Best Concrete Driveway Sealer
Best concrete driveway sealer must have the ability to protect the driveway floor from water penetration deicing salts, thaw/freeze damage and harmful chemical spills?
Mostly I prefer to use penetrating driveway sealer as a concrete driveway sealant. I use penetrating sealer because it will penetrate down into the concrete pores and harden it. It is quite different from film driveway sealant which only seals the surface of your concrete floor. Usually the film sealant does not last long then wear off.
Another reason why I prefer penetrating sealer is it will solidify all the substrate of the concrete into a solid mass. It is all because the sealer reacts chemically by filling the entire microscopic voids. As a results you driveway will not absorbed oil, deicing salts, chemical spills and keep moisture away. As you know if that happen, it will eventually causing damage.
The frozen or expand water can pop up the surface layer of the concrete. It can happen when your driveway was not sealed correctly and the concrete does not have air-entrainment. When you apply penetrating cement driveway sealer, it will help to protect the driveway from very harmful materials and also keep the water on the surface so it will run off the edges.
The other great thing is the concrete driveway sealant does not form any skin on the concrete surface. It makes the concrete anti-slippery even when driveway is getting wet. It also allows moisture vapor transmission and protect the concrete floor from harmful of UV.
If you compare penetrating concrete driveway sealer with film forming sealer, you will find that penetrating concrete sealant is the best concrete driveway sealer. Once you apply penetrating concrete driveway sealer for the first time, it will last for about ten years. On the other hand, film forming sealer need to be apply regularly. In order to make it remain effective you need to apply it every 2-3 years. Some of film forming sealer can not make the moisture escape from the concrete. As results, it will lead to sealer bubbles and blisters.
Applying Best Concrete Driveway Sealer
Two methods that I usually use to apply a sealer are by sprayer and roller. I recommended to read the application guidelines from the manufacture. The things that you should remember is use a roller for water based sealers and use spray when you apply solvent based sealer.
Make sure you strive for maximum coverage when you applying the sealer with a roller or sprayer. The most common rate is 250 to 300 square feet/gallon. In order to get the best result, you need to apply 2 thin coats to avoid puddle and uneven areas.
As for maintaining the driveway, you need to do regular maintenance. Usually all you need to do is clean the driveway using a good soap and water cleaning. You can also do a light reapplication if it needed.
Best Concrete Driveway Sealer Buying Tips
My advice before you purchase any driveway sealer is make sure you read the technical data sheet and the product label. Usually every manufactures provide the technical data on their website. The phrase or words that you need to look are dust proofing, water proofing, non-yellowing, resistance to oil, breathability, acids and grease. The label will provide all information that you need and instruction on how to apply it. I hope this best concrete driveway sealer can help you to choose the best sealer.