Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Driveways: Best Prevention Method!
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What is a Reinforced Concrete Driveway?
A concrete driveway needs to be reinforced with steel rebars, as concrete has high compression strength but poor tensile strength. Without the steel reinforcement a concrete driveway would buckle and crumble under the vehicular load and the stress caused by ground movement.
Corrosion in reinforced concrete is the “oxidation and weakening of the steel rebars due to chemical, electrochemical, and electrolytic reactions.” As such it negates the very purpose of the reinforcement.
The most common form of reinforcement in concrete driveways is placing a grid of steel rebars before the concrete mix is poured in the forms. As the concrete sets, dries and cures, the steel and the concrete morph into a single entity.
This is reinforced concrete. Concrete provides the compressive strength and the steel rebars provide the tensile strength making reinforced concrete an extremely strong and durable construction material.
No wonder reinforced concrete is almost always present in any project, big or small; be it a residential driveway or a humongous dam.
Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Driveways
As mentioned earlier, corrosion in reinforced concrete driveways is an electro-chemical process due to which the steel rebars rust and degrade. The corrosion process significantly weakens the steel reinforcement, over time.
The electro-chemical process that leads to rusting is somewhat complex and you as a homeowner don’t need to understand the chemistry behind it.
It is enough to know that when water and carbon dioxide, both present in the environment, permeate into the concrete and reach the steel rebars, the reaction of corrosion can take place. The presence of salts in coastal areas or in ice melt products acts as a catalyst and hastens the corrosion in reinforced concrete.
Not only does rusting of the steel rebar weaken it, it also exerts an outward pressure on the surrounding concrete. This is because rust has a higher volume than steel.
Concrete under stress cracks. Cracks permit more water and carbon dioxide to permeate in. Which causes more corrosion. Essentially, corrosion in reinforced concrete, feeds itself and grows at a rapid rate!
Unless, steps are taken to nip corrosion in reinforced concrete driveways!
Preventing Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete Driveways
Preventing corrosion in reinforced concrete driveways requires a multi-faceted approach. Incorporating high-quality materials during construction is an important and useful technique.
You could, for example use, epoxy grout, polymeric fibers, and non-corrosive metals like stainless steel, for reinforcement. They have very high resistance against corrosion over time. However, they are not required for residential concrete driveways as cheaper alternatives exist.
Traditional methods such as cathodic protection and corrosion inhibitor admixtures have been employed to combat corrosion in reinforced concrete in infrastructure projects, especially those that are partially submerged in water such as bridges and dams.
However, these methods have limitations. Thick concrete cover offers some protection but leaves concrete vulnerable to cracking. Corrosion inhibitors provide temporary relief, while cathodic protection can be costly and has downsides. Repair procedures often need frequent reinstatement, resulting in high lifecycle costs.
Concrete with low permeability and adequate concrete cover helps in this regard. Integral crystalline waterproofing (ICW) admixtures, like PRAH, are included in the concrete mix to reduce permeability without the need for external membranes.
These admixtures enhance concrete durability by crystallizing and lowering permeability, reducing crack formation, and self-sealing cracks.
All the above techniques are great for multi million dollar infrastructure projects, but certainly not applicable to a residential concrete driveway.
The most effective strategy to prevent corrosion in reinforced concrete driveways is to prevent water penetration. And this is best done by using a good quality penetrating concrete driveway sealer followed by a good quality topical concrete driveway sealer.
Best Penetrating Concrete Driveway Sealer
The best penetrating concrete sealer for a driveway is a Silane-Siloxane concrete sealer.
Foundation Armor
When choosing a penetrating concrete driveway sealer consider
1. Durability: Look for a sealer that offers long-lasting protection against moisture, stains, and environmental factors to minimize the need for frequent reapplication.
2. Breathability: Choose a sealer that allows the concrete to breathe, preventing trapped moisture and minimizing the risk of cracking and spalling.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCT
The Best Penetrating Concrete Sealer
The best penetrating concrete sealer is Foundation Armor SX5000 Water Based Silane Siloxane Penetrating Concrete Sealer. It is approved by the DOT as a water repellent sealer and can provide up to 10 years of performance.
- Water based, breathable, high solids Silane Siloxane sealer for concrete
- Approved by the DOT as a water repellent sealer
- Can last up to 10 years
- Maintains the natural, unsealed look and feel of the substrate
- Reduces damage caused by snow, ice, road salts, mold, mildew, and stains
Best Acrylic Concrete Driveway Sealer
Foundation Armor AR350 Solvent Based Acrylic Wet Look Concrete Sealer is the best concrete driveway sealer for you!
I like it because it:
- Results in a durable, non-yellowing finish with a low gloss wet look
- Reduces damage from abrasion, road salts, water absorption, and UV exposure.
- Lasts 1-3 years before recoating and is made with high-quality US-manufactured resins.
- Easy to apply with a roller or sprayer, suitable for unsealed or previously sealed surfaces.
Foundation Armor AR350 Solvent Based Acrylic Wet Look Concrete Sealer
- Enhances dull and faded concrete driveway with a low gloss wet look.
- Reduces damage caused by surface abrasion, road salts, water absorption, and exposure to the elements.
- UV resistant, non-yellowing, breathable.
- Can last for up to 1-3 years before the need to recoat.
Choosing The Right VOC For Your State: VOC regulations for paint/sealers/coatings vary by state. Please use the following VOC guidelines to help choose the appropriate formulation for your project.
- 700 VOC: The 700 VOC formulation can be shipped to every state except AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, UT, VA.
- 350 VOC: The 350 VOC formulation can be shipped to every state except CA, CO, NY, OH.
- 50 VOC: The 50 VOC formulation can be shipped to every state.
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
