Are you looking for concrete sealer for your concrete driveway? As a busy home owner, it’s easy to forget about this important task. But sealing your driveway is essential to protecting it from weather damage and keeping it looking good. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable concrete sealers on the market and even a few contractors who can help.
In this blog post, we’ll explain the benefits, the process and how to choose the best concrete sealer for your needs. Read on for everything you need to know about choosing and using concrete driveway sealers!
Why seal your concrete driveway
Sealing your concrete driveway is an important step in keeping your property clean, safe and looking its best. Concrete driveways get used and abused about as much as your main floor bathroom but are rarely cared for. Why let leaves and oil stains have their way with your investment?
Your concrete needs some love! Sealing protects the concrete from harsh weather conditions and can help prevent premature cracking, deep staining and other forms of damage. Regular sealing also makes maintenance easier as dirt and stains clean up easier instead of becoming ingrained into the material. By taking the time to protect your concrete driveway with a concrete sealer, you will be extending its lifespan while making it look clean and new, even in cold climates.
The benefits of sealing your concrete driveway
Sealing your concrete driveway has significant benefits for protection and longevity. A sealant acts as a protective barrier, providing protection from weather, salt, and other elements that can cause wear to the surface of your driveway over time. In addition to protection, a sealed driveway will look better longer and is easier to shovel when the weather turns cold.
A sealed driveway also has a much longer lifespan than an unsealed one, saving you money in the long run. So don’t hesitate – take advantage of the protection and increased longevity of sealing your concrete driveway today!
Preparing your concrete driveway for sealing
Preparing the concrete surface beforehand is critical to ensure long-lasting results. Proper preparation requires that you clean it, whether it’s new or old concrete with a pressure washer and/or eco friendly cleaning solutions to remove surface level dirt, deep stains and organic growth. Be careful with the amount of pressure and strength of chemical you use to avoid etching the concrete surface.
Be careful with stamped concrete as you may lose some of your secondary color in the process. Also, knowing if the surface was previously sealed with concrete sealer is important and whether it’s water or solvent based. This will effect the outcome and help determine which concrete sealer you should use.
The driveway must then be completely dry before applying the new sealer, which can take up to 24 hours. With these steps, you’ll be improving the chance of a perfect finish for your concrete driveway.
Choosing the right sealer
Concrete driveway sealer will extend your driveway’s life and give it a clean, fresh appearance. But there are a few things to consider when searching for the best concrete driveway sealer. Not all concrete sealers are created equal and finding the right one specifically for your concrete surface can seem like a daunting task.
There are penetrating sealers and surface level acrylic sealers that protect surfaces from dirt, oils and moisture in their own way but vary in effectiveness and uses. Since we are talking about driveways, we won’t cover epoxy sealer or high gloss acrylic sealers.
So what’s the best driveway sealer? If you’re looking for lasting protection that keeps the natural finish, choose a penetrating concrete sealer. Penetrating sealer will give you the best protection against winter salts, water absorption and deep stains. Select ones with siloxane or an oil based product — these penetrate deep and provide the best long term protection for your plain broom finished concrete. There are companies who produce quality water based concrete driveway sealers.
Before you drive to your local big box store, do your research. Removing driveway sealer is not a fun or easy project so you will want to get it right.
BONUS
If your driveway has a stamped concrete boarder and you want to achieve that nice gloss finish that is UV resistant while protecting the surface, avoid penetrating sealers and choose a surface acrylic sealer. It will create both a durable and glossy protective layer that will bring it back to life. Surface level sealers comes in a matte, semi gloss or glossy finish. Because it is on the surface and takes all the abuse it will wear down faster. Don’t forget a traction additive to avoid an extremely slippery surface.
While we’re on it, a specific surface sealant called Cure & Seal is often used as a sealer to slow the curing process. Many contractors use this to check the box because it can be applied right after the concrete is poured. It’s not advised to use this after the first year as it does not provide the level of protection required for cold climates and only lasts a year or two. Ultimately, leaving your concrete vulnerable and needing to be sealed more often. You can
When choosing the best concrete driveway sealer for you, consider the level of protection you want, the surface and aesthetic finish you’re hoping to achieve.
When to Seal Concrete and Reseal Your Concrete
Sealing concrete driveways is an important step in maintaining it and keeping it looking new. When should it be done? Whether you have a new or existing driveway, protecting it with concrete sealer will help reduce wearing, chipping, cracking and becoming dingy and dirty.
New concrete needs to be sealed within two months after installation to protect it from moisture, and more importantly, the first freeze thaw cycle and de-icing salt. You will need to wait at least 28 days before applying concrete sealers to allow time for the concrete to cure. Reapplying concrete sealant approximately every three years is recommended for optimal protection from the elements.
With normal wear and tear, cleaning and resealing your concrete driveway can not only breathe new life into a tired looking surface but also give you peace of mind knowing you’ve taken the necessary steps to keep your driveway in tip top shape.
You can test your driveway by spraying it with water and seeing if it absorbs quickly or if it beads on the surface. If it beads on the surface you’re protected. What may happen is some areas will absorb while some will not. This can be due to a variables — direct sunlight, amount of traffic, or an uneven application. There is a solution for this and a product that will work.
How to Apply Concrete Sealer on Driveways
If you are intimidated by the thought of applying concrete sealer, you’re not alone. Our research shows when left to do it themselves, less than 25% of home owners will seal their concrete driveway, even with contractor guidance. The process isn’t hard, it just takes time, confidence and a level of knowledge about concrete, sealers and applying it to the surface.
It can also be hard to find the help you need for a reasonable price. If you’re on your own, start by finding the square feet of your concrete surfaces. This will help you determine how much you will need to buy. A 5 gallon bucket can often cover 750 square feet depending if a second coat is needed.
Once you have chosen the right driveway sealer for your concrete, it’s time to apply it. The most common method is spray application, where you spray on an even coat of the sealant over the entire surface. This ensures that every nook and cranny is protected and helps create a waterproof barrier. A common garden sprayer can be used once but won’t hold up very long due to the chemical strength.
You can also use a roller to evenly spread out the sealant if sprayers are not available or if you need more control over the application process. The best application uses both methods to ensure an even coat on the concrete surfaces.
It is best to apply in two thin coats vs one thick coat to avoid over saturation. It is clear solution but it’s best to pretend it’s wet paint as the sealer will melt the bottom of your shoe and leave dark marks on your concrete surface.
After you have finished applying multiple coats of sealant, it will take around 24 hours for it to fully cure and protect the concrete surface. After this time has passed, your concrete will be safe from water damage, deep staining and weathering. By properly sealing your concrete, you can help ensure that it will last for years to come.
Concrete Driveway Sealer For the Win
Applying sealer to concrete driveways is important to maintain the looks and longevity. But it’s not as easy as just picking up a sealer at the store and applying it with a roller —you have to take time to prepare the surface and choose the right product, or you may be disappointed with the results.
Sealing your concrete driveway can be DIY but we get it, it’s not easy picking the right concrete driveway sealer or purchasing the right tools for the job. If your looking for help, call us today if you have questions or for a free quote on sealing your driveway. It’s worth it!