Sealers for Concrete

Concrete Sealer has become an essential part of almost all concrete finishes. It is widely used as a curing agent for new concrete and a protective barrier for existing concrete. Almost all concrete contractors use concrete sealer instead of the old school curing methods, and for for decorative concrete its like putting icing on a cake. It's the final step that makes the appearance pop.

When fresh concrete is placed, sealer is applied to the surface (best when done immediately) to trap moisture. This keeps the surface from drying or curing too fast. When the surface cures too fast, a weak bond is created between the surface and the rest of the concrete and greatly increases the risk of scaling down the road.

The other main purpose of concrete sealers is to protect the surface after it has cured. Although concrete is known for it's strength and durability, it doesn't last forever. Keeping a coat of sealer will significantly increase it's lifespan and keep it looking good.

Sealers protect against the elements, especially in harsh climates where there are many freeze and thaw cycles throughout the year. When water penetrates the surface and freezes, it expands and breaks apart the concrete resulting in scaling and spalling. Sealer creates a barrier that is impermeable to water and those harmful deicing salts.

Sealer also protects the surface from any chemicals, especially acids, that may be spilled and makes cleanup easy. Any spills can be easily mopped or rinsed away. One of the biggest benefits of sealer is stain prevention. It can prevent those hideous oil stains on driveways and garage floors, rust stains from aging patio furniture, grease stains from dripping grills, or those nasty black and green molds. With Sealer, non of these can penetrate the surface which keeps your concrete looking clean.

If you have decorative concrete, whether it's stamped, colored, exposed aggregate, etc. it's pretty expensive work and you want to protect your investment and make it last as long as possible. The only solution for this is concrete sealer. Even if its just plain old concrete, nobody likes to see chipped, scaled, ugly stained concrete, So don't let that happen to your concrete.