Concrete is a unique material. It is hard, dense and durable yet it is highly susceptible to staining when it has a rough to semi-smooth finish. Most exterior concrete surfaces like driveways, sidewalks and driveway aprons need to have a somewhat rough surface for traction. Water, oil and other liquids can readily soak into concrete if it is not protected. Protect your surface with a clear sealer or liquid repellent.

When it comes to learning about concrete, there are two books that are must-haves, both from the Portland Cement Association. Looking for clear coating manufacturers? Many on the following list may not be familiar to you, because high quality clear coatings aren't usually sold at local hardware shops.

The following checklist contains 15 helpful pointers when using concrete to make a sidewalk, patio or driveway. Look at the control joint illustrations to see how they should be handled for residential driveways.

To solve concrete spalling, the job should be started with good concrete and ended with good finishing techniques. Deicing salts, contrary to popular belief, will not harm concrete that is made, placed and finished in the proper way. Never use fertilizers as deicers because the chemicals may attack your concrete. If you're still concerned about water messing up your surface, use a concrete sealant.

For information on deicing salt or concrete, check out the following trusted sources. The Salt Institute, the American Concrete Institute and the Portland Cement Association are all organizations who will give you professional information. Local engineering labs also are good go-to sources for literature.

To prevent against concrete cracks, tilting or settling, use pea fill around your concrete foundation. Pea fill is a mixture of coarse sand and pea gravel that is perfect to use for large, empty spaces because it compacts and eliminates air space. If you're building a new home, and you don't have this around a slab of concrete that comes in contact with your foundation, you can always pin your slab following these pointers.

There are many advantages to slabjacking. Usually the job can be completed in a few hours. There will be no heavy trucks on your existing driveway. Your landscaping will not be disturbed. Things on the slab won't have to be moved. The slabjacking grout creates a firm new base. The slab can generally be used again in a few hours. It simply costs less than installing new concrete, which will undoubtedly be a different color. The list goes on and on.

Steel and concrete are natural partners. Commercial and industrial builders use these two materials all the time. However, residential builders frequently use little or no steel. What a mistake! The shame is that this steel is so inexpensive. You can purchase a 20 foot 1/2 inch reinforcing steel bar for $3.25 and have amazing, strong results in your concrete.

When a concrete slab cracks, crumbles, tilts or otherwise deteriorates within 5 to ten years of being installed, a homeowner has good reason to be disappointed. This is especially true of a slab that is in perfect condition but for one reason or another has tilted or sunken. Too many people have replaced these types of defects with new concrete, when they could have simply raised the slab through concrete lifting.

Concrete, what an amazing material! I can't say enough about it. Here is a material that you can make out of four basic ingredients (sand, gravel, cement and water). Once mixed, it can be placed with relative ease (because it is in a semi-liquid state). Then, when dry it can become hard as a rock! However, concrete can and does crack because it naturally absorbs water. When it comes time to patch, consider additives or epoxies to help your patch stick and your concrete last longer.