How To Seal A Concrete Driveway
AR350-Driveway-Coating-Before-After
The best time to seal a concrete driveway is as soon as you remember. While it is ideal to seal a concrete driveway once cured, sealing it 10 years later is better than never sealing it all.
When it comes to sealing your concrete driveway you have two choices:
- Penetrating Water Repellent Sealer
- Durable Concrete Coating
A penetrating sealer works entirely below the surface of the concrete and will not change the look or color of the driveway. A concrete coating will leave behind a surface film that coats the surface of the driveway with a clear or colored matte, wet, satin or gloss finish.
Under the category of a penetrating sealer you can go with a Densifier (sodium or lithium silicate) or water repellent (silane siloxane blend). Densifiers should only be used if the concrete requires an increase in surface strength. Otherwise, the choice sealer is a silane siloxane blend simply because it stops water from being absorbed on the surface, therefore reducing a variety of issues including spalling, staining, salt and ice damage.
How To Seal Concrete Using a Penetrating Sealer
How To Seal Concrete Using a Coating
The best type of coating to use on exterior concrete is an acrylic lacquer. Acrylic lacquer coatings are non-yellowing, breathable, and resistant to changes in weather and temperature. When looking for an acrylic, consider a solvent based lacquer like the Foundation Armor AR350 (featured below).
AR350-Driveway-Coating-Before-After
How to apply the Foundation Armor AR350:
- Make sure the concrete is free of paints, stains, coatings, and any other materials that would prevent proper penetration and bonding.
- Using a roller, apply the first even coat across the entire driveway.
- Wait 4-6 hours, repeat. Let dry.
If you are adding a non slip additive or matte packet, add that into the acrylic before applying the final coat.