Quote:
Originally Posted by inv4zn
Here's a scientific answer (I work with concrete).
Freeze/thaw cycles attack concrete because the water seeps in, and expands when it freezes, pushing out the concrete. You avoid this by using "air" in the concrete so water has room to expand into the pre-existing voids. Generally freeze/thaw damage will have larger chunks and deeper cracks.
Cements that are used in concrete have different ratings, including resistance to deicing chemicals and freeze/thaw (although there are lots of other factors at play). The salt will attack the surface of the concrete, and will produce what you're describing (flaking, or spalling).
Once the damage is done there's not much you can do, there are repair mortars you can patch on top but unless you prep the surface well and put in the effort, it'll just come off again next season.
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Yeah, I know why it happened... lol. I wasn't really asking for scientific reasoning. I was just confused why it was mentioned earlier that salt wasn't to be blamed.
My post was just simply about finding out the salt I used damaged my concrete after the snow melt, and I know it's the salt because only the areas that I put salt on were damaged.
I'll try to patch it up in the summer.