The basic rule of thumb is every 3-5 years. For film-forming sealants, you will be able to notice when the physical barrier is showing signs of wear. For non-film-forming sealants, you will begin to see a significant color change of pavers during a rain when the sealant is wearing thin.
Pros: Why You Should Totally Seal a Concrete Patio
Improves Ability to Repel Moisture – A sealer closes the absorbent pores of concrete, keeping any moisture at the surface. This helps prevent spalling that is often caused by freeze-thaw cycles. It also helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the patio.
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.
If your concrete is new, you'll need to let it cure; wait at least one month before applying sealer. Before you apply it, check the weather. Sealer needs to be applied in dry conditions because it won't adhere to damp concrete.
Left unsealed, the colors will fade, water marks may be an issue, and stains can penetrate leaving ugly oil spots where the service guy left his old jalopy parked on the driveway. It's pure and simple, the job just won't last without a good sealer.
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.
“Do I need to seal my pavers?” The short answer is Yes. Paver sealant is an important maintenance tool to keep paver patios, walkways, driveways and pool decks looking as beautiful as they day they were installed.
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.
The answer depends on the surface's square footage. For large surfaces such as commercial floors, a sprayer is faster and way more efficient. Finally, for small surfaces, such as garages or any other exterior surface, a paint roller or any other type of roller will do the trick. Rolling is a less expensive process.
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.
Our top pick, BEHR PREMIUM Wet Look Concrete Sealer, can be used on multiple surfaces indoors and outdoors. It is also easy to clean and apply. Rust-Oleum Moisture Stop Fortifying Sealer is an excellent budget-friendly option that can be applied quickly and creates a waterproof barrier that protects your concrete.
Experts who recommend having a concrete surface sealed are doing their customers a big favor. Without this extra layer of protection, concrete will absorb moisture and may begin to crack, spall, flake, and discolor, among other things.
Sealers can be slippery. Sealing concrete can create a slippery surface, especially when wet.
If you want to clean your concrete, there are a few things to keep in mind. You should use a pressure washer or other high-pressure water source to remove stains such as oil and grease. When using a pressure washer, be careful not to damage the sealer on your driveway by putting too much pressure on it.
Acrylics and epoxy topical sealants are the least expensive, but do require prep work. They aren't as durable and long-lasting as penetrating sealants.
Polyurethane sealers
Heftier than its acrylic counterpart, polyurethane sealer creates a thick layer of protection on top of the concrete surface. It also works well for both indoor and outdoor use and comes in both water-based and solvent-based forms. It's highly durable and provides great stain protection.
Sealing concrete is a necessity: It keeps your floors clean, glossy and stain-resistant. Regularly applying a protective coating is vital to preventing chips, cracks and dirt buildup.
It All Begins With Pressure Washing the Driveway
However, getting out all of the dirt and grime along with stains is a must before permanently securing them onto the driveway's surface with a sealer. Beyond prepping for sealing treatments, there are numerous reasons for pressure washing driveways on a routine basis.
Before sealing a concrete surface, it is important to properly prepare the surface by pressure washing. Pressure washing removes dirt, debris, and other buildup that can interfere with the seal's effectiveness. It also helps create a smoother finish for the seal to adhere to.
Generally speaking, in most cases, a new solvent-based concrete sealer can be applied to a surface previously sealed with a solvent-based concrete sealer; however, it cannot be applied over a surface previously sealed with a water-based concrete sealer.
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.
Once applied, sealers create a chemical reaction and the outside temperature decides how fast that reaction occurs—or if it happens at all. Most manufacturers recommend 50 to 90 degrees as the ideal temperature range for applying concrete sealer.