Once your concrete driveway is in place, make an extra investment by purchasing a quality concrete sealer to help extend the life of your driveway surface by as much as double. Although concrete is a versatile and durable surface that’s perfect for applications such as driveways, it has one major Achilles heel: a porous surface that absorbs liquids. This can eventually mar the appearance of the driveway in addition to hastening the deterioration of the concrete overall. Concrete driveways and other surfaces using concrete such as garage and basement floors are designed to take a lot of traffic, both automotive as well as pedestrian. You don’t want to lose the investment of time and money you’ve put into any concrete construction by having to redo the area every several years because of damage, cracking or other problems that could simply have been avoided by the addition of concrete sealers.

The application of concrete sealer will actually strengthen and add protection to any concrete surface. They serve to create a water-proof film over the surface of the concrete or act as an effective seal for the pores of the concrete to prevent them from absorbing any liquids spilled onto their surface.

But concrete sealers can also do a lot more than simply protect any exposed concrete surface. By applying concrete sealer to concrete driveways or garage and basement floors, you eliminate the problem of moisture seepage that tends to weaken the concrete and damage its appearance. Concrete sealers can also help prevent the appearance of white powder, flaking and scaling on the surface as well as reduce the occurrence of unsightly cracking and splitting of the concrete surface. Concrete sealers will also help to strengthen the concrete against pitting and crumbling and provides an effective barrier against the formation of molds and mildew within the concrete which often leads to odor problems particularly if the concrete is located in an enclosed space.

Driveways in particular are exposed to all sorts of liquids and chemicals such as oil drips and de-icing salts. Extremes in temperature can also create a freeze and thaw pattern that can weaken concrete that has not been treated with a sealer.

When shopping for a concrete sealer, there are several types to consider depending upon whether it will be applied outdoors or indoors and how much penetration protection you need. Water-based epoxy sealers, epoxy penetrating sealers and urethane sealers each have decided advantages depending upon your needs. Every exposed concrete surface can benefit from an application of concrete sealers.

Today’s garage is more likely to serve double-duty as a workshop for the do-it-yourselfer in the family in addition to being a parking place for the family’s automobile. All the more reason to considering applying garage floor sealer to preserve and protect this much-used and heavily trafficked space. How do you choose the right one?  Through research.

The garage floor is subjected to a variety of substances which can stain it, including gasoline, oil, antifreeze , de-icing salt and other grime carried onto it by your car wheels. Because concrete floors are porous, these substances can not only discolor your floor, they can also cause it to crack, weather and deteriorate. A garage floor sealer not only protects the garage floor from damage, it also enables you to walk and park onto a smooth, attractive surface that resists slipping and staining.

Epoxy concrete sealers are among the most popular for the durable finish they offer. There are many garage floor sealers available that include a non-slip additive as one of their ingredients, and this makes your garage floor a safer environment especially when the floor gets wet.

Garage floor sealers are tailor-made for the do-it-yourselfer as they are easy to apply so long as your prepare the surface properly and follow certain directions. Garage floor sealers require a thoroughly clean surface so that they will adhere properly, so sweep over your garage floor with a heavy broom and then use a commercial oil degreaser to remove any existing grease stains.

After the garage floor has been washed and brushed, be sure it’s completely dry before applying garage floor sealer. Because garage floor sealer contains chemicals that can prove toxic if splashed onto the skin or inhaled, it’s important to wear protective gloves, eyeglasses and clothing, including a mask while applying the sealant. Also make sure the area is well ventilated. Keep the garage doors fully open or bring in a fan for ventilation. You can make your sealant more colorful by adding a little bit of acrylic paint to the mix prior to the application.

It’s important to apply the sealer evenly with a long-handled roller brush, working from the farthest corner of the room all the way to the exit door so that you don’t have to track over the freshly applied sealant while it is drying. Take care that there is no area of the floor where the sealer is too thickly or thinly applied.

