To Seal or Not to Seal?
Replacing a concrete driveway can easily be the most expensive “home repair” project you’ll ever take on. Concrete is generally considered to be a strong and long lasting material when installed properly. Constant exposure to the elements, however, will gradually break it down; pitting, spalling, and cracking are inevitable. How long your concrete driveway and walkways last will depend on a few factors, the most important of which is ongoing maintenance!
Concrete is not ‘solid’ – it’s extremely porous and absorbs water like a sponge (think of how it darkens after a rain). When winter rolls around, that moisture will freeze and expand, eventually causing it to crack or spall (chip). When you introduce salt to a driveway (directly by salting it after a snow, or indirectly from tire run-off)) this process speeds up. The salt reacts with the Calcium Hydroxide within your concrete, forming Calcium Oxychloride crystals which expand more rapidly than the moisture itself. Over time, this leads to the further deterioration of the concrete.
To slow this process, the concrete needs to be able to repel water and salts while still remaining porous. How is that possible? Regular application of a penetrating concrete sealer in the answer! Mighty Wash offers two very specific types of concrete sealers. The only solution for driveways is our siloxane/silicon blend penetrating sealer. For stamped/colored decorative concrete, we apply solid surface sealers that enhance the look and shine of the decorative concrete.
PENETRATING SEALER
Mighty Wash uses a custom blended siloxane/silicon water-based sealer for driveways. When applied, the sealer is quickly absorbed into the concrete. Different sized silocane and silicate molecules react chemically with the lime in your concrete to fill different sized ‘voids’ within the structure. After application, your concrete will absorb less moisture (and salt) as these chemicals create a hydrophobic (water-repelling) barrier. You may immediately notice that your concrete repels/beads water after our application. These visually evident water-repellent properties will slowly fade, but that does not mean the sealer is failing! Remember, most of the sealing benefits occur from the chemical reaction within the concrete, below the surface. We recommend sealing every 2-3 years to gradually build-up an impermeable barrier within your driveway.
Since we use a water-based sealer, clean-up is simple and contamination possibilities are nearly non-existent. Your driveway should be cleaned before application, and does not need to be 100% dry before application (surface sealing requires a 100% clean and dry surface). Our penetrating sealer will not ‘seal-in’ surface stains or prevent further staining (there are no products that can do this, practically or safely, on a driveway). Foot and vehicle traffic can resume as soon as it is applied. It may seem counter-intuitive, but “staying off” only applies to surface sealers.
SURFACE SEALER
Decorative, stamped and colored concrete is generally sealed with an oil-based surface sealer. We only use high-solid content Butterfield Pro products. From experience, re-sealing a stamped/colored patio or walkway exposed to direct sunlight every 2-3 years is sufficient to provide excellent protection and enhance its appearance.
Surface sealers lay on top of the concrete, forming a protective barrier. As such, they will alter the appearance of the concrete (generally making it darker and shinier). When it rains, water will absolutely bead-up and pool on top of the concrete and takes much longer to dry. Prior to application, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned and 100% dry. No rain should be in the forecast for at least 18 hours after application. It will be dry to the touch within 4 hours and can handle foot traffic the following day.
Whether you’re looking to enhance the look & longevity of a stamped patio or want to lengthen the service-life of your driveway, Mighty Wash can help! For the quickest and most accurate quote for your project, take some measurements and pictures before you reach out. You can text your pics and details to 330-595-4111, or submit your information here for a free quote!