Home Maintenance News and Tips:
Concrete Sealer
Concrete deteriorates over time from wear and tear. Rock salt used to de-ice the driveway during the winter is the biggest culprit of deterioration. A good seal on the surface will help to prevent this break down and preserve your driveway. For newly poured driveways, wait at least two to three months before the applying a seal.
Concrete Sealer
An acrylic or silicone-based concrete sealer does a great job of reducing cracking. The main reason is a concrete sealer fills the pores of the surface and prevents water from penetrating. If water gets into the concrete, it will expand with freezing temperatures creating tremendous outward pressure.
Aim to buy a higher quality sealer. Cheaper products don't give the same level of protection and will need to applied more often, which cancels out the cheaper cost. Good products should last six months to a year. Make sure the surface is clean before applying the sealer.
Painting Cement
Latex, oil, or epoxy paint are all viable options for sealing a driveway. Latex is the most common and is the easiest to handle since it can be cleaned up with water. Oil-based paints require an oil-based primer to be applied first. Oil-based paints are a more resistant than latex but the clean up is more difficult. Epoxy paint is the best of the three and is very resistant to water and a durable finish.
First, the surface of the driveway should be cleaned thoroughly. Then apply a 25% solution of muriatic acid to lightly etch the surface. The paint will stick to a lighly roughed surface better than a smooth surface. Give the paint plenty of time to dry before allowing cars to go on the driveway. Also, make sure the weather forcast doesn't have any rain predicted within 24 hours.
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