The Effects of Salt on Concrete

Have you ever looked down at the concrete while pumping your gas or while walking on a sidewalk and wondered why the concrete looks like the surface of the moon?  In most cases, the cause is sodium chloride, or better known as salt.  Salt is a mild acid that weakens the structure and strength of concrete enlarging the pores which exacerbates freeze/thaw cycle damage.  It also lowers water’s freezing temperature which allows many more freeze/thaw cycles to occur in our climate.  The combination of these actions allows water to find its way under the surface where freezing water expands and breaks concrete’s bond.  Recently poured concrete is much more prone to salt’s damaging properties.