Concrete Maintenance: How to Make Your Concrete Last

Concrete is low maintenance, not no maintenance. A few hours of care each year can extend your concrete's lifespan by 10-15 years and keep it looking good throughout. The essentials are simple: keep it clean, keep it sealed, and fix small problems before they become big ones.

Most maintenance tasks are DIY-friendly and inexpensive. The biggest investment is your time—usually a weekend day once or twice a year handles everything.

Why Maintenance Matters

Unmaintained concrete deteriorates faster because:

• Water penetrates through pores and cracks, causing freeze-thaw damage
• Stains set and become permanent
• Small cracks spread and allow more water entry
• Surface wears without protective sealer
• Contaminants (oil, chemicals, salts) attack the surface

The math: Sealing costs $0.15-0.50/sqft DIY. Replacing a driveway costs $8-15/sqft. Maintenance is 20-50x cheaper than replacement.

Maintenance Schedule

Annual Tasks

Task	When	Time Required
Deep cleaning	Spring	2-4 hours
Crack inspection	Spring and fall	30 minutes
Stain treatment	As needed	30-60 minutes
Drainage check	After heavy rain	15 minutes

Every 2-5 Years

Task	Frequency	Time Required
Sealing	2-3 years (film-forming) or 5 years (penetrating)	Half day
Crack repair	As needed	1-2 hours
Joint maintenance	3-5 years	1-2 hours

Cleaning Concrete

Regular Cleaning (Monthly)

• Sweep or blow off debris, leaves, dirt
• Rinse with garden hose
• Spot-clean obvious stains

Deep Cleaning (Annual)

Equipment needed:

• Pressure washer (2,500-3,000 PSI) or stiff brush
• Concrete cleaner or degreaser
• Garden hose
• Safety glasses

Process:

1. Remove loose debris
2. Pre-wet the surface
3. Apply concrete cleaner per product directions
4. Scrub stubborn areas with stiff brush
5. Pressure wash or rinse thoroughly
6. Allow to dry completely before sealing

Pressure washing tips:

• Keep nozzle 8-12 inches from surface
• Use 25° or 40° tip (not 0° or 15°—too aggressive)
• Work in overlapping passes
• Maintain consistent distance for even cleaning

Stain Removal

Stain Type	Treatment
Oil/grease	Cat litter to absorb, then degreaser
Rust	Commercial rust remover or oxalic acid
Mold/mildew	Bleach solution (1:10 with water)
Paint	Paint stripper or pressure washer
Tire marks	Degreaser or concrete cleaner
Leaf stains	Pressure washing, may need bleach

Best practice: Treat stains promptly. Fresh stains are 10x easier to remove than set stains.

Sealing Concrete

Sealing is the single most important maintenance task. It:

• Blocks water penetration
• Prevents freeze-thaw damage
• Protects against staining
• Reduces wear and dusting
• Enhances appearance

When to Seal

New concrete: Wait 28 days after pouring

Existing concrete: When water no longer beads on the surface

After cleaning: Wait 24-48 hours for concrete to dry completely

Sealer Types

Type	Lifespan	Appearance	Best For
Penetrating silane/siloxane	5-10 years	Natural	Driveways, general use
Acrylic film-forming	2-3 years	Slight sheen	Decorative, patios
Polyurethane	3-5 years	Glossy	Interior, garage floors

For detailed sealing instructions, see how to seal concrete.

DIY Sealing Cost

Item	Cost
Penetrating sealer	$25-40/gallon (covers 200-400 sqft)
Acrylic sealer	$30-50/gallon (covers 200-300 sqft)
Pump sprayer or roller	$15-30

Total for 400 sqft driveway: $50-100 every 3-5 years

Crack Repair

Small cracks are normal. Unrepaired cracks become big problems.

