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Concrete driveway coatings will leave behind a visible film, or coating, on the surface. Most coatings will protect the surface of the concrete and enhance the appearance by adding a satin sheen to high gloss look.

There are many benefits to applying a coating, including:

1. Protection against hot tire pickup.
2. Protection against oil, gas and other stains.
3. Protection against salt damage and freeze-thaw cycles.
4. Protection against surface deterioration.
5. Opportunity enhance old, dull, or weathered concrete surface.
6. Opportunity to protect new concrete and keep it looking new for years to come.

The Answer: Acrylics

Acrylic coatings are the best type of coating that can be applied to exterior concrete. Here’s why:

1. Acrylics are proven to offer superior UV stability over other coatings. They can last years before turning yellow or developing a yellowing tint.
2. Acrylics are easy to apply and can be applied to a variety of application surfaces. Minimal preparation in required when applying an acrylic.
3. Most acrylics are breathable. When moisture becomes present they will allow moisture to pass through instead of trapping the moisture below the surface.
4. Acrylics are easy to maintain. When a solvent based acrylic starts to wear, a little Xylene or a blush repair product, will open up the recoat window and allow you to put more down. Water based acrylics are a bit different – avoid using those if possible. They can’t be repaired or maintained, instead they must be removed and reapplied.

Beware of Epoxies

Some manufacturers push the use of an epoxy for exterior applications claiming that the epoxy is the most durable type of coating on the market. There are two problems with that statement: 1) Aliphatic Polyurethanes are the most durable coating on the market, and 2) Epoxies are terrible when used on exterior applications. Here are a few reasons why you should NOT use an epoxy on an exterior concrete application:

1. Epoxies are not resistant to UV rays. They are resistant to UV rays on interior applications but in areas where they are fully exposed to sunlight, even modified epoxies will yellow.
2. Epoxies are not breathable and are very sensitive to moisture. When moisture becomes present below the surface it will cause an epoxy to lose it bond and peel off from the concrete. Even acrylic modified epoxies are bad for exterior because the epoxy part of the acrylic will weaken the abilities of the acrylic. Don’t believe us? Put an epoxy or a modified epoxy on an exterior application. See if you get more than 2 months out of it.
3. Epoxies are hard to maintain. When the epoxy starts to wear you can’t just put more down. You need to grind down the surface and apply more once the coating has been properly prepared.

Products

We have done our research on the best types of products that can be used to coat exterior concrete. Here are what we would consider to be the best concrete driveway coatings available on the market today:

Foundation Armor: Foundation Armor is a leading manufacturer of penetrating concrete sealers and durable concrete coatings.  They are known for their UTN60 garage floor coating, Armor AR350 Acrylic Coating, Armor SX5000 Water Repellent Sealer, and Armor AX25 Siloxane Modified Acrylic Coating. They are an honest company offering fantastic products, all with a unmatched customer service team.

Quikrete: Quikrete is a leading manufacturer of concrete mixtures and concrete overlays. For driveways that are damaged beyond repair, Quikrete offers a complete line of products for repairing and restoring concrete surfaces.