Best Time To Get Your Concrete Repaired & Replaced In Chicago
With proper care and maintenance, concrete is the best material to pick for your project due to its longevity.
Concrete has a pretty long lifespan, about 100 years for large concrete structures like buildings and about half of that for sidewalks and driveways which get used daily. By caring for your concrete structures, you can guarantee it will stand the test of time. In this article, we will go over when the best times to repair or replace your concrete.
In Chicago, we are fortunate to experience all four seasons. Although this is great for us, it is not fantastic for concrete. Depending on the season that your concrete is cured in, it can have serious effects on the durability of the concrete.
The best times to get your concrete repaired or poured can be figured out by looking at each season’s temperature, moisture, and freeze/thaw cycles. Let’s first get into why each of these factors is important.
Temperature– the temperature can play a big role in how concrete cures. When temperatures are too hot, the crystals in the concrete can form too quickly, affecting the strength. Conversely, if the temperature is too cold, the concrete will develop the crystals at a slower rate, but too low temperatures will not allow the concrete to cure at all.
Moisture– Water is concrete’s worst enemy. Water can cause major issues in concrete like early deterioration and problems curing.
Freeze/Thaw Cycles– Again, water is our worst enemy. When it is colder, water will freeze in the concrete. This is particularly bad as the water expands when frozen and can prematurely crack the concrete. When it is warmer, the water will then thaw and will cause excess moisture to infiltrate the concrete. Understanding when these cycles happen is important when picking the best month to repair or replace your concrete.
When considering these factors, the seasons with the most water are times when you should avoid having work done on your concrete. Of course, sometimes the damage is so severe that immediate work needs to be done, but waiting for the best time of year for minor repairs and maintenance will work in your favor.
The best time to repair or replace your concrete would be during the mild seasons. Due to the predicted weather conditions, March – June or September- November are the ideal times to work on your concrete projects.
When planning your concrete repair or replacement, you should consider the weather conditions in the area, your budget, and your timeline due to the type and severity of the damage. By planning your repairs around the ideal time, you will get faster and more efficient repairs that can withstand Chicago’s extreme weather conditions.