By Bennett's Concrete and Excavation, Norwich, NY. Updated October 2026.
Skip deicers the first winter
Industry maintenance guides advise avoiding deicing chemicals on new concrete, especially in its first winter. Use sand for traction instead.
Never use these
Deicers containing ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate attack concrete and can break it down fast. Check the bag. Fertilizer is often ammonium-based too, so keep it off your slab.
Watch the salt your car brings in
Even if you never salt your driveway, salt and slush drip off your car onto the garage apron and floor all winter. Rinse it off on mild days. That's why we use a salt-repellent sealer on aprons.
Seal it
New concrete needs about 28 days to dry before sealing. After a power wash, let it dry at least 72 hours before sealer goes on. Then reseal when water stops beading on the surface.
Plowing
Plowing is fine. Use a plow with a rubber cutting edge or set the shoe height so the blade doesn't gouge the surface, especially on stamped concrete.
