Why You Should Seal Your Concrete Joints

Homeowners throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts often don’t think about maintaining the concrete around their home until they’ve already starting noticing cracking or sinking. As winter approaches, let's think about the spring when the snow begins to melt, and water begins to work its way beneath our concrete surfaces.

Soil under your concrete driveway, sidewalk, stoop, patio, pool deck or garage slab can soften or erode as surface water runs through open cracks and joints – or straight-line cuts made in the concrete during installation.

Weak soils and voids allow concrete to shift and settle, resulting in cracked, uneven surfaces.

The good news is preventing this issue is possible.  Erickson Foundation Solutions offers a solution that allows homeowners in our community to be proactive about preserving their concrete. It’s called NexusPro®, and it helps to seal the joints from water intrusion.

There are several reasons why NexusPro works so well to protect concrete.

• ·         It’s made of a highly-flexible, silicone-based material.
• ·         It stands up to any weather conditions.
• ·         The UV-resistant properties of NexusPro prevent it from drying, cracking, bubbling or yellowing over time.
• ·         The product is quick to apply and dry, so you can use your concrete sooner.
• ·         Our professional installation process ensures a clean, high-quality look to your concrete.
• ·         NexusPro is proven to last more than 20 years. This is more than twice as long as traditional sealants.

If your joints are already caulked, get them checked anyway.

Homeowners who currently have caulking in their cracks or joints might think they are in the clear. Unfortunately, if the product wasn’t properly installed – or has started to fail - moisture can still seep beneath your driveway, which can cause the underlying soil to soften or even wash away completely.

Caulking joints by yourself could cause more problems.

A very common caulking solution at big box stores is polyurethane-based. While it can be less expensive to caulk yourself, polyurethane-based caulking products have several disadvantages. The main problem is polyurethane breaks down under UV light, causing bubbling and dry out. Not only is this unsightly, it can also make the caulking ineffective in the first place.

Whether you’re planning to do-it-yourself or shopping around for different contractors, Erickson Foundation Solutions offers a free, no obligation concrete inspection. You’ll be educated on what cold be causing issues with your concrete and best practices in permanently repairing the issue. We can also educate you more on properly sealing the surface of your concrete as well.