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Concrete driveway sealers for sealing concrete driveways.

There are a few different types of sealers that can be used to seal a concrete driveway. The most common types of driveway sealers are as follows:

1. Silane-Siloxane Sealers: Silane-Siloxane sealers are classified as water repellent sealers. They fill in the pores with a breathable, hydrophobic material that caused water and other liquids to bead off the surface. Silane-Siloxane sealers will stop 99% of water from being absorbed into the concrete. Driveways sealed with a silane-siloxane sealer will reduce the growth of mold and mildew and reduce the formation of cracks and spalls. Silane-Siloxane sealers will also help to reduce deterioration caused by water absorption such as cracking, spalling, pitting, and freeze-thaw damage.
2. Sodium and Lithium Silicate Sealers: Sodium and lithium silicate sealers should only be used to increase the surface strength of the concrete. They do not offer water repellency properties and offer little protection from stains and spalling. Silicate sealers are often used to reduce dusting and increase the surface strength of concrete that has suffered deterioration from water absorption or surface abrasion. If you need to increase the surface strength but also have issues with mild, mildew and spalling consider applying a silicate first followed by a silane-siloxane a week or two later.
3. Acrylic Sealers: Acrylic sealers will add a wet look, satin sheen, high gloss or colored finish. They will form a protective film over the surface and add an aesthetic enhancement to the concrete. They will enhance the concrete driveway and protect it against the damaging effects of water absorption and surface abrasion.

Silicate Concrete Sealers	Water Repellent Concrete Sealers	Acrylic Concrete Sealers
Won’t change the look of the concrete	Won’t change the look of the concrete	Enhances with a wet look or gloss
Works entirely below the surface	Works entirely below the surface	Leaves a visible surface film
Lasts forever	Lasts 7-10 years	Lasts 1-5 years
Increase strength of concrete	Repels surface water	Protects surface against staining
Reduces dusting and spalling	Reduces staining and deterioration	Stops dusting, staining, deterioration
Can only be used on cured concrete	Can be used on cured and uncured concrete	Can be used on cured and uncured concrete

How To Apply a Concrete Driveway Sealer

When applying a concrete driveway sealer it is important to make sure that the concrete has had the opportunity to fully cure for at least 28 days. If you can’t wait 28 days to seal the concrete you must consider instead the use of a Cure and Seal. Here are a few other driveway sealing tips:

• Make sure the concrete is fully cured.
• Make sure the concrete is completely dry during the time of application.
• Make sure it doesn’t rain for at least 2-3 days after the final sealer application.
• If you use a solvent based acrylic, space the coats out by 24 hours to allow for a film formation.
• If you use a silicate, consider also applying a silane-siloxane a week or two later.

Penetrating sealers, like silane siloxane and silicate sealers are best applied with a pump sprayer, while acrylic sealers are best applied with a 3/8″-1/2″ roller.

How To Clean a Concrete Driveway

The best way to clean a concrete driveway is with a heated, filtered pressure washer. The temperature of a heated pressure washer can exceed 400 degrees and will remove most stains, dirt, mold and mildew. In some cases, oil stains will need to be removed with a degreaser.

Once the concrete has been cleaned, you want to allow the concrete to dry for 24-36 hours before sealing. While the concrete may look dry on the surface, water and moisture will remain in the pores and needs to be able to evaporate.

Best Concrete Driveway Sealers

The best concrete driveway sealers for sealing stamped, poured, broom finished, and aggregate driveways are:

Silane Siloxane Driveway Sealers:

• Armor SX5000: Solvent based Silane-Siloxane driveway sealer. DOT approved, high solids, 10 year life.
• Armor SX5000 WB: Water based Silane-Siloxane driveway sealer. DOT approved, high solids, 10 year life.

Silicate Driveway Sealers:

• Armor S2000: Concentrated sodium silicate driveway sealer for porous concrete driveways.
• Armor L3000: Concentrated lithium silicate driveway sealer for dense concrete driveways.

Acrylic Driveway Sealers:

• Armor AR350: Solvent based wet look driveway sealer with a low gloss finish.
• Armor AR500: Solvent based wet look driveway sealer with a high gloss finish.
• Armor WB25: Water based driveway sealer with a high gloss finish.