Concrete Spalling in Reno: Causes, Repair, and Prevention
Why high-desert freeze-thaw cycles flake concrete, how we repair it, and how to keep it from coming back.
Spalling is when the top layer of concrete flakes or pops off. In Reno, it is one of the most common reasons homeowners call us.
Why it happens here
At 4,500 feet, the slab can freeze and thaw many times a week in winter. Water in the surface expands each time it freezes. Add mag chloride brine and the pressure is even greater.
How we fix it
We grind the slab, remove loose material, rebuild spalled areas with a repair mortar or resin, and grind everything flush. A coating then seals the surface.
Prevention
Keep water and de-icers from soaking into bare concrete. On garage floors that means a bonded coating. Outdoors, direct downspouts away from slabs and avoid rock salt.
When to replace instead
If the concrete crumbles deep below the surface or sections have heaved, repair and coating will not last. We will tell you honestly if replacement is the better path.
