Concrete Sealer FAQs
Sealing your concrete is one of the absolute best ways to protect and preserve it. When concrete is left unprotected, it can cause irreversible and unsightly damage. While it is an easy decision to have your concrete sealed, you likely still have questions about everything it entails.
Our goal with this post is to make sure you have what you need to make informed decisions going forward. Whether you are looking to apply a concrete sealer, need information on the longevity of sealers, or simply want more information on the types of sealers, we’re here to answer those concrete sealer FAQs.
How does concrete sealer work?
Concrete sealers are applied to surfaces for protective purposes. The chemical makeups of sealers provide certain utility and qualities for different concrete surfaces.
What does concrete sealer do?
Concrete sealers are designed to protect surfaces from internal and external damage. Whether the sealer protects internally or externally is dependent on the type you choose.
How do you apply concrete sealer?
A concrete sealer is generally sprayed or rolled onto the surface, but the application is dependent on the type of sealer you choose.
What is the best sealer for concrete?
The best type of sealer for porous surfaces (poured concrete, paver stones, brick) is a penetrating siloxane sealer. The best sealer for nonporous surfaces (stamped concrete) is a glossy acrylic/topcoat sealer.
What type of sealer do you use?
Perfect Power Wash uses a proprietary siloxane sealer.
What is siloxane sealer?
Siloxane sealer is a penetrating sealer designed to enter the pores of the concrete and strengthen it from within. Our proprietary sealer helps protect from cracking, chipping, spalling, and pitting caused by the freeze-thaw cycle that concrete in the Midwest is susceptible to.
What types of concrete is sealer used on?
Sealer is used on all types of concrete, but it is not recommended to attempt to seal asphalt. The type of sealer you use all depends on what type of concrete you are looking to have sealed.
When is the best time of year to seal concrete?
There is no bad time of year to have your concrete sealed. Our siloxane sealer generally has a life of about two years, so it is made to get through a couple of cycles of the four seasons.
How long does concrete sealer take to dry?
It varies, as there are so many different types of sealers. It often takes longer with more square footage involved.
How long before you can drive on a sealed driveway?
With our siloxane sealer, we recommend waiting until the driveway appears to be dry. It begins penetrating the pores of the concrete immediately, so it is often fully sealed within a couple of hours. We always recommend exercising caution based on your preference. With an acrylic sealer, you generally need to wait up to 48 hours before safely driving on it.
Is concrete sealer visible?
Our sealer is not visible as it penetrates the pores of the concrete and protects from within. A glossy acrylic sealer darkens the concrete and has visible differences than unsealed concrete. While a glossy topcoat sealer darkens and gives a new shine to concrete, it can trap stains if not washed beforehand.
How long does concrete sealer last?
Perfect Power Wash’s proprietary siloxane sealer lasts about two years, and that is based on the beating a concrete surface in our region takes on a yearly basis. An acrylic sealer generally lasts around three years, but it tends to wear pretty unevenly over time.
Sealing Your Concrete with Perfect Power Wash
We hope these answers to our concrete sealer FAQs were what you needed. At Perfect Power Wash, we have been consistently setting the industry standard with our processes and equipment. Having said that, we are constantly looking to improve and grow. For example, last year we improved the siloxane content of our sealer by 50% to provide the most protective penetrating sealer on the market. When it comes to protecting your porous concrete surfaces, the pros at Perfect Power Wash have you covered. Click below for a free quote!