Aggressive marketing by the companies selling sealing products may be the reason behind the common belief that a sealer must be applied each and every year but even skeptics agree that periodic sealing will help prolong the life of any concrete slab whether it is a driveway patio pool deck or sidewalk.
Can you seal concrete driveway.
If you are looking to seal a driveway from road salts use a penetrating salt repellent sealer.
A quality siloxane concrete sealer can add years to the lifespan of a driveway at a low cost.
Some sealers leave the surface with a shiny finish while others have a matte finish.
After the concrete has dried for at least 24 hours you can effectively apply a concrete sealer.
The period of curing essentially provides the concrete time to absorb moisture and heat which helps the concrete gain strength and last longer.
It needs to cure for at least a month and preferably 2 months before you get down to the business of sealing a concrete driveway.
Sealer needs to be applied in dry conditions because it won t adhere to damp concrete.
A sealer helps prevent future stains and potential damage from products like ice salts.
The temperature also needs to stay above 50 f during application and drying time up to three days.
The asphalt emulsion that binds the stones and sand together is not water soluble and will not wash away.
Thankfully it doesn t require much time or money to do so and is an easy way to keep the area around your home looking its best.
Sealing a driveway not only extends it service life it will also improve the appearance of decorative concrete by enhancing the color and gloss.
If your concrete is new you ll need to let it cure wait at least one month before applying sealer.
You can not seal a newly constructed driveway.
One of the most common methods for curing concrete is to hose it down frequently with water five to 10 times per day or as often as you can for the first seven.
When choosing a concrete sealer determine the type of protection you are looking for before choosing a product.
About 30 days after a concrete driveway is poured the most important step is to seal it with a concrete sealer.
Newer concrete might already have a sealer that s still in good condition.
If a driveway is installed with the proper pitch 1 inch for every 5 feet water should drain off your driveway.
Sealing companies will tell you that it protects your driveway from.
Once the concrete is properly prepared you can then go about sealing the concrete.
Do spray new concrete with water.
There is considerable debate about if it is necessary to apply a sealer to concrete driveways and other concrete surfaces and if so how often it should be done.
Before applying check the weather.