Tips For Maintaining Concrete Steps
If you have concrete steps, you absolutely want them to last as long as possible. The reason for this is that you don't want to replace them every few years and suffer the inconvenience of having construction done around the steps or the expense of that construction. Here are some tips to make sure that you maintain your concrete steps so that you don't have to pay too much money to repair or replace them.
1. Check for Cracks Before Winter
Before the weather gets cold enough so that water freezes and it snows, make sure that you have all of the cracks sealed in your steps. The reason for this is that water can get into the cracks of your steps and penetrate the concrete surface. When the water freezes, it expands and causes more cracks to form. This is going to result in your steps being destabilized and requiring more extensive repairs. To prevent this, check to see if you have any cracks in your steps before winter comes. If you do, use silicone-modified acrylic caulk to seal them. You can apply it using a caulk gun and then use the flat side of a trowel to smooth it so that it blends in.
2. Get Rid of Stains By Using Detergent
You can take a stiff bristled brush and use it to scrub away any stains once every few months. To do this, dilute common cleaning detergent with water and splash it on the steps. Scrub at the stained areas. Then, rinse off the soap using a hose. Allow the steps to dry and the check to see if there are any stains left. If there are, repeat until the stains are gone.
3. Get Rid of Grease By Using Rubber Cement
Grease on your steps can be extremely inconvenient because it is difficult to get rid of and might cause people to slip and fall. You can resolve this issue by simply taking a jar or two of rubber cement and applying it to the grease stains. The grease will be sucked up by the rubber cement as it dries. Once the rubber cement has dried over the course of a few hours, you can then use a stiff bristled brush to sweep it away. The rubber cement will come off of the concrete, along with the grease stain.
For more information, talk to a company like Star Paving that specializes in concrete paving.