Like any hard, smooth surface, stained concrete can become slippery when wet, especially if it has been coated with a high-gloss sealer. For concrete floors or walkways exposed to moisture or in areas with a lot of foot traffic, there are ways you can increase the slip resistance without affecting the color.
Cons of Outdoor Concrete Staining
Transparent: The semi-transparency of most stains will fail to hide the existing imperfections in the concrete surface. DIY is not easy: Staining concrete is the not the easiest job for the amateur weekend warrior. Using a professional contractor ensure best results.
Silica Sand
Silica sand can be applied to the wet concrete sealers to improve the slip resistance of the surface. The procedure involves applying a silica sand layer over the first coat of fresh concrete sealer. After drying, the second coat of concrete sealer is applied and finished.
Sealers can be slippery. Sealing concrete can create a slippery surface, especially when wet.
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.
Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
When this moisture doesn't dry and the surface is left wet for an extended period of time, mildew begins to form and mold begins to grow. You'll know you have mold growing on your concrete by the greenish color that appears.
The simple fix:
Where a potentially slippery sealant will be used, a traction aid (usually a polymer/polyethylene grit or aluminium oxide grit as used with some sandpapers) should be mixed into the liquid sealant prior to its application.
However, if you use low quality concrete sealers, the surface may become slippery. Some sealers have high solid content which fills the pores on the concrete. In that case, a solid layer is formed on the surface of the pavement that becomes slippery when exposed to wetness.
Compared to dyes, stains tend to last longer and hold up better. They have a less saturated color than a dye but are more durable and show less wear. For this reason, stained concrete is favored for outdoor surfaces that are exposed to foot traffic, weather, and sunlight.
The durability of stained concrete
This applies to both interior floors as well as outdoor surfaces, so any concrete floor will benefit from a stained concrete finish that beautifies, seals, and protects against cracking, peeling, chipping, and fading.
Stain concrete patios, pathways, and even garage floors to update your home. Whether you're dealing with an old concrete porch, a new concrete garage floor, or a grass-stained walkway, adding a stain is a great way to give concrete a renewed look.
One of the most effective methods to increase traction is to apply a friction coating. To do this, you're going to first need to choose a specific type of friction coating. There are several options available, each of which may be more or less suited to your specific driveway.
Oil-based sealer is petroleum based mixture of asphaltic chemicals. One main problem with oil-based sealer is that you cannot add sand to the mixture for traction which can leave your driveway very slick/slippery.
Slippery driveways will often be caused by ice either inside of cracks or sitting on top of the surface. Sealer products will need to be applied to combat this. If you have a pored surface, meaning a surface with gaps in it (including cracks), then we recommend using a pregnator sealer.
The slip resistance of concrete flooring varies, but a typical dry unfinished concrete surface may have an SCOF of 0.8. Sealed concrete generally has a lower (more slippery) measurement. Wet surfaces will usually be more slippery still. Wet concrete has been measured by the government at as low as 0.16.
An anti-slip coating is a durable layer applied to a surface to improve grip, while an anti-slip treatment is an acid that chemically etches into the surface itself to create texture. Swiss GriP Non-Slip Coatings. Anti-Slip Treatments. Composition.
You can make the surface a bit rougher by using an acid etch. Muriatic acid & water is commonly used to clean concrete prior to sealing or painting. A strong solution allowed to sit will actually etch the slippery surface away. It's much easier than grinding.
An unsealed, decorative stained concrete surface will show faded colors in a matter of a few months. You could advise your customer that's what happens with an unsealed project and let them make the decision about sealing, but rest assured that an “I told you so,” from you when the fading happens will not comfort them.
After discussing the factors you need to look for and the regional location of the project, in broad terms, Spring is in fact the best time of year to seal concrete. With its moderate temperatures and humidity levels, it tends to provide ideal conditions for the application and curing of sealers.
The Drawbacks of Seal Coating
There are some drawbacks to sealcoating, however. One is that it can be messy and difficult to apply evenly. It's also important to note that sealants will not repair significant damage to your driveway; they will only protect it from further damage.