How to Take Care of Your New Concrete Landscape Curbing

Thank you for the opportunity to install your concrete landscape borders. Please take a few minutes to review some facts and instructions for the care of your new “Exclusive Borders”

Curing

Concrete curbing takes 7 to 28 days to fully cure; the curing time for each installation is different. Your new curbing requires 2 hours of curing before it can handle light rain and 24 hours before it can withstand foot traffic. Try not to bump or hit your new curbing with hard objects for the first 28 days. You will notice the color of the edging changing, during the curing process, do not worry, this is normal for the curing process of concrete. After the border is fully cured the color will even out.

Crack Prevention

We experience very little cracking in our product. To help prevent cracking in your newly installed concrete, wait at least 24 hours after the installation, then water the ground around the curbing for several days, overly dry ground conditions can absorb moisture from the concrete, which can cause some cracking.

Sealing

You can apply a gloss concrete sealer to your curbing any time after 28 days of the installation. Before resealing you should clean the curb with a light application of muriatic acid “1 part acid to 5 part water.” Pour mixture on the curb and allow mixture to penetrate for 2 or 3 minutes, and then rinse with plain water. Allow curb to dry completely before applying sealer. The sealer can be brushed, rolled or sprayed on with garden sprayer. For best results apply 2 or 3 thin coats instead of one thick coat. Concrete sealers are available at pain supply retailers.

Efflorescence (White Powder Substance)

Efflorescence can appear on occasion and does not look good on your curbs. It is generated from water sprinkling systems and can also appear after a rainstorm. Check your sprinkler heads while the system is on and try to adjust them to minimize the amount of water spraying directly on the curb. If you have just planted sod and are watering frequently, efflorescence may appear more readily. Be patient, wait for your lawn to get established and clean the curb after it dries. A solution of 50/50 vinegar and water with a light brushing will remove the efflorescence. You may have to do this a few times; eventually, the efflorescence should go away.

Tree Root Damage

Over time, tree roots may lift and break some areas of your curbing. When this occurs, lift out the broken section of curbing, cut and remove the root that is damaging the curb, and lay the curb back down using fill dirt as support.

Repairs

If curbing is damaged we will come back and make necessary repairs; however, there is $300.00 minimum charge for this service.