The main advantages associated with sealing your concrete driveway include: Protection from stains. Vehicles can often leak fluids like oil, which can easily stain unsealed concrete in just seconds. These stains are difficult to remove, even with high-powered pressure washers.
Leaving concrete unsealed will leave it with a flat look. The color will remain flatter and dull, in addition to the concrete remaining porous and easier to damage. Sealing the concrete will enhance the colors and give it more of a marble or mottled look, smoother and with richer colors.
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.
Unsealed concrete is a porous material that freely absorbs liquids and is therefore vulnerable to unsightly staining from oils, chemicals, animal waste, moulds and much more besides. As an absorbent material, it is also vulnerable to frost damage in the freeze/ thaw cycle and is readily eroded by de-icing salts.
When you leave your concrete warehouse floors unsealed, the concrete will produce flecks of concrete dust that can coat machinery, create a dirty work environment, wreck havoc on manufacturing, and even cause health issues. It's simply unavoidable and a very real issue unless you seal the floors.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Concrete sealed with an acrylic sealer should not be walked on (with the exception of a recoat), driven on, or wet for at least 36-48 hours. Epoxy Coatings: Epoxy coatings are designed to enhance and protect interior concrete floors.
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.
Another major drawback of sealed concrete flooring is their propensity for showing scratches and wear in high foot traffic areas.
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.
How Long After Power Washing Before Sealing? For best results and to ensure the sealant lasts as long as possible, you should wait 24-48 hours to seal your driveway after cleaning it. This allows sufficient time for the surface to fully dry.
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.
Air Temperature: In a perfect world, concrete sealers should be applied when the outside temperatures is within 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
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.
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.
The excess moisture that is still present after a new driveway installation needs to completely evaporate before you seal the concrete. This evaporation is known as the curing process. As a rule of thumb, it takes approximately 28 days for new concrete to seal.