09/23/2026
With winter around the corner we just wanted to share some suggestions on how to preserve your newly poured concrete projects through the upcoming season ❄️ ⛄️
Fresh concrete needs time to fully cure and dry out (approx. 90 days to a year). We strongly advise avoiding all deicing chemicals—even those labeled "concrete-safe"—through the concrete's entire first winter.
What to Avoid:
- Chemical de-icers and salts: Never use rock salt (sodium chloride), calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride on fresh concrete less than one year old.
They cause severe scaling, pitting, and spalling as the concrete absorbs melted water and undergoes freeze-thaw cycles.
- Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate: These commercial chemical products are extremely destructive and will rapidly break down the concrete surface.
- Metal shovels and metal scrapers: Metal edges can easily chip, scratch, or gouge soft or curing concrete.
Safe Practices for Winter Care:
- Use a plastic or rubber-edged shovel: Clear snow using tools made of heavy-duty plastic or fitted with a rubber/vinyl edge.
- Apply plain sand for traction: Sprinkle ordinary builders sand or chicken grit on slick patches instead of using chemical melts.
-Clear snow promptly: Shovel fresh snow quickly so it does not pack down into a stubborn layer of ice that requires harsh removal methods.
