The Pros and Cons of Sealing a Concrete Driveway

By ProMatcher Staff

Sealing Concrete: Pros and Cons

Concrete is a versatile and durable building material that will last year after year. A concrete driveway is a serious investment in your home. Applying a sealer to your driveway may help protect your investment. Read the article below to learn more about the pros and cons of sealing your concrete driveway

The Pros:

- Improves concrete’s ability to repel moisture

- Can add years to the life of the driveway

- Can help prevent cracks and frost heave

- May help prevent color fade

- Can provide some stain resistance

The Cons:

- More expensive, adds to cost of project

- Can become slippery

- Provides limited wear resistance

- Needs to be reapplied periodically

- Cannot be applied to brand new concrete

- Some sealers contain harsh chemicals

The Bottom Line:

There are two main types of concrete driveway sealers: penetrating sealers and film formers. Penetrating sealers will not typically change the appearance of the concrete whereas film formers will give concrete a glossy, wet look (even when it’s dry). When deciding to seal your driveway, keep in mind that a sealer cannot be applied to freshly poured concrete. You should wait at least a month for the concrete to fully harden and cure. Sealers are great for keeping unwanted moisture out of the concrete. This is especially important in areas where repeated freeze-thaw cycles may pose potential issues. Unfortunately, concrete sealers may make the driveway surface slippery.

Get Matched to Driveway Contractors

We hope that this information has been useful to you. Check out ProMatcher’s Concrete Cost Report for more information about the cost of sealing a concrete driveway. If you’re ready to start your project, request a free quote from one of our pros.

Related:

+ Concrete Driveway Installation Cost

+ Concrete Coating Cost

3 people found this article helpful. Have you?

About the Author

ProMatcher Staff, ProMatcher
Orlando, FL 32803

If you would like to re-print this article, please contact the author.

The Pros and Cons of Sealing a Concrete Driveway

About the Author

Related Topics

Other Related Topics