An unsealed concrete driveway can be subject to wear and tear from various elements, such as spilled fluids, dirt, and daily foot traffic. It will eventually wear out the driveway making it unfit to use. However, home and business owners can utilise concrete sealing in Melbourne to give a new life to their driveways and prolong their lifespan. A good sealer will help protect your driveway from staining, fading, and cracking and give it a nice glossy finish. However, to get the maximum benefits of concrete sealing, it’s essential to approach the professionals. This article presents a step-by-step guide on how to seal your concrete driveway correctly so that you know what your concrete sealing company is up to. Before venturing into the steps for concrete sealing in Melbourne, let’s find out more about what concrete sealing is-

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What Is Concrete Sealing?

Concrete’s strength and durability make it an important building material. However, the porosity of concrete allows it to absorb water and soluble salts. Additionally, embedding steel in concrete to increase its strength causes salts, especially chlorides, to be absorbed by the concrete, eventually causing corrosion problems. Therefore, protecting concrete from the environment is vital to maintain its functionality over the long term. Applying a concrete sealer to new or existing concrete surfaces is a typical solution. Concrete sealer reacts with inorganic compounds in concrete to fill the pores and make liquid absorption almost impossible. Sealer life is an average of 2-3 years, but it varies greatly depending on the environment, type of surface, water repellency, and sealer used. Sealers are low viscosity, water or solvent-based. A technician applies the sealer using a low-pressure spray nozzle to coat the surface as evenly as possible. The sealer penetrates concrete and protects it without leaving too much visible material on the surface. The sheer nature of the sealer often results in lighter coverage than heavy coverage.

7 Steps to Seal the Concrete Driveway

Remove the Debris

Sweep and clean your driveway thoroughly. The step is essential because any tiny amount of dirt can prevent the sealant from sticking to the surface and will render gaps that can spoil the look and functionality of your driveway. The concrete sealing services in Melbourne remove every piece of dirt from the surface to seal it evenly and get the best finish.

Strip the Sealer From the Surface

If there is any existent sealer on the surface, professionals remove it entirely before applying a new coat. Sometimes it’s difficult to remove the sealer. Hence the professionals use power wash techniques to eliminate it from the surface and ensure that the new sealant bonds and performs its job well on the driveway.

Open up the Concrete

The concrete sealing professionals then move forwards to creating space for the sealant to flow into the driveway and coat it well. They use an etching solution that opens up the concrete to make way for the sealant and sticks to the surface.

Apply a Thin Coat of Sealer 

Once the surface is clean and smooth, it’s time to apply the first layer of sealer. The workers use a brush or roller designed for use with sealers and start in small sections. They will use tools such as a roller or sprayer for even coating so that there are no ripples on the surface when the sealer dries.

Let the First Layer of Sealer Dry

After the first coat, the sealer must dry off completely. This step is crucial because if we apply the second layer of sealer before the first one dries off, it can create wrinkles on the surface, and there can be gaps that will lead to the wear and tear of concrete. Therefore it’s essential to let the first layer of concrete sealant dry.

Apply a Second Coat 

Once the first layer is dry, the concrete sealing services in Melbourne or elsewhere apply the second coat of concrete. However, they follow a different pattern than the first layer. Instead, the workers lay the second layer of concrete sealer in the opposite direction. It’s because applying the sealer in the reverse direction helps to fill the gaps left when working the first layer. The second layer ensures no cracks, and the concrete has to be sealed all over it to protect against dirt, debris, chemicals, foot and vehicle traffic etc.

Allow the Sealer to Fully Dry 

Now you can walk and drive on your double-protected, robust concrete driveway that will last a lifetime without damage. However, before stepping on the surface, let it dry completely. Depending on the temperature and humidity, this could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. 

Final Thoughts 

Sealing your concrete driveway protects it from wear and tear and gives it a nice finished look. By following these steps, you can ensure that your driveway will be protected from damage and look great for years to come. Also, always reach for the best concrete sealing services for professional results. We recommend Premium Concrete Resurfacing, who have 25+ years of experience in the industry. They are always on top of their services in terms of team and technology. Whether it’s concrete sealing, grinding, polishing or resurfacing, they provide the best services for both residential and commercial complexes