Does Salt Damage Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveways?
While it is fair to say that concrete doesn’t like salt, nor does it like freeze-thaw cycles, if the correct concrete is used then neither putting salt on it nor freeze-thaw cycles will damage it. If the concrete wasn’t suitable to be used in areas where salt may be put on it, then it wouldn’t be used in the construction of bridges, roads, sea defences, and so on.
Inadvertently, we all put salt on our driveways
Whether we like it or not, we all inadvertently put salt on our driveways because we park our cars in pretty much the same place every day and as a result our cars drip salt from the roads onto the drive at those precise points. If concrete was adversely affected by salt, then we would see damaged areas on every imprinted concrete driveway across the country where people park their cars.

Does Salt Stain Pattern Imprinted Concrete?
In the same way that washing a car in a hard water area and leaving it to dry in the sun will lead to visible streaks when salt water evaporates on any surface, it leaves a visible salty deposit behind. However, it is easily removed with a good jet wash and a small amount of dilute acid wash, which will break down the salt on the surface.
Choosing the Right Contractor
If you go with a reputable contractor that has a trading history, they will have concrete installations that have seen many winters. Many of our customers have been trading for 10,15, 20 and some over 30 years and their early work still looks good, and you wouldn’t know if the area was five or twenty-five years old. Working with a reputable contractor may not be the cheapest option, of course, however, you get what you pay for. If you still have concerns about the suitability and longevity of imprinted concrete for your project, you can always ask any prospective contractor to provide some examples of the work they’ve done to put your mind at rest.

In Summary
A high-quality pattern imprinted concrete installation will not be adversely affected by salt. This is evidenced by the range of commercial and domestic projects that utilise pattern imprinted concrete where contact with salt is inevitable. Staining can occasionally occur, as it can on any surface. This is easily removed with a small amount of dilute acid wash and a jet wash. Working with the right contractor for you is important, and a reputable contractor will be happy to share previous projects, giving you the peace of mind that your imprinted concrete installation will stand the test of time and salt.
Dr Concrete.