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Don’t Let Winter Weather Crack Your Concrete Cheer

As the holiday season approaches and winter looms large in Colorado, it’s time to ask: is your concrete ready for the chill? Frost, snow, and the freeze-thaw cycle can wreak havoc on unprepared concrete surfaces, leading to costly repairs and compromised safety. But fear not—HEXA is here to save the day (and your driveway) from becoming a winter wonderland of cracks and chaos.

 Why Winter Prep Matters for Concrete

The freeze-thaw cycle can cause small cracks to widen, moisture to seep in, and surfaces to degrade faster than holiday cookies disappear from a plate! Regular inspections and proactive maintenance are like giving your concrete a cozy sweater—it shields against the elements and ensures durability all season long.

Your Concrete Winter Prep Checklist

  1. Inspect for Cracks and Damage: Small cracks might seem harmless now, but winter can make them worse.
  2. Seal It Up: Applying a high-quality sealer provides a protective barrier against water and ice.
  3. Clear the Debris: Keeping your concrete free of dirt, leaves, and snow will reduce moisture retention.
  4. Schedule a HEXA Inspection: Our expert team can spot vulnerabilities you might miss and help you prepare for Colorado’s challenging weather.

 HEXA’s Gift to Your Concrete

Think of HEXA’s inspection and maintenance services as the ultimate holiday gift for your property. Our experts work to prevent costly repairs, protect your investment, and keep your concrete in tip-top shape . . .  because nothing says holiday cheer like stress-free, intact concrete. Give us a call at (303) 279-8700 to set up your inspection today!

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Year-Round Solutions to Keep Your Concrete Surfaces in Good Shape

Colorado’s climate is tough on concrete surfaces. The state’s drastic temperature swings, heavy snowfall, and intense summer heat all take a toll, causing cracking, spalling, and other forms of damage. In fact, here — more than in any other state — concrete is put to the test.

Plazas, parking decks, rooftop terraces, balconies, and other horizontal concrete surfaces in Colorado face a multitude of stressors. They all need waterproofing that can withstand exposure to wide temperature swings, frequent freeze/melt cycles, strong UV rays, salt and de-icing chemicals, and heavy traffic. At HEXA, we understand these challenges and know the best way to keep your concrete surfaces looking beautiful throughout the year.

 Key Solutions for Concrete Maintenance in Colorado

  1. Regular Inspections and Maintenance: The first step in protecting your concrete is regular inspections to catch any early signs of damage. This proactive approach helps prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.
  2. Sealing and Waterproofing: Applying a high-quality sealant protects concrete from moisture penetration, freeze-thaw cycles, and chemical damage. This process is especially crucial in Colorado, where weather conditions are highly variable.
  3. Concrete Resurfacing: For surfaces that are significantly damaged, resurfacing offers a fresh start. This process involves applying a new layer of concrete over the existing surface, restoring its appearance and functionality.
  4. Crack Repair: Addressing cracks promptly prevents water from seeping in and causing further damage. Our expert team uses advanced techniques to ensure durable and aesthetically pleasing repairs.

With these strategies, you can maintain the beauty and functionality of your horizontal concrete surfaces regardless of the season. Whether it’s the scorching heat of summer or the freezing temperatures of winter, HEXA solutions are designed to withstand Colorado’s diverse weather conditions.

Don’t let your concrete suffer the effects of the weather. Contact us today and we’ll find the best solution to end your puddles, pooling, and concrete damage once and for all!

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An Ounce of Prevention

If it’s true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, now is a perfect time to get garages and structures in shape and ready for the winter months ahead. Maintaining your concrete structures on a regular basis means that you don’t get “surprised” when damage gets so extreme that it becomes costly to repair. We’re all about preventive maintenance!

Colorado winters are tough on concrete. When water turns to ice it expands about 9%. If that water has settled into even a hairline crack, it can mean big damage when the temperatures begin to drop.

Whether you’ve noticed some cracks in your parking structures or aren’t sure the last time you had your concrete structures inspected, call our guy, Mike Hubbard. He knows the concrete industry literally from the ground up and has experience in all aspects of concrete repair and maintenance. He’ll walk your site with your property manager or mechanical engineer and discuss what needs to be done to keep your concrete structures in good condition before anything gets to a point of being costly to repair.

We help you protect your concrete investment by repairing a variety of issues including:

Delamination

Water intrusion

Cracks and leaks

Post-tensioning issues

Damage to concrete coatings

Issues from cut corners

Put your 2022 budget to work and get an inspection scheduled today to give you peace of mind for the cold winter ahead. Give us a call!

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Concrete Inspections Can Save Your Ass-ets!

Now is the perfect time to take us up on our offer for a complimentary inspection – before winter snow and cold impact your concrete. Mike Hubbard, who joined HEXA as Sales Manager last spring, will walk your site with your property manager or mechanical engineer, discuss your issues, and tell you precisely what it will take to resolve them. With expertise built over four decades, Mike knows the concrete industry literally from the ground up and has experience in all aspects of the business.

Mike will help you protect your concrete investment by locating and correcting the actual cause of your damage, not just patching up a symptom. Common issues he’s seeing in recent garage inspections include:

Give us a call to schedule an inspection with Mike. He’ll assess your structure for signs of vulnerability, provide you with a bid, and help you take preventive action or budget for 2022. You can count on the HEXA team – Colorado’s concrete experts – to keep you ahead of the game with a plan for affordable maintenance and repairs.

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Hanging Out With HEXA

Just another day at the office for HEXA. We wanted to share with you our beautiful view as we are busy inspecting winter and sun damage to window sealants. This is a common issue we’re seeing a lot of these days. If not addressed, it can allow water and chemicals in, which could eventually lead to structural damage and the need for major repairs.

Constant exposure to the elements can lead to sealant failure. No one likes a leaky building. Don’t get stuck with an average fix that leads to future complaints. At HEXA, we’re sealant specialists. We assess windows and use the proper sealants to wet seal any window perimeters that are leaking or will be in the near future.

Exterior repair locations can be difficult to access, but with our expert team and know-how, nothing is out of reach!

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Winter Wreaks Havoc on Concrete

The really cold snap we recently experienced in the Front Range area was a rude reminder of how brutal winter can be – especially to concrete.

Cold weather damage comes from more than low temps. Concrete is vulnerable to salt, gravel, magnesium chloride and other ice-melting chemicals. Salt can leach through concrete and rust reinforcing rebar and wire mesh, adding to the corrosion that occurs when water seeps through cracks that expand and contract with the freeze/thaw cycle. If concrete is not properly sealed or the sealant is damaged or worn, seepage is an even greater risk and can eventually do damage to supports and other structures below the concrete.

Snowplows stress concrete as well. Especially those that do not use rubber blades can damage coatings. They can also cause damage to expansion joints. Even studded snow tires on passenger vehicles can take a toll, especially at exceptionally low temps when concrete is more dry, brittle, and susceptible to damage.

You can’t stop the cold, but you can repair the damage and prevent it from getting worse. We’ve been maintaining and repairing concrete in Colorado’s Front Range for more than two decades and are experts at dealing with whatever winter throws at it!

Give us a call to schedule a free inspection to assess winter damage to your concrete. We’ll help you plan and budget for repairs and preventive maintenance that will help your concrete stand up to Colorado winters.

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Chain Reaction

Why are our crew members dragging a chain across a concrete surface and striking it with a hammer? We’re checking for delamination, which may be hidden and often can be “heard” before it is seen.

Typically, when metal strikes solid concrete, it produces a clear, ringing sound. But if a dull, drum-like thud or loud clack is heard, there are likely hollow areas in the layers of concrete. Dragging a chain across concrete surfaces and listening for a change in tone helps us find extensive damage that has occurred below the surface due to water intrusion, which can damage the rebar and cause delamination. Striking the concrete with a hammer helps further pinpoint these voids.

Delamination occurs when thin layers of the slab, typically 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, separate from the base concrete of a finished slab. This problem often occurs if finishing operations start prematurely and close or seal the surface before excess air and water can bleed out of newly poured concrete, creating subsurface voids where air or water was trapped. These voids create weakened zones right below the surface that can eventually detach under use, especially if your concrete is exposed to heavy traffic or wheel loads.

It is important to address signs of delamination early to avoid extensive repairs such as removing and resurfacing the top layers of concrete. Schedule now for an early spring appointment to have your concrete inspected for delamination and other hidden, or not-so-hidden, signs of damage so that you can take preventive action before they become costly repairs.

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