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Concrete Sealing

Your exterior concrete surfaces act as a sponge, absorbing a significant amount of water that can freeze and cause it to pit, crack, spall, and break apart. Properly sealing your driveway, walkways, patio, deck, and other concrete features regularly reduces water’s ability to penetrate the porous surface. This preserves your driveway’s functionality and appearance and extends its lifespan, ultimately adding value to your property. Besides protecting against water intrusion and damage from freeze-thaw cycles, concrete may also be sealed for specific reasons, including repelling stains, reducing debris accumulation, and resisting abrasion or chemicals. Oil, road salt, soil fertilizers, and various other common household chemicals can discolor and seriously damage unsealed concrete.

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Professional Concrete Sealing

Hiring Big Surf Painting to seal your concrete surfaces every few years keeps it in the best condition, especially if your driveway or patio has been stained, stamped, or etched with detailed designs or if your area receives frequent cold weather precipitation. Several types of concrete sealers exist, and the best one for your home depends on your specific needs.

  • Acrylic resin-based sealers offer excellent performance and may be blended with silicone, polyurethane, or epoxy to improve durability. They also enhance color and create a high-gloss appearance.
  • Water-based acrylic resin sealers provide moderate color enhancement and a satin-like finish.
  • Epoxy or polyurethane sealers create a thicker layer, and some varieties can make surfaces slippery, especially on walkways on patios.
  • Penetrating sealers are composed of silicones, silanes, and siloxanes that penetrate deeply into the concrete and create a chemical barrier to protect against water, oil, and other contaminants. They are ideal in areas where chemicals are used frequently, such as the garage.

Sealing concrete may seem like a relatively straightforward process, but it requires professional assistance to ensure you receive the best results. While hardware stores carry concrete sealers, these products are of lower quality than professional-grade sealers, meaning they do not work as well and feature a shorter lifespan. The quality of the product makes a big difference in the project’s outcome, and your area’s weather conditions and degree of wear and tear also impact how long your sealer will be effective. Regular maintenance involves cleaning with soap and water every few months, and resealing after one to three years is recommended by most experts to keep your concrete surfaces in the best condition.