Page 77 - KHovanian Homes - Pathway to Homeownership

Section 9 | Home Care & Maintenance Maintenance Guidelines • Do not park heavy vehicles, such as moving vans or other large trucks, on your concrete driveway. Your concrete is not intended to bear the weight of heavy trucks. Instead, these vehicles should be parked on the street and have materials ramped-off as necessary. • Never use a large amount of water to clean your garage floor or driveway, and never allow the water to stand on either surface for extended periods of time. Water can seep into the joints, causing the floor to sink and expand. Eventually, it will result in cracking or more serious damage to your concrete floors. • All cracks in concrete should be caulked as soon as possible. Quality exterior caulking compounds, or equivalent products, are manufactured for this purpose and can be purchased at your local hardware store. • A concrete sealer may be applied to the floor, following the manufacturer’s directions, approximately six months after you move in. This will make it easier to clean the concrete and reduce dusting. CONCRETE - SPALLING Another element of concrete is spalling. Spalling occurs when the top layer of concrete begins to flake or wear away. While concrete is generally designed not to spall, factors such as settlement, engine oil, radiator fluid, severe frost, and aggravation from the use of wintertime salt and other de-icing chemicals will promote spalling. Spalling is not warranted. Maintenance Guidelines • In the winter, salt, road chemicals, and other materials used to remove snow and ice will deteriorate and damage your driveway, steps, and walkways, causing them to blister and spall. These same chemicals may also make their way into your garage. It is important to remove them promptly from your concrete, as they will cause permanent damage. Motor oil and antifreeze will also permanently stain concrete and cause concrete to pall. These, too, should be quickly removed to avoid permanent damage. • Salt Precautions: Park your vehicle on the street during inclement weather conditions to reduce surface deterioration. Apply a concrete sealant to protect the concrete from water penetration. • As mentioned earlier, never use a large amount of water to clean your garage floor. Water seeps into the joints and causes the floor to shrink and expand. • Grease spots on cement floors may be removed with special powders designed for this purpose. Never put sawdust under a car to absorb grease; sand is safer. • Again, a concrete sealer may be applied to the floor, following the manufacturer’s directions, approximately six monthsafteryoumovein.Thiswill make it easier to clean and will reduce spalling. CONCRETE - PORCHES, STEPS AND STOOPS In most cases, exterior concrete cracks are due to the freeze and thaw cycle or slight home settlement. Maintenance Guidelines • Removesnowandicepromptlyfromporches,steps, and stoops. If a thin layer of ice cannot be removed, cat litter or clean sand offers safe traction. • Do not apply de-icing salts or chemicals to any concrete surface. Repeated thawing and freezing with salt and chemicals can damage brick, concrete, and mortar, as well as kill grass, shrubs, and trees. CONCRETE - DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS AND SIDEWALKS Driveways are subjected to heavy use and severe weather conditions. You may experience slight cracking and movement in the driveway slab due to the freeze- thaw cycle, vehicular traffic, and soil settlement. It is not uncommon for exterior poured concrete to rise and fall due to the freezing and thawing of the soil on which they are poured. Maintenance Guidelines • Youshouldconductamonthlyinspectionofconcrete flatwork and do any maintenance necessary to improve drainage and minimize the infiltration of water. This is especially important during the first five years for a newly built home when the most severe adjustment between the new construction Edition July 2019 | 59