Not sure if you should use a sealer on your new concrete patio, driveway, or walkway? While it might be tempting to skip one more step, we highly recommend that you seal your concrete project!
Sealing an outdoor decorative concrete project is the best way, and as far as we know the only way, to minimize color changes from the sun's UV rays. An unsealed, decorative stained concrete surface will show faded colors in a matter of a few months.
Should You Seal Your Concrete? Just as you wouldn't leave your expensive gadgets unprotected, you shouldn't leave your concrete exposed to the elements. Sealing your concrete is essential for protecting it from damage and keeping it looking great over the course of its long life.
Cons: The Downsides of Sealing the Concrete Patio
Makes the Surface Slippery – Most sealers, especially high-gloss types, can be quite slippery when wet. However, there is a remedy to this. Some contractors add a fine type of abrasive to the sealer to add a bit of texture. This helps make the surface slip-resistant.
Generally, epoxy sealers are applied to extremely high-traffic areas and to prevent chemical spills because they offer excellent protection. Acrylic sealers are often used to block water penetration for residential applications and decorative concrete.
Solvent based acrylic sealers or acrylic modified polyurethane sealers are usually recommended for exterior concrete surfaces. While solvent based sealers have to be applied every other year acrylic modified polyurethane sealers last longer, say about 3 to 5 years.
Polyurea's extremely fast curing time can lead to a weaker bond and a greater chance of imperfections showing once cured.
Oil leaks, blood, and sticky residues can absorb and result in stubborn stains. However, using a driveway sealant after pressure washing can help prevent these stains from becoming permanent features in your driveway.
Sealer Cost: Everything You Need to Know. Sealing concrete sealing or “seal coating” costs between $1.20 – $1.75 per square foot. Factors that determine cost include project fees, quality of concrete, stamped vs regular, or if you opt to do it yourself.
You can get similar performance by using an epoxy or urethane system, which generally lasts 5 to 10 years depending on traffic exposure. Acrylic-resin sealers offer the shortest performance life - generally 1 to 3 years.
The exposed aggregate finish is a popular type of textured concrete finish. It is produced by removing the top layer of freshly poured cement to uncover coarse decorative aggregate. Aside from decorative purposes, the exposed aggregates give the surface added traction that is especially useful for outdoor settings.
Sealing concrete is an excellent DIY project if you have the time available. Once you learn how to seal one type of concrete surface, you'll be confident tackling more areas around your home. You can roughly cut the project's cost in half by tackling it yourself instead of hiring a professional.
The sealer can help prevent the stains and other signs of weather damage from occurring and when washed, won't allow residual effects to settle into the pavers. Weather can also cause actual damage to the pavers as moisture enters a non-sealed surface. Water freezing in cold weather could expand and crack the paver.
Acrylic – Acrylic-based sealers are a cost-effective solution for adding a protective barrier to your concrete surfaces. Acrylic sealers are easy to apply, making them a great choice for DIYers, and their quicker dry time is perfect for projects on a tight timeline.
A 20-foot by 20-foot concrete patio runs between $2,000 to $6,000, including labor and materials. Adding decorative finishes and colors could make the price even higher.
You can apply the stone sealer in two different ways. Either way, you should equip yourself with protective gloves and goggles, and a mask to avoid breathing in the chemicals. Depending on where the patio is, you'll also need cardboard sheets and painters' masking tape. We recommend using a low-pressure sprayer.
The materials and labor required to seal a concrete driveway properly can be expensive. In addition, concrete driveways that are improperly sealed can trap moisture underneath the surface, which can lead to problems such as mold and mildew.
For most concrete surfaces, a mix of alkaline cleaners works best to break down grease and oil. For particularly tough stains, you might need specialized concrete cleaners designed to tackle specific contaminants.
You just need to be aware that with higher durability comes a higher price, and polyurea floor coatings are usually more costly than those made of epoxy (more on that later). Also, don't forget about UV resistance.
There has been an increase in consumers with professionally applied polyaspartics complaining about lingering odor after installing their garage floor. This same situation can happen with Polyurea and really any product that has a solvent in it.
Polyurea waterproof coating is often used on patios and other outdoor structures where sunlight directly hits. Unlike most other coatings, polyurea is resistant to UV rays, making it an ideal choice for protecting your patio or pool deck from the sun's damaging rays.