How Concrete Sealing Protects Your Patio Or Driveway And How Sealing Is Done

It's often a good idea to seal concrete when it's exposed to the outdoors. Sealing is important for concrete countertops and flooring indoors too, but when concrete is exposed to rain, snow, and temperature extremes, sealing can help the driveway or patio have a longer life. Here's why concrete sealing is important as well as an overview of how it's done.

Why Seal Exterior Concrete

Sealing is an effective way to protect concrete in climates where freezing weather is common. Since concrete is porous, it soaks up moisture. When the moisture freezes, it expands, and that can damage the concrete by causing cracks to form. Then the next freeze and thaw cycle can cause the cracks to get bigger. Sealing closes the pores in the concrete to keep this from happening.

Sealing also protects the concrete from stains so the concrete is easier to clean. Some sealers add color or shine to the driveway or patio to enhance its appearance. In addition to closing pores, sealing can make concrete more attractive.

How Concrete Sealing Is Done

A concrete contractor can help you choose the right sealer based on your climate and how the concrete is being used. The sealer can often be sprayed or rolled on, so installing it is fairly easy. However, prepping the surface of the old concrete might be a little difficult.

At the least, the old concrete needs to be power washed. That's why you'll often see power washing and concrete sealing bundled together. In addition, cracks and other damages need to be repaired because sealing can't repair cracks.

Once the concrete surface is ready, the coating is applied. The coating will either be soaked up by the pores or form a barrier on the surface of the concrete depending on the type of sealer the contractor uses. If your contractor uses a sealer that coats the surface of your driveway or patio, they may mix in anti-skid additives to make sure the concrete won't be slippery.

How Long Concrete Sealing Lasts

Different factors affect the lifespan of a sealcoat. If the coating gets a lot of traffic from cars, it may wear down quicker than a patio that only sees foot traffic. However, the type of sealer the contractor uses matters too. A sealer that is soaked up by the concrete pores could last many years while a sealer that acts as a topcoat could wear off in just a couple of years.

Your contractor lets you know when to plan on repeating the concrete sealing process so you can keep your concrete protected for years to come.