Your driveway acts as a designated place to park your vehicles, keeping them out of the street and out of the way. While many kinds of driveways exist, concrete is the most popular style. If you have a concrete driveway and want to increase its longevity, sealing it is your best solution.

Use this guide to learn the steps for sealing a concrete driveway and develop an understanding of why this area is an essential part of your home.

Why Seal Your Concrete Driveway?

Concrete is a porous material, meaning liquids like water can seep into it, so sealing it is crucial to prevent liquids from entering the concrete. When water and other liquids permeate into concrete and build up, they can weaken the material's bonds and start wearing away at the slab. Material breakdown due to water makes the concrete less stable and could result in poor structural integrity. Water in concrete can also encourage and contribute to mold and bacteria growth within the slabs, making the driveway more vulnerable to issues like cracks or shifting.

To prevent leaks and water permeation in concrete driveways, professionals apply a sealant on top after the concrete has been set and cured. Besides protecting your driveway's internal integrity, sealing the concrete also safeguards it from:

General and elemental wear and tear
Cracks
Abrasions
Color fading
Mildew and mold
Water damage
Flaking
Oil spills
Stains

Adding a layer of protection to your concrete driveway by sealing it will help you maintain its longevity and enjoy its benefits for a long time.

Can You Seal Your Concrete Driveway Yourself?

You can seal your concrete driveway by yourself, but you must educate yourself on the entire process to ensure you do it correctly. Often, it's better to have professionals handle the sealing because they have the proper knowledge, expertise and experience to complete the process efficiently and safely.

If you try sealing your concrete driveway without professional training or experience, potential issues could complicate the process, including:

Improper sealing techniques: If you're sealing your driveway for the first time, not having proper training or equipment could lead to misapplying the sealant. An incorrectly applied sealant doesn't work or last as long as it should. It could also leave an un-ideal appearance once dried.
Long-term problems: Inadequately applied sealant could lead to water seepage and cracks earlier than expected. If the first sealant doesn't work well or last long, resealing your driveway may require more time and money.
Safety hazards: Sealants contain chemicals that could harm your family or pets if ingested or breathed in. You may forget or be unaware of the safety risks of using sealant.

Ultimately, it's best to leave concrete driveway sealing to the professionals.

How to Prepare for Sealing Concrete Driveways

Before sealing a driveway, you must prepare for the process. Doing the following can maximize your time and efforts.

Clean the Driveway

Cleaning the driveway is crucial prior to sealing it. A deep cleaning of your driveway gets it ready for the sealer to adhere to the concrete. Pressure washing is suitable for ensuring the debris, dirt and grime are gone. Hiring a professional pressure washing team to deep clean your concrete driveway ensures the surface is ready for sealing.

If there are any cracks or holes in the concrete, you should also get them patched before having your driveway sealed.

Check the Weather

When deciding on what day or week to complete the driveway cleaning and sealing, it's vital to check the weather forecast. While you can't control the weather, you can be aware of the forecast and plan accordingly. Most sealers work best in mild or warmer temperatures, not falling below 50 degrees or exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, sealers and the rain don't mix. If it rains before the sealer can fully dry, the product will wash away and leave your driveway open to the elements.

Schedule your professional concrete cleaning and sealing for a week when the weather is supposed to be nice so your driveway has a better chance of getting a good seal the first time.

Find Temporary Parking Spots

Once the sealer is on, it can take upward of 48 hours for it to completely dry. Ensure you find other places to park your vehicles because your driveway will be out of commission until the sealer dries.

How to Reseal a Concrete Driveway

When it's time to seal or reseal your concrete driveway, following proper protocols can set you or your hired professional up for success. Once the concrete is clean, it must be dry before a sealer can go on it.

To seal a concrete driveway, the person completing the job will use their equipment, such as rollers, sprayers or brushes, to apply the sealer. The best method depends on the type of sealer used. Whether it's the first time or a reseal, applying two thin layers of the sealant is best to get maximum even coverage and durability.

The general process for sealing a concrete driveway includes the following:

Starting in small sections, apply the first thin layer of sealant while ensuring the application is even. If there is excess and you can't distribute it to another section of the driveway, use a rag to remove it.
Once the first layer is on, wait for it to dry. Drying times vary depending on the type of sealant used and the manufacturer's instructions.
After a few hours, determine if the driveway is ready for the second layer by checking if the first layer is fully dry.
Once the first coat is dry, apply the second thin sealant layer. To ensure the driveway has complete, even coverage, some professionals lay the second coat in the opposite direction, or perpendicularly, to the way they applied the first layer.
Let the final layer cure and dry for several hours, if not a whole day, before using your driveway.

After your concrete driveway is sealed, you can use it freely again. You know the sealant works when you see water beading up on top of the concrete instead of going into the ground. After the initial sealing, you can wait two to three years before resealing it.

What Concrete Sealers Does My Guy Services Use?

Contact My Guy Services for Driveway Sealing Services

Concrete cleaning and sealing will keep your driveway looking its best and functioning the way it should for a long time. When it's time to take care of your concrete driveway with professional driveway cleaning and sealing, you have a guy, My Guy! My Guy is here to extend a helping hand whenever you need a concrete driveway sealed or resealed. We serve residents in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.