When to Repair

• Hairline cracks (<1/8"): Monitor; fill if spreading
• Small cracks (1/8" - 1/2"): Fill promptly
• Large cracks (>1/2"): Fill and monitor; may indicate structural issues

DIY Crack Repair

For cracks up to 1/2" wide:

1. Clean crack thoroughly (wire brush, compressed air, or pressure wash)
2. Let dry completely
3. Apply concrete crack filler (caulk-style for narrow, pourable for wider)
4. Overfill slightly (filler shrinks)
5. Smooth with putty knife
6. Allow to cure per product directions
7. Seal over repair

Products:

• Polyurethane caulk for narrow cracks
• Pourable crack filler for wider cracks
• Epoxy for structural repairs

When to Call a Professional

• Cracks wider than 1/2" and growing
• Cracks with vertical displacement (one side higher)
• Multiple parallel cracks (possible structural issue)
• Cracks near foundation or load-bearing areas

Seasonal Care

Spring

• ☐ Inspect for winter damage (cracks, scaling, spalling)
• ☐ Deep clean entire surface
• ☐ Repair any cracks
• ☐ Apply sealer if due
• ☐ Clear debris from expansion joints

Summer

• ☐ Treat oil stains from vehicles
• ☐ Address any settlement issues
• ☐ Keep vegetation trimmed away from edges
• ☐ Monitor for new cracks

Fall

• ☐ Final cleaning before winter
• ☐ Seal if not done in spring
• ☐ Fill any new cracks
• ☐ Clear leaves promptly (prevent staining)
• ☐ Check drainage before freeze season

Winter

• ☐ Remove snow promptly
• ☐ Avoid deicing salts (use sand instead)
• ☐ Don't use metal shovels that chip surface
• ☐ Keep drainage clear of ice dams

What to Avoid

Deicing Salts

Salt (sodium chloride) accelerates concrete deterioration:

• Causes surface scaling and spalling
• Increases freeze-thaw damage
• Damage is cumulative and irreversible

Alternatives:

• Sand (traction, no chemical damage)
• Kitty litter (traction)
• Calcium magnesium acetate (gentler but expensive)

Harsh Chemicals

• Avoid acidic cleaners on decorative concrete
• Never use muriatic acid without proper dilution and rinsing
• Keep fertilizers off concrete (ammonium nitrate attacks surface)
• Rinse gasoline and oil spills immediately

Improper Cleaning

• Don't use 0° pressure washer tip (etches surface)
• Don't pressure wash new concrete (wait 28 days)
• Don't let cleaning chemicals dry on surface
• Don't clean in direct hot sun (cleaners dry too fast)

Cost of Maintenance vs. Replacement

Maintenance Task	Annual Cost	10-Year Cost
Cleaning	$0-50	$0-500
Sealing	$25-75 (averaged)	$75-250
Crack repair	$10-30	$50-150
Total maintenance	$35-155	$125-900

Replacement cost (400 sqft driveway): $3,200-6,000

Bottom line: $500-900 in maintenance over 10 years versus $4,000+ for replacement. Maintenance wins decisively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you seal concrete?

Penetrating sealers last 5-10 years. Film-forming sealers (acrylic) need reapplication every 2-3 years. Test by sprinkling water on the surface—if it absorbs rather than beads, it's time to reseal.

Does concrete need maintenance?

Concrete needs minimal but important maintenance: annual cleaning, sealing every 2-5 years, and prompt crack repair. This basic care extends lifespan by 10-15 years and prevents expensive problems.

What is the best way to clean concrete?

Annual pressure washing (2,500-3,000 PSI, 25° tip) with concrete cleaner removes most dirt and stains. For regular maintenance, simple sweeping and occasional hose rinsing keeps surfaces clean between deep cleanings.

Should I seal old concrete?

Yes—sealing benefits concrete at any age. Old concrete is often more porous and benefits even more from sealing. Clean thoroughly, repair cracks, and apply sealer. It's never too late to start maintaining concrete.

Key Takeaways

• Seal every 2-5 years—the most important maintenance task
• Fix cracks early—small cracks become big problems
• Clean annually—pressure washing removes damaging contaminants
• Avoid salt—use sand for winter traction instead
• Treat stains promptly—fresh stains are much easier to remove
• Maintenance costs 1/10th of replacement—the math is clear

For more on concrete longevity, see how long concrete lasts. For project planning, visit our complete concrete guide or use the concrete calculator.