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Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
You'll know you have mold growing on your concrete by the greenish color that appears. When you seal your concrete, you inhibit moisture from penetrating the surface and therefore prevent the development of mold and mildew.
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.
Solvent base sealers tend to over darken concrete stain, looking as it does when saturated wet with water. Water base sealers such as Clear Shield, makes the concrete look as it does when damp with water, not saturated wet but not dry either.
When properly applied, cure and seal products produce a protective liquid membrane. This compound shields the top of the fresh pour while retaining the proper amount of moisture throughout the entire slab. The concrete cures much harder, and the surface is protected longer.
These can last up to 25 years in some cases, but we recommend re-sealing concrete driveways every 5-10 years. Ultimately, longevity depends on the specific sealer you choose, the climate, the surface type, and the amount of pressure the surface experiences over time.
As we noted earlier, concrete sealers produce a very smooth surface on top of the concrete once it has fully cured, which gives your driveway valuable resistance to water, oil, and stains.
PermaSeal® is a long-lasting, permanent seal that protects your concrete structure for good. PermaSeal® speaks for itself. That's why we demonstrate our process for you, so you can make a confident and informed choice yourself.
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.
Sealers, particularly solvent-based sealers, will darken concrete. If unevenly applied, it will create light areas where there is less sealer, and darker areas where there's more. If applied by sprayer, it may appear like “stripes”. Uneven roller application may leave darkened roller marks.
Concrete performs quite adequately if it is never sealed at all, but applying a good quality sealer every few years will extend its life and keep it looking good. This is especially true if you have a stained or etched concrete driveway or patio.
While sturdy and durable on its own, it does require some protection, such as a silicone-based surface sealant like Quikrete's Concrete & Masonry Waterproofing Sealer, to waterproof the surface and keep it looking freshly poured.
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.
Can Sealing Prevent Cracks on Concrete Surfaces? Concrete sealing can stop most types of concrete fractures. This fact is especially true if the crack is a result of poor-quality work in the concrete mix or site preparation. However, sealing can prevent future damage that may start from the top layer of the concrete.
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.
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.
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.
Air Temperature: In a perfect world, concrete sealers should be applied when the outside temperatures is within 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long after sealing concrete can you walk on it? After applying the concrete sealer, avoid walking on the surface for 4-12 hours to allow the sealer to settle into the concrete's pores and to refuse moisture.
Sealers can be slippery. Sealing concrete can create a slippery surface, especially when wet.
When the sealer is applied too heavily, the air displaced through the surface can't escape, and it forms a bubble in the sealer surface. Bubbling of a sealer can also occur if application is done in hot weather, or if the concrete is in direct sun.
The acid washing of concrete is a requirement after the concrete has cured sufficiently, in order to remove surface efflorescence and to open the pores before sealing. This will help the sealer to penetrate and result in a superior bond between the sealer and the surface.
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.