Can Sealing Prevent Cracks on Concrete Surfaces?
While the advantages outweigh the negatives, there are some disadvantages that you should keep in mind before sealing your concrete driveway. Sealant can make the surface slippery. Sealants tend to dry down with a glossy or semi-glossy sheen that can be quite slick, especially when wet.
One of the main benefits of sealing your driveway is that it will help protect the concrete from weather damage. Over time, exposure to the sun and rain can cause the concrete to crack and crumble. By sealing the concrete, you will create a barrier that will help prolong your driveway's life.
Over time and exposure to the elements exterior concrete can develop cracks due to temperature changes, ground movement, improperly placed joints and excessive loads. Once a crack develops it is important to seal the crack from water to prevent further deterioration.
A Cure for Cracks
Spray curing concrete with water (also referred to as a “moist cure”- Frequently hosing down curing concrete with water (5 or more times/ day) for the first 7 days keeps the surface of the slab moist while the rest of the concrete continues to cure. This helps the entire slab to cure evenly.
Since they ideally happen near the surface, reinforcing your concrete is not going to help prevent them. The only preventative option you have is to use a good mix design that offers low shrinkage tendencies. However, you may still have to deal with hairline cracks, especially if there is moisture around the structure.
In residential concrete, 4 inches is the minimum thickness for walkways and patios. Garage slabs and driveways should be 5 to 6 inches thick if any heavy truck traffic is anticipated, otherwise 4 inches is adequate.
Acrylic Concrete Sealers: Acrylic sealers last 1-3 years before they need to be re-coated. Epoxy Coatings: Epoxy coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated. Urethane Coatings: Urethane coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated.
As a general rule of thumb, concrete sealing should be performed when the weather is at 50 degrees F or higher, suggests Concrete Network. Though other factors, such as the type of sealant being applied, can adjust the safe temperature to apply sealant, spring is generally considered the ideal time for sealing work.
Actually, concrete cracks are very common, some are even inevitable. We explain 6 of the most common types of concrete cracks below.
It's Never Too Late …
Sealing your garage floor might not be possible if you have moisture in your garage. This is typically the only scenario where we don't recommend sealing right away, mainly because you should deal with the cause of the moisture first. It could be due to a plumbing leak or a drainage issue.
Concrete can be described as a hard sponge that soaks up oil and water-based spills. Easily marked by tires and outdoor elements, it is important to seal the surface, so it looks beautiful year-round. The other benefit to sealing concrete is improved cleaning and maintenance.
Sealing your concrete isn't really a labor-intensive, nor costly, job. By sealing your concrete every 2-5 years, as recommended by experts, you should keep your floor in good shape, preventing cracks, pitting, and additional damage.
The application of a sealant helps extend the life of outdoor concrete by making it more resistant. It reinforces the density and hardness of the material, significantly increasing its tensile strength. This helps prevent cracks, scaling and water damage.
Not sealing your driveway leads to bitumen loss which leads to water penetrating down to the base causing it to fail which in turn causes potholes and cracks. Once the cracking and pothole cycle begins it's very difficult or impossible to stop.
A strong enough power washer will blast most types of sealer off of concrete with ease. The trick is to make sure to pressure wash the entire surface area. For more sturdy sealers, it may take a few passes with the pressure washer to get it completely removed.
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.
Colour sealing is preferred for driveways, carports, pathways and patios. Paint is a thick coating, gets slippery more easily, is prone to flaking and difficult to re-paint once worn.
Another mistake to avoid is applying the sealer too thickly. Concrete sealer is supposed to dry quickly, but it won't if you put too much on, and this compromises its long-term effectiveness. It's better to apply it too thin and apply a second coat later.
Seal a Concrete Garage Floor
Remove everything from the garage floor. Clean oil and stains from the surface with a pressure washer or chemical cleanser (often called a degreaser) and allow it to dry. Sweep and vacuum away dirt and debris. Apply one or two coats of epoxy sealer and allow it to cure before use.
Shrinkage: The most common type of cracking in concrete, especially early on, is shrinkage. Concrete is a mix of cement and water. As the concrete hardens, which is caused by the cement and water forming bonds, some of that water escapes through evaporation.
No, you do not need rebar for a 4-inch slab of concrete on grade. A 4-inch-thick slab cast on the ground and in permanent contact with it will float and rebar is not required. Rebar is recommended on concrete measuring 5 – 6 inches thick.
Concrete driveways are typically poured four inches thick, giving the concrete driveway enough strength to withstand loads of regular vehicles (up to approximately 8,000lbs).