeowners. This is | | | | involves making sure that before the new surface is |
| because concrete is considered one of the strongest | | | | placed on the old one, that the surface is free of oil, dirt |
| building materials available in the market and one of the | | | | and paint. Another important step is to make sure that |
| easiest to maintain. However, certain factors such as | | | | any weak parts of the old surface is removed using a |
| the weather can make the concrete more vulnerable | | | | chisel, jackhammer, or sandblasting. This is because the |
| to wear and tear. One example of damage that can | | | | strength of the new surface greatly depends on the |
| result from bad weather conditions is scaling or flaking. | | | | strength of the base or old surface to which it would |
| Scaling and flaking | | | | be bonded. As an additional pre-caution against scaling, |
| Scaling is a result of freezing and thawing cycles, | | | | a different and stronger mix should be used for the |
| wherein water that seeps through pores on the | | | | new surface, and the new surface should also be |
| surface freezes, which causes the concrete surface | | | | coated with a concrete sealer as to avoid water |
| to scale off or to peel off. Scaling usually causes the | | | | seepage. |
| loss of about 1/8" to 3/8" of the surface, which could | | | | Concrete is the preferred option for most |
| be deep enough to expose the aggregate under the | | | | homeowners for their building needs. This is mainly |
| concrete surface. Other factors that can cause | | | | because of the relative strength of the material. |
| scaling include the use of non-air-entrained concrete, | | | | However, a number of factors, which includes |
| insufficient curing, application of calcium deicing salts, | | | | extreme weather, can render a concrete surface to |
| and finishing concrete while bleed water is still on the | | | | be highly vulnerable to damage such as scaling. |
| surface. | | | | Fortunately, there are a number of ways to repair |
| Resurfacing | | | | such damage, which includes resurfacing the concrete |
| To repair scaling or flaking damage, one of the most | | | | surface with better and more durable concrete. |