Carpetign on exterior concrete

[Michael Thomas]

I've read that carpeting on exterior concert flatwork and stairs can accelerate concrete deterioration (especially in climates with frequent freeze-thaw cycles), but now cannot find a cite to that effect.

Anyone know if this is true?

Have a cite?

Thanks

[Ron Bibler]

I do not see how this could be... the only thing that will harm concrete is impurities in the original mix. See this link it may help.

Concrete Basics | Portland Cement Association (PCA) (http://www.cement.org/basics/concretebasics_concretebasics.asp)

Best

Ron
SANTA ROSA PEST CONTROL .COM (http://www.santarosapestcontrol.com)
Healdsburg California Pest and Termite Control - Exterminating & Thermal Imaging (http://www.healdsburgpestcontrol.com)
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[Mitchell Toelle]

I do not see how this could be... the only thing that will harm concrete is impurities in the original mix. See this link it may help.

Concrete Basics | Portland Cement Association (PCA) (http://www.cement.org/basics/concretebasics_concretebasics.asp)

Best

Ron
SANTA ROSA PEST CONTROL .COM (http://www.santarosapestcontrol.com)
Healdsburg California Pest and Termite Control - Exterminating & Thermal Imaging (http://www.healdsburgpestcontrol.com)
Sebastopol California Termite and Pest Control - Exterminating & Thermal Imaging (http://www.sebastopolpestcontrol.com)

Not true Ron. Sorry to differ with you, but concrete is porous. Moisture easily enters concrete, and when freezing occurrs the moisture/ ice expands, potentially causing damage to the concrete. After a few times of this expansion small cracks become larger. Common scense says that this will damage concrete.

Not sure if having carpet over the top would have an affect but the carpet would hold moisture longer, giving a better chance that freeze affect would happen.

[Ron Bibler]

Not true Ron. Sorry to differ with you, but concrete is porous. Moisture easily enters concrete, and when freezing occurrs the moisture/ ice expands, potentially causing damage to the concrete. After a few times of this expansion small cracks become larger. Common scense says that this will damage concrete.

Not sure if having carpet over the top would have an affect but the carpet would hold moisture longer, giving a better chance that freeze affect would happen.

Mitch My point was looking at the impurities from carpeting.

As to water/Ice and expansion. Yes this can have some effect. But this would still go back to the impurities in the original mix. Bad mix will provide voids in the concrete for moisture to enter and freeze and expand. but if you have a good mix the amount of moisture will be limited and any amount of damage will be limited. We can see this in a 5 sack mix to a 6 sack mix.

If you have some better information on this please provide a link or a printed paper.

As this is what John was asking for not our opinion.

Best

Ron

[A.D. Miller]

If carpet or even the adhesive used to install it damages concrete in any way, then the concrete itself is defective.