Whether you’re entertaining outdoors, dining ‘alfresco’ or curling up with a book, the patio offers a nice escape from indoor living — and that’s why it’s important to maintain it.

Concrete is beautiful, durable and long-lasting on its own, but performing regular maintenance will prolong your patio’s life and keep it looking its best.

Here are three tips to do just that!

1. Check for cracks.

Concrete expands as the weather heats up, and if a patio pushes against an inflexible surface, cracks can form.

Ground movement from freeze-thaw cycles, expanding tree roots and settling can all lead to cracks.

And small cracks from expansion and contraction can cause big problems in the future. Water can seep in, rust and expand rebar, leading to wider cracks.

So, check your patio for cracks — a glance is all it takes!

2. Repair Damage

You can fix small cracks with Quikrete Re-Cap Concrete Resurfacer. This simple, easy-to-use mix is an affordable alternative to tearing out and replacing the slab.

First, clean the patio with a 3,500-psi pressure washer. Then, use weatherstripping or duct tape to protect the slab’s joints. Next, apply the Re-Cap Concrete Resurfacer with a squeegee, trowel or brush — work in 12-by-12-square-foot sections, since the product dries fast! Finally, add a textured finish to prevent slips.

For larger cracks, use a concrete crack sealant. With a chisel and hammer, widen the crack by 1/4 inch minimum and break away any deteriorating concrete. Then clear any loose material with a brush. Insert backer rod into cracks more than 1/2 inch deep, and then apply Quikrete’s Advanced Polymer Concrete Crack Sealant with a caulking gun and let cure.

3. Seal for Protection

After inspecting and taking care of needed repairs, sealing the concrete is the final step in making your patio last.

Applying a sealer like Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure & Seal is easy, fast and will protect the patio from dirt, grease, oil and other contaminants that can stain the surface.

In addition to keeping the patio attractive, the sealer also prevents water, ice and snow from penetrating the concrete, which can lead to cracking, scaling and flaking caused by freeze-thaw cycles previously mentioned.

You can apply the sealer using a broom, brush, roller or garden sprayer, but don’t worry — the sealer is just a barrier and won’t change the surface’s appearance.

Be sure to check out Quikretes Advanced Polymer Concrete!

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