How to Choose the Ideal Concrete Sealers for Your Task

Sealing your concrete is a great way to protect your surface from chemicals and other contaminants that can stain your concrete. It’s also a wonderful way to enhance the natural beauty of your patio, driveway, walkway or pool deck. Concrete sealer is available in different formulations for decorative and protective purposes.

Concrete sealers are designed to block the pores in concrete, which helps to reduce surface absorption. They are great at repelling water, oil and other types of stains. Sealers also provide protection against deicing salts and freeze/thaw damage.

How Long Does a Concrete Sealer Last?

A concrete driveway or patio could last as little as 2 years and up to 5 years before resealing is necessary. The life of your concrete sealer depends on the amount of use and abuse that it gets. A good way to judge when it is time to reseal is when water no longer beads up on the surface.

You can extend the life of your concrete sealer by not driving or walking on it when the surface is wet. When the surface gets dirty, clean it with a mild detergent and rinse well with water.

Sealers for a garage floor may have a shorter life if you drive on them every day and expose them to chemicals like oil or antifreeze. But if you apply two coats of sealer, you can usually add two more years of protection to your floor.

Acrylic Sealers

If you want your concrete sealer to last a while, make sure that you use an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealers are tougher than the other types, and they will last longer.

A good quality acrylic sealer will give you many years of protection for your patio or driveway. With any luck, you won’t have to re-seal your driveway for several years after the first application.

Acrylics are also more water-resistant than the other types of sealers. The problem with other types of sealers is that they can let in the water underneath them. This can cause damage to your concrete and lead to cracking and crumbling.

The reason why acrylic is so much stronger than the others is that it’s a plastic-like material. It’s basically a plastic coating that goes over your concrete and protects it from the elements. This means that water can’t get below it, which means that there is no way for water to get trapped underneath and cause damage.

Penetrating Sealers

Penetrating sealers are designed to penetrate into the material to provide protection against damage from water or chloride intrusion (efflorescence). They also help prevent moisture vapour emissions. These sealers allow moisture transmission which is a good thing as it allows excess moisture to escape from your concrete slab. Concrete slabs can heave or buckle if there is too much moisture trapped underneath them so it is important that you use a penetrating type of sealer when sealing concrete slabs such as basement floors, patios, pool decks etc.

Penetrating sealers are not designed to leave a surface film on the concrete and they will not enhance the color or change the surface appearance at all. They will darken the colour slightly but not enough that you would notice in most cases. Penetrating sealers work great on all types of concrete including coloured concrete and stamped or imprinted concrete.

Decorative Concrete Sealers

These types of sealers are usually clear in colour with little or no gloss. They are designed to protect the surface while enhancing its natural appearance and they also do not change the look of the surface like an acrylic coating but rather provide a protective barrier from stains and surface wear.

These sealers are available in water-based or solvent-based formulations, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages. Water-based formulations are typically easier to use because they do not have the strong odors associated with solvent-based products; however, solvent-based formulations will generally last longer and penetrate deeper into the surface.

Concrete Driveways

Concrete driveways are often found on commercial buildings. However, homeowners are beginning to realize the benefits of having a concrete driveway installed at their home. Concrete driveways offer the homeowner several benefits including durability and low maintenance. For example, concrete driveways that have been stamped and colored can last for many years. This is due to the fact that a sealer has been applied to protect the surface from weathering, dirt, oil and other chemicals. Because they can be made to look like brick or tile, they offer a custom appearance that is unique. A concrete driveway can also be easily maintained by washing it with soap and water or a degreaser.

Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete is a popular choice for walkways and patios because it offers an attractive finish with slip resistance. It can also be used on pool decks, interior floors, walls and steps. Stamped concrete has become so popular because it offers unlimited design options for homeowners who want to add visual interest to their outdoor living spaces. In fact, stamped concrete has become so popular that some homeowners have decided to use it as an accent along with other materials such as natural stone or pavers.