When it comes to masonry and exteriors, it’s better to avoid damage in the first place than to repair it after it occurs.

With this philosophy in mind, let’s look at a vulnerable aspect of your home or place of business in the context of the time of year we’re in – concrete surfaces and April showers – and how to best prevent damage from occurring.

Concrete and water

Spring is now upon us, and with it comes rain. In the Chicagoland area, spring is overall the wettest season of the year thanks to the many thunderstorm and rain clouds that form due to being near a large lake. Also, due to being in the Midwest, it’s not uncommon for winter weather such as snow and sleet to etch its way into April.

While the bricks, stone and other materials that make up building walls aren’t immune to the effects of water, one of the more vulnerable surfaces on or near your building are concrete decks, balconies or walkways. Simply put, concrete is a strong and inexpensive material but is vulnerable to erosion and has a tendency to crack. If you combine those tendencies with hard-pummeling rain, sleet and hail – as well as the eroding nature of standing water – concrete doesn’t stand a chance on its own when confronted with spring in Chicagoland.

The solution: Membrane coatings

Luckily, you can take measures to protect the concrete on your property with membrane coatings. These coatings, which typically are made from a polyurethane basecoat, can repel some of the damaging effects of rain, hail and standing water. It acts as a protective topcoat that can flex and expand to surface water on top of it, helping to keep the concrete material beneath dry and stable.

But before we apply the membrane coating, we’ll repair and detail of any preexisting cracks or pits in the concrete. If we’re applying the coating at the tail-end of a Chicagoland winter, it’s likely there’s going to be some damage already.

As a bonus, our membrane coatings are non-skid and come in a variety of colors to best match your concrete.

Getting help with your concrete today

Visit our page on membrane coatings to learn more about our preventive concrete services and see before-and-after examples. Then, when you’re ready, contact us at arrow@tuckpointing.com to schedule an appointment. You can also call us at one of our convenient phone numbers at our contact page.