What should I use to seal a concrete driveway? Concrete is one of the most popular materials to use on a driveway. Concrete is durable, strong and can last a lot longer than asphalt. Although it is more expensive than asphalt it is easier to maintain and does not have to be resealed as frequently if you choose the right concrete driveway sealer.
Concrete is a mixture of water, Portland cement and aggregate. Once mixed the concrete resembles a slurry and poured into forms with rebar or steel reinforcement. Additives and retarders may be added at the time of the pour to increase the strength or slow the drying time. Tools are used to float the concrete and make it smooth. Most concrete driveway are broom finished which means a broom is used to float the wet concrete.
As the concrete cures it hardens. Concrete does not dry out on its own but undergoes a slow chemical process that hardens it. If concrete is not properly cured it can lead to a number of problems including, cracking and dusting. A cure and seal can be used by a concrete contractor to speed up the curing process; keeping the concrete hydrated and protected.
Choosing a concrete sealer
About 30 days after a concrete driveway is poured the most important step is to seal it with a concrete sealer. The type of sealer you use will depend on the level of protection you are looking for, how often you are looking to reseal and your budget. A good concrete sealer will protect the concrete driveway from road salts, cracking, spalling and pitting. The best time to apply a concrete sealer is in the fall right before the winter season.
The average cost of a concrete driveway is about $6 per square foot. The average cost of a concrete driveway sealer is about $0.50 per square foot. Concrete driveway sealers are applied every few years and concrete driveways can last for 50 years.
Concrete sealer recommendations
Siloxa-Tek 8500: one of the best concrete driveway sealers we have reviewed. It is extremely DIY friendly and is easily applied. Click here for our in depth review.
Okon S-40: an affordable concrete driveway sealer from a trusted manufacturer. Click here for our in depth review.
What is the best sealer for concrete driveways?
After sealing over 20 driveways with countless concrete sealers we think the Siloxa-Tek line offers the best overall natural finish sealers for concrete. They offer a slip free surface, good stain resistance and excellent salt repellency. There are three products in the Siloxa-Tek line and although they are relatively more expensive than other products on the market, they have a high actives content, long lifespan and are easy to use and apply.
Our Pick: Our favorite product in the Siloxa-Tek line is the Siloxa-Tek 8510. It will resist staining from oils and greases, as well as protect from harmful deicing salts and chlorides while not changing the look or appearance of the concrete itself. In our tests, the high actives content of about 95%, equates to a lifespan of about five years before reapplication is necessary.
Limitations: The stain repellent additive in the Siloxa-Tek 8510 is able to withstand oil and grease staining; however, if left to sit for more than a few hours you will need to use a pressure washer to remove the stain. Pressure washing concrete treated with the Siloxa-Tek 8510 is safe and will not harm the sealer. Since the 8510 is penetrating it is still recommended that spills be cleaned up in a timely manner.
We also like: Like its name suggests, Prosoco Saltguard is a great option for cold weather climates that need protection from deicing salts and chlorides. It is also commonly used in salt air climates and works by reducing chloride penetration. Saltguard also protects against mud splashes and other waterborne contaminants.
Limitations: It is not readily available through big box distribution; however, specialty construction supply houses may sell this product.
In order to determine the best concrete driveway sealer you need to figure out what your driveway is composed of and what type of protection you are looking for.
Stamped concrete: Stamped concrete is typically used in southern parts of the country to add a decorative look to concrete driveways. Typically an integral color is used to make the concrete look like stone or brick. When it comes to sealing stamped concrete driveways you can use a decorative acrylic sealer that will add a gloss or a satin finish to bring out the colors, textures and patterns. Since acrylic sealers are topical in nature they need to be reapplied every year to every few years especially on driveway applications with vehicular traffic.
Pavers: Pavers are similar to stamped concrete in the way that a lot of time a decorative concrete sealer is used to darken and enhance the colors of the pavers. However, decorative sealers need to be reapplied every few years. If you are looking for a longer lasting option a penetrating concrete sealer can be used. Penetrating concrete sealers do not leave any sheen they leave a natural finish but are able to keep out water and harmful road salts from damaging the pavers.
Broom finished concrete: Broom finished concrete is the typical finish of concrete driveways. Broom finished concrete is usually sealed to keep out road salts, stains, mold and mildew. Penetrating concrete sealers are the best option to seal broom finished concrete as they will not change the look or the appearance but will provide the longest lasting protection. Penetrating sealers typically react chemically or impregnate the concrete to form a hydrophobic surface environment. This is turn keeps out the water which would otherwise normally carry salts and damaging substances which would in turn lead to cracking and spalling. Penetrating concrete sealers can also resist small stains from oils and greases and allow for easier clean up.