Garage floor sealer takes as much as three to four days to completely dry, so plan your sealer application project over a long weekend or a time when you won’t need to use the garage for parking or workshop projects.

Without a coating, concrete floors will become stained, and also chip and crack over time. There are different types of floor coating for protecting concrete.

Epoxy concrete floor coating can be applied to a new floor or used to fill in chips and cracks in an old one. Epoxy floor coating comes as a primer and a topcoat. The epoxy topcoat can be clear or pigment can be added to it; decorative flakes can also be added. It provides a smooth surface. There is also the option of adding an epoxy stipple coat over the topcoat, which provides a surface much like an orange peel. Epoxy floor coating is resistant to automotive fluids and chemicals. It takes about three days to set up. Epoxy floor coating is often used in hospitals, detention centers, factories, and warehouses.

A concrete floor urethane sealer can also be used. Urethane sealers are high-gloss. They also involve putting down a primer and a topcoat. The topcoat is clear, but pigment may be added. Urethane sealers are also resistant to automotive fluids and chemicals, and they take about three days to set up. Urethane sealers are often used in retail stores and showrooms.

Although epoxy floor coatings and urethane sealers are largely used in industry, you can purchase epoxy kits for your garage that include a degreaser, topcoat, and decorative nonskid flakes. Measure your square footage so you know how many to buy. The epoxy floor coating is fully set in seven days.

Another option for a concrete floor coating is oil-based enamel paint. It resists automotive fluids. It cleans up with soap and water. But moisture or heat from tires may lift it off the floor surface. Some experts advise that you never use oil-based paint on a concrete floor.

Stains can also be applied to concrete floors. Stains have the advantage of soaking into the concrete instead of sitting on the surface of the floor. However, they don’t stand up to snow and rock salt well. For that reason, they’re used more in the South than any other part of the country.

Whichever concrete floor coating is used, it’s important to prepare the floor before applying it. The floor needs to be as clean and dry as possible. Use a degreaser, and, if necessary, a pressure washer. Remove all peeling paint. Give the floor several days to dry out. That way, all your work will pay off.

If your goal is to keep your concrete surfaces as good looking as the day they were poured, investigate the benefits of concrete sealer.

Concrete tends to be used around areas of the home where there is continuous heavy traffic, including garage flooring, porches, driveways, patios, sidewalks and stairways. Although concrete is a workhorse and provides a durable surface, its porous nature makes it easily absorb all sorts of spills ranging from motor oil and de-icing salt to bleach and gasoline. A combination of chemicals mars the surface of the concrete and makes it look old and dirty.

Since concrete also absorbs water, when the air temperatures turn freezing, there is a tendency for concrete surfaces to expand and then crack or crumble due to the expansion of water. What had been a strong smooth surface is now pockmarked or cracked, looking less than well cared-for.

Concrete sealer can come to concrete’s rescue when it comes to staining as well as chipping and cracking issues. There are numerous benefits to applying concrete sealer onto various concrete surfaces prior to any stain damage occurring and before the weather and temperatures turn cold and wintry.

When a clear concrete sealer is applied directly to the surface of concrete, it serves to seal out any moisture that concrete might otherwise absorb. Concrete sealer also provides a barrier against the absorption of damaging chemical spills such as oil, brake fluid, salt water, and such staining liquids as grape juice and wine in outdoor dining areas. The application of concrete sealer also protects concrete from the UV rays of the sun. Even regular day to day foot traffic won’t appear as noticeable on concrete flooring that has been treated with concrete sealer.

For the best results in using concrete sealer to provide protection against staining and cracking in areas using concrete, it is best to apply the sealer at least once every one to four years. Concrete sealer is easy to apply as often as necessary especially in high usage or high traffic areas, although protective gear and gloves are recommended during the spraying process.

Concrete sealer is a smart investment for any area featuring concrete, helping concrete surfaces to look cleaner, newer and more durable for many years to come.