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     ULTIMATE’s technology can best be understood by comparing it to the technology used in premium outdoor clothing. When we brave the weather we want the same protection as concrete, we want to be kept dry. We want to be protected from the penetration or ingress of water during rain or snow, and if we have excess moisture we want out clothing to allow our sweat or water vapor to escape, thus keeping us dry.  If the pores of our skin fill with moisture and freeze we can find ourselves in trouble. Concrete has the same concerns although for different reasons.

     When water freezes it expands at forces exceeding 30,000 psi. Your average exterior concrete is designed for 4000 psi.  In order to protect your investment, exterior concrete is purposefully entrained with air bubbles. these air bubbles provide a pressure relief system that allows the freezing water to escape to these microscopic voids. However, these air voids can be manipulated in the finishing process. At times these voids may not be enough to prevent the deterioration caused by freeze, thaw, and salt damage. That’s where ULTIMATE comes in.

     ULTIMATE’s deep penetration chemically reacts within the concretes pores to ensure that water stays out.  Although ULTIMATE keeps water from penetrating the surface it can still make its way to the concrete from the sides and bottom of the slab.  In a perfect world concrete once cured would never encounter moisture again, however, the limited moister that does reach the concrete is allowed to dissipate out of the surface when it becomes vapor. As in waterproof clothing the water molecule of rain is too large to penetrate the protective layer, however the molecule of water vapor is small enough to exit.

     Whether you purchased a home with exterior concrete or decided to install it, you have selected the most durable and aesthetically pleasing material available.  Properly cared for it will provide decades of service.  We recommend following the homeowner care outlined in Michigan Concrete Associations 6 Star Driveway Program, available at www.miconcrete.org along with sealing your concrete with ULTIMATE every 5 years. So the next time you bundle up with that protective outerwear think about whether or not you’ve clothed your concrete. Simply put there is no better protection than the ULTIMATE protection.