The Benefits of Maintaining & Repairing Your Home’s Concrete

Concrete can last decades when properly cared for, but that’s not the only benefit of maintaining and repairing the concrete around your home.

As a homeowner, you’re responsible for ensuring that everything from your foundation to your roof is maintained and in good condition inside and out. However, the list doesn’t stop there. 

On top of all the time and energy it takes to keep windows, HVAC systems, kitchen appliances, siding, and everything in between in tip-top shape, many homeowners often forget about their driveways and the other areas of concrete around their homes.

While concrete driveways, patios, and walkways can last for many decades, at the end of the day, the amount of maintenance and repair they receive throughout their lifetime can affect how long they truly last.

Longevity is not the only benefit of keeping the concrete around your home in good shape, however. There’s a long list of upsides that come with proper concrete care, and in this article, you’ll find those benefits listed and explained.

1. You Won’t Worry About Guests Tripping and Falling 

Uneven steps, sunken slabs, large cracks, and raised concrete panels are just a few examples of trip hazards that can pose a risk to homeowners and their guests. These hazards can be especially dangerous for elderly loved ones or individuals with limited mobility.

Concrete trip hazards can occur for various reasons, such as soil erosion causing the slab to settle or freeze-thaw cycles causing the slab to crack. By getting in front of the problem and repairing the trip hazards, though, you can help prevent accidents and protect your loved ones and guests. 

Trip hazard repair can involve techniques such as lifting and leveling sunken slabs or filling in large cracks with concrete caulk. It's always better to address these issues sooner rather than later to avoid any potential accidents or injuries, and getting ahead of the issue can prevent it from worsening and becoming more expensive to fix down the line.

2. Your Home Has Good Curb Appeal

The first impression guests have of your home is often shaped by the condition of your driveway, walkway, and porch. These areas are the first things visitors see as they arrive at your house. 

Just like your landscaping and the general upkeep of your home, concrete surfaces can have a significant impact on your home's curb appeal. 

Maintaining and improving the appearance of your concrete surfaces is an essential part of keeping your property looking great, which can provide you with a sense of satisfaction and pride in your property. 

Good curb appeal can help you feel proud of your home, and make it easier to sell if you are considering putting it on the market. Potential buyers are often swayed by a home's visual appeal, so it's important to make sure your home looks its best from the outside in.

Related Resource: 5 Reasons to Lift Your Concrete Before Selling Your Home

3. You’ll Save Money in the Long Run

Concrete surfaces can be a significant investment for any homeowner, so the idea of having to spend a lot of time, money, and hassle to replace them is not very appealing. Fortunately, regular maintenance and prompt repairs can help extend the life of your concrete and reduce the need for a costly replacement.

Leveling settled slabs, filling voids under the concrete, cleaning and sealing its surface, and caulking any gaps or breaks are all ways you can repair and protect your concrete

Addressing any damage and repairing your concrete as soon as possible after noticing the issue can greatly help to minimize the cost of repairs. The longer you wait, the more extensive the damage can become, resulting in a more expensive repair. 

By staying on top of routine maintenance and addressing any issues quickly, you can save money both on the cost of replacement and the repairs themselves, and help ensure that your concrete surfaces look great for years to come.

4. You Help Prevent Water Damage to Your Home

Sunken concrete slabs around your home can create a serious problem if they are angled toward your foundation. This issue can result in water pooling around your home and causing damage to your foundation. 

However, with the help of concrete leveling services, you can restore the proper slope and direct water away from your home. By doing so, you can help prevent water from entering your basement, crawl space, or other areas of your home where it can cause water damage and mold growth. 

Proper drainage is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of your home and avoiding costly repairs down the road. By lifting and leveling sunken concrete slabs, you can help ensure that water flows away from your home and reduce the risk of water damage.

5. You Create Less Waste

Taking care of your concrete is an important aspect of ensuring its longevity and reducing its negative impact on the environment. Concrete is a durable material that can last for decades, but it requires proper maintenance to avoid damage from wear and tear, weathering, and other factors. 

Regular inspections and timely repairs can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems that require expensive fixes, or even replacement. 

In addition to saving you money and extending the life of your concrete, taking care of it can also reduce waste by avoiding the need for premature demolition and disposal of the material. 

By preserving your existing concrete, you are also reducing the need for new construction and the environmental impact associated with it. Investing in the maintenance and upkeep of your concrete is not only beneficial for your property but also for the planet.

6. You Reduce Liability

Maintaining public property that borders private property, such as sidewalks, is often the responsibility of property owners in many cities and municipalities. 

Although the city may own the concrete sidewalk in front of your home, you are typically responsible for ensuring that it's free of debris, slippery ice, or any other trip hazards. Failing to do so can make you liable for any injuries that occur on the sidewalk. 

Similarly, trip hazards on your private property, like uneven walkway slabs leading up to your front door or out-of-level concrete steps, can also be a source of liability. If someone trips and falls on your property and gets injured due to a lack of maintenance, you could potentially face a costly lawsuit. 

It's crucial to keep your property in good condition, regularly inspect it for potential hazards, and address any issues promptly to prevent accidents and minimize your liability.

Maintaining & Repairing Your Concrete

Now that you know some of the benefits that come along with proper concrete maintenance and repair, you’re ready to take a look at what you can be doing to protect and preserve the concrete surfaces around your home.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you are happy with and comfortable in your home, and safe, nice-looking concrete is one way to get there.

Here at A-1 Concrete Leveling, we’ve been in the business of helping homeowners get the most out of their concrete for over 30 years. Our concrete leveling, concrete caulking, and concrete cleaning and sealing services can help restore and repair the concrete you have.

If you’re interested in seeing what A-1’s services can do for you, click the link below to request a free onsite consultation and cost estimate.

Want to know more about concrete repair and maintenance? Our online resource library, called Concrete Academy, is full of topics on all things concrete. Check out some of these related articles:

• How to Repair Your Concrete
• Concrete Leveling For Water Issues: What to Expect
• How Does Concrete Leveling Work?
• Ways to Maintain Your Home's Concrete