Protecting Your Concrete

by | Aug 10, 2016

11220813_892904687503783_8462084325448614247_nProtecting Your Concrete

Does your driveway/sidewalks look like this? Give us a call 219.765.3690 to professionally seal your joints to prevent further erosion of your soil!
 
Keeping a good sealer on your concrete and commercial grade caulk in your cracks prolongs the life and look of the concrete. Sealer helps prevent the concrete from pitting or spalling (when small pieces of the surface come off). Horizontal concrete surfaces should be cleaned and sealed every few years to protect them from moisture and salt. ALL cracks should be sealed to prevent them from filling with water during rain. We recommend backer rod then commercial grade caulk. This will also form a seal to minimize drafts, soil erosion and insect infestation.  Don’t let your cracks look like this. CALL US for a free estimate and prepare yourself for Winter. Make your concrete happy!

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Whether you are having a beautiful new concrete driveway poured or you already have one, it’s important that you protect and maintain your investment.  A good sealer will keep your driveway looking great for many years, or rejuvenate an existing surface.  Sealing a concrete driveway can be compared to waxing your car, wearing sunscreen or spraying Scotchgard ™ on your favorite shirt.  A sealer will improve your driveway’s appearance, keep UV rays from causing it to fade and protect it from stains.

Stain protection is another benefit of sealing a concrete driveway. Your driveway will be subjected to many things in the great outdoors that can leave unsightly stains on the surface – leaves, dirt, fertilizer, pet urine, oil, tire tracks and much more. The right sealer will keep all of the above from penetrating the surface of the concrete and leaving an unsightly stain.

The third reason why you should seal your driveway is that it will reduce the change of freeze thaw damage. Freeze thaw damage can cause cracks or surface flaking and is caused by water penetrating the surface of the concrete and then expanding as it freezes. A sealer will keep water from sinking into the driveway.

In short, a sealer will enhance and protect your new or existing driveway. When properly sealed and/or resealed the service life of concrete is greatly extended. Experts recommend using a penetrating sealer outdoors because it sinks down into the concrete and has a more nature finish. It is very important that sealers used on exterior concrete allow both air and moisture to pass through.