Sciencemadness Discussion Board

rock salt concrete damage

Random - 6-2-2014 at 06:37

A relative of mine put salt all over the frozen ice coated concrete in front of my house and in 2 days concrete looks like as it aged fifty years. It's eroding rapidly as in in front of my eyes. Some serious damage. Concrete is also connected to the house so is there any way to protect it from further damage?



Man I'm so angry. No college degrees can help you if you are dumb. :mad::mad:

bfesser - 6-2-2014 at 08:33

If rock salt caused the erosion of the concrete, then there's something seriously wrong with your concrete. In MN, we throw salt and other ice-melt all over the damn place every winter, and I've never seen it cause damage from only a single application. If the concrete sidewalk was recently poured, I'd suggest contacting the contractor and demanding they repair/replace it. Also, you should have gotten it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_sealer" target="_blank">sealed</a> <img src="../scipics/_wiki.png" />.

See also:
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spall#Salt_spalling" target="_blank">Salt spalling</a> <img src="../scipics/_wiki.png" />

Praxichys - 6-2-2014 at 11:02

Can you post some pictures? I agree with bfesser... my driveway has had NaCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2 spread all over it this winter with no ill effect. No sealant, just bare concrete.

Metacelsus - 6-2-2014 at 11:20

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_degradation#Chemical_...

Salt can damage concrete, especially if it is porous.

I have an additional idea: Salt will cause the freeze-thaw cycle (a notorious damager of concrete) to occur at lower temperatures, thus making it a problem even in the winter.