When should a driveway be sealed? You should have sealer applied as soon as your concrete slab or decorative surface has set and cured. Always read the product information for specific application instructions.
Sealing your concrete not only ensures your concrete surface is protected, but that it is long lasting. It should also be noted that compared to the cost of replacing a concrete surface, sealing is relatively inexpensive and easy to do–definitely worth a long lasting concrete floor, patio, slab, or driveway.
If you have a new concrete driveway, you might be tempted to apply sealant right away, but a freshly poured concrete driveway needs time to cure completely before being sealed. In typical weather conditions, this can take up to four weeks to happen. Once your driveway is cured, you're ready to get to sealing.
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.
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 Bottom Line
This is because if you don't allow the concrete to become fully cured, too much moisture will be trapped within it and it won't be evaporating correctly. This can mean that your concrete will be more likely to develop cracks and damage, especially in freeze-thaw climates like the UK.
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 surfaces like driveways, walkways or sidewalks, in a general sense, do not have to be sealed or protected to perform well. As a matter of fact, a concrete driveway will last for years without being sealed, but once it begins to deteriorate it can be too late to stop it.
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.
The best temperature range for applying sealcoat is between 55 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal temperatures are those that start around 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning and increase throughout the afternoon.
Another reason penetrating sealers are popular is they don't change the concrete's appearance when properly applied. The major concern is that there can be no other membrane cure or sealer on the concrete when applying, and the concrete must be at least 28 days old before application.
Kindler said sealing helps prolong the life of a driveway and should be a regular part of home maintenance. “If you seal-coat a driveway or a highway, the surface will last longer,” said Kindler, who teaches a pavement class at Ohio State University. “I would recommend doing it about every three years on a driveway.”
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.
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.
In order to properly seal your concrete, then, you must clean the surface of the substrate before applying a concrete sealer of any variety. The easiest and most effective way to clean the concrete will vary depending on the condition of your concrete and whether it has been treated with chemical stains.
Before you begin sealing, however, it is very important that you properly clean your concrete. Unless your concrete is brand new, it has inevitably accumulated dirt, oil, and other grime.
Generally, 50 degrees F (10 C) is the accepted minimum temperature when applying most film-forming concrete sealers and coatings. That number pertains to the temperature of the sealer, as well as the temperature of the air and the surface being treated.
A: Yes! Old concrete can be sealed for the first time or resealed if it has been previously sealed with a concrete sealer.
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.
The best time to sealcoat your driveway is during summer when the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not advisable to seal coat in the winter as the colder season will negatively affect the performance of the sealer. The sealer may not bond with the asphalt or will not cure correctly.
Outdoor concrete sealers are not only worthwhile but necessary. 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.