Pits, flakes, and stains may not seem like they’re doing much damage to your concrete. If you let these conditions sit for an extended period of time, though, they can weaken your concrete to the point where it can start taking on additional damage. The longer you wait to act, the more likely it is that you’ll have to contend with structural damage either outside or inside of your home.    Dealing with Pits, Flakes, and Stains    Your concrete tends to pit, for starters, when it ages or comes into contact with conditions that cause it to weaken on a molecular level. Salt and long-term exposure to moisture or ice can cause your concrete to discolor as it does when it spalls or stains. You can also trace flaking back to concrete’s long-term exposure to colder temperatures. If you work with professionals to properly seal your concrete upon first having it laid or otherwise moving to a new property, then you may not have to deal with these conditions all that often.    If you notice pits, flakes, or stains starting to appear across your concrete, you’ll want to act quickly. These symptoms are some of the first indicators that your concrete may be weakening or that it lacks the protection to fight off the worst effects of hydrostatic pressure. You can get in touch with the professionals in your area to discuss potential repairs as well as the measures worth investing in to prevent similar damage from appearing in the future.    Other Signs of Damage to Watch For    Pitting, flakes, and stains can all indicate that something’s wrong with your concrete, but they’re not the only signs of damage you may have to contend with. Other signs of concrete damage you’ll want to keep an eye out for include but are not limited to:
Unpleasant smells inside or outside of your house  Visible cracks near the joints of your home  Brittle or decaying concrete edges  Damage to your walls
A cracked chimney  Infestations inside of your home  Mold growth
These signs tend to show up when moisture makes itself at home inside of or around your concrete. That said, moisture—or hydrostatic pressure—isn’t the only force that can work against the structural integrity of your home. You can work with the professionals in your area to determine whether the moisture you’re dealing with is the cause of your damage or if it’s a symptom of expanding soils, tree root growth, or another influence.