Understanding Concrete Damage: Is It the Ice Melt, the Seal, or the Concrete Itself?

When concrete starts showing signs of wear—such as scaling, pitting, or surface flaking—it’s natural to look for something to blame. Often, ice melters are the first suspect. But determining whether damage is caused by a deicing product, a compromised sealant, or poor-quality concrete is rarely straightforward. In reality, concrete deterioration is almost always the result of multiple interrelated factors, most of which are invisible once the concrete has been poured.