Can You Seal Concrete Driveway

Some sealers leave the surface with a shiny finish while others have a matte finish.

Can you seal concrete driveway.

Do spray new concrete with water. 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. 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. A sealer helps prevent future stains and potential damage from products like ice salts.

Once the concrete is properly prepared you can then go about sealing the concrete. Applying sealer to a driveway is not difficult and in most cases a standard residential driveway can be sealed in less than a day. If a driveway is installed with the proper pitch 1 inch for every 5 feet water should drain off your driveway. The temperature also needs to stay above 50 f during application and drying time up to three days.

The period of curing essentially provides the concrete time to absorb moisture and heat which helps the concrete gain strength and last longer. 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 you are looking to seal a driveway from road salts use a penetrating salt repellent sealer. The asphalt emulsion that binds the stones and sand together is not water soluble and will not wash away.

After the concrete has dried for at least 24 hours you can effectively apply a concrete sealer. You can not seal a newly constructed driveway. 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. Sealer needs to be applied in dry conditions because it won t adhere to damp concrete.

A quality siloxane concrete sealer can add years to the lifespan of a driveway at a low cost. When choosing a concrete sealer determine the type of protection you are looking for before choosing a product. Newer concrete might already have a sealer that s still in good condition. The type of sealer you use will depend on the level of protection you are looking for how often you are looking to reseal and your budget.

If your concrete is new you ll need to let it cure wait at least one month before applying sealer. 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. Sealing a concrete driveway is a sensible way to protect and extend the lifespan of the material.