$8000 to $10,000 is the average cost to replace a concrete driveway. By using a concrete sealer on the driveway at time of installation you are essentially ensuring that you will not have to replace your concrete driveway after years of harsh deicing salt chemical usage, chlorides and freeze-thaw damage. When looking for a concrete driveway sealer the sealer you choose will depend on a variety of factors including concrete type, geographical location, and desired finish.
Concrete Type:
Stamped concrete – If you are looking to seal stamped concrete you are typically looking to enhance the colors and textures with a matte, satin or glossy finish. For this we would recommend looking for an acrylic based sealer or a silicone based sealer. Acrylics are available in either solvent based or water based varieties; water based acrylic sealers typically leave a satin finish whereas solvent based acrylic sealers typically leave a gloss finish.
Concrete – If you are looking to seal a concrete driveway you are really going to want to take into account your geographical location. If you are located in an area where deicing salts are used you are going to want to use a silane or silane/siloxane blend. If you are in a warmer climate where there are no freeze-thaw cycles and deicing salts are not used on the roadways you have a few more options. Silane/siloxane sealers are always excellent choices but are more expensive than other siliconate and acrylic based products. If you are looking for an economical options look for a concentrated silicate/siliconate blend and if you are looking for a decorative finish use an acrylic based product.
Pavers – Depending on the type of finish you are interested in you can use a silane/siloxane, acrylic or silicate/siliconate blend. If you are looking for a natural finish and/or if you are looking for deicing salt protection use a silane/siloxane product, if you are looking for a satin or high gloss finish use a water based or solvent based acrylic, and if you are looking for a natural finish and the most economical option use a silicate/siliconate blend.
Brick – Brick driveways are best sealed using a silane/siloxane blend. Because of the breathability of these sealers they will protect the bricks without any yellowing, flaking or peeling and the sealer will protect the bricks from efflorescence attacks.
Concrete driveways are susceptible to numerous problems if not sealed and left untreated. During the winter deicing salts and chlorides are used to treat roadways and bridges throughout the country. Vehicles unknowingly and knowing then track these salts into the driveway and over time the concrete begins to spall, pit and crack. By using a penetrating water repellent sealer water is kept out and all of the deleterious substances being tracked into the driveway are also kept out of the concrete. A penetrating silane/siloxane blend is the best type of sealer to use on a new or existing driveway because it is able to repel water, salts, chlorides and some even repel oil and automobile fluids like the Invisible Penetrating Concrete and Masonry Water Repellent Sealer Plus Oil Repellent. The upfront cost of sealing a driveway may initially seem steep but when compared to the price of resurfacing or replacing a driveway it is actually a small price to pay for a well protected and sealed driveway. Most silane/siloxane blended sealers leave natural finishes so they will not change or alter the appearance of the driveway. If you are not looking for an oil repellent sealer the Siloxa-Tek 8500 product is an excellent choice for deicing salt and waterproofing protection surpassing the National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s (NCHRP 244 Series II & IV) water absorption and chloride intrusion tests.
With the constant exposure to the elements, from rain, snow, salt and sun, driveways are continuously exposed and susceptible to damage. When looking for a concrete driveway sealer it is best to keep in mind where you live will effect the sealer you want to apply. If you live in the north, with snow and salt degradation major issues you want to look for a silane/siloxane blend sealer. Extremely durable solutions frequently used on municipality jobs, silane/siloxanes will help to prevent freeze-thaw damage and salt degradation. The higher percentage of solids of silane/siloxane the better the protection and the heftier the price. Make sure when purchasing a silane/siloxane you inquire about the percentage of solids and do not even bother with a less than 20% solids silane/siloxane.
If you are fortunate enough to live in a warmer climate where snow and salt degradation are not threats to your driveway and if your driveway is comprised of pavers or brick your best bet would be to use a high quality acrylic sealer. If you are looking for a decorative high gloss finish look for a solvent based variation and if you are looking for a matte finish look for a water based sealer. Make sure the acrylic is hot tire pickup resistant, non-yellowing and UV stable.
Our Take: Concrete Driveway sealers we like are Okon S-20 and Siloxa-Tek 8500 they are long lasting with a high percentage of solids.
- 1
- 2