Some people do not know that concrete and masonry can be damaged over time by something seemingly harmless - water. Until, of course, visible damage starts to show. It's almost impossible to ignore such damage. Unfortunately, that also usually means heavily repair costs. Before we start looking at how to prevent this from happening, let's start by examining how the damage is caused.

Damage to concrete and masonry caused by water.

Water is a seeming harmless substance. Actually, it's very hard to imagine water being the cause of severe damage in concrete and masonry. That's because concrete and masonry are exceeding tough materials. Who would have thought that water could be a silent killer?

But water is indeed a silent killer. You see, when a tough material like concrete is exposed to the environment, many things can happen. For example, due to weather changes, temperatures may drop drastically during night fall. Usually, this wouldn't harm the concrete one single bit. But the temperate dropped so suddenly that concrete finds it hard to react in time. Hence, it contracts so rapidly that it cracks. Maybe if this happens once or twice, the concrete wouldn't have minded. But imagine this happening every single day, again and again. Over time, this could cause severe damage to the concrete.

When cracks start to appear, that is when concrete becomes really vulnerable. Anything can enter these cracks and widen the cracks. Plants, dead insects, dirt, grease, sand, etc. When exposed to the environment, this is inevitable. The concrete is already starting to break down.

But when we see plants, sand, etc. entering the concrete, we know that damage is done. But water? That's kind of hard to imagine. In reality, water causes the most damage. That's because there is so much of it in the environment. Water will enter through the existing cracks, and weaken the internal structure within. When frozen, it turns into ice, which expands and widen the cracks.

Sometimes, water is deliberately sprayed onto concrete by human beings (with good intentions of course). For example, an individual may want to clean off the dirt and grime in the concrete. So he sprays it with water. This cleans the concrete, but the water actually enters the concrete, which does more damage to the structure.

The only way to prevent this from happening, is to apply a water repellent sealer to concrete or masonry. High end concrete sealers like Defy sealers can be applied to almost any type of concrete or masonry. You can purchase a sprayer with the sealer, and apply the sealer yourself.

Once applied, the sealer protects the concrete or masonry from further damage. You will see the surface turn glossy as the sealer dries. When the gloss starts to fade, that's a sign that you should apply a new layer. Don't wait until cracks start to appear. Start applying immediately!