Can water weaken concrete?

There are a few factors that can play into how your concrete reacts to excess water. Is your concrete cured properly? Are there voids underneath the concrete where water can pool? What is the level of water around your concrete? Are you talking about interior concrete or exterior concrete? All of these questions are important to answer when talking about the effects of water on concrete and to answer the question “Can water weaken concrete?”

How do you know if your concrete is cured properly?

This should be the responsibility of the person who poured your driveway, porch, walkways, floors, or stairs. However, as a homeowner, it is important to be aware of the do’s and don’ts of concrete curing. This is a great article from Bob Villa that gives you an idea of the curing process: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/curing-concrete/

How can you tell if you have voids under your concrete?

One way to know is if there are cracks in your driveway, or if areas of your driveway are sinking. This goes for all types of poured concrete. If you’re questioning if there is a void beneath your concrete or how bad those voids are, you definitely want to have a professional take a look at it. This is something that we can help out with.

Is it easy to tell how much water is around your concrete?

It’s not always easy to tell how much water is around your concrete. Because you can’t see under the concrete and you don’t know how much water is in the soil, it’s hard to tell just how serious the situation is. As a homeowner, one simple thing you can do is to keep your gutters and downspouts in good repair. You can keep track of changes in your concrete slabs as well. But other than that it’s important to have a professional on your side to be able to help you with any questions you might have about your concrete.

Could water affect your interior concrete as well as your exterior concrete?

Yes, water seepage inside your home can also cause problems with concrete. It’s important to be aware of changes in the concrete inside your home as well.

In the end, if you read about concrete and water you’ll find that water is an absolute necessity when it comes to making concrete. However, too much water can weaken your concrete. You’ll also find that there are problems that are attributed to too much moisture in and around concrete. If you notice changes in your concrete including cracks or sections that are sinking, it’s important to get it checked out. It may not be a big deal! However, if you don’t know and it is a big deal it could mean replacing that concrete versus just repairing it. Give Airlift Concrete Experts a call if you have any questions and we can assess your property to determine where the excess water is coming from and the best steps to take to keep it from returning. We look forward to helping you with your concrete problems!