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Epoxy and polyurethane sealers can last five to 10 years, while acrylic sealers last two to three years or more depending on the use, wear of the surface, and type of sealer you choose. Areas that see heavy traffic or extreme ice and snow may require more frequent sealing. Test your concrete every two years to gauge how it responds to absorbing water or if it fully repels it for longer than 20 seconds.

The most common cause of concrete cracks is shrinkage when the concrete hardens and cures. The stress from the shrinkage exceeds the concrete’s strength. Concrete cracking can also occur when it experiences extremely cold or hot temperatures, such as a particularly harsh winter or a firepit built into a concrete patio.

Concrete cracks can occur at any time. Many cracks actually happen within a few hours or days of pouring the concrete because of mistakes made during the process; here are a few reasons for freshly poured concrete cracks.

If you’re nervous about causing cracks when pouring concrete, hire a pro to handle the work, rather than tackling it yourself. You can also prevent ongoing cracks by taking care of your concrete pathway or driveway with a little sealer. Here’s how often to reseal your driveway to reduce the risk of cracks.

If you're only working with a gravel pad, and there is no concrete foundation, you might be able to upgrade to a concrete slab, but you’d have to speak with a professional concrete expert to confirm and get pricing. If you have a concrete foundation or cement block walls around the area where you want to build flooring, you might be able to pour a new concrete floor over the existing one to forgo repairs. Again, speak with a concrete expert or foundation company to see if this is an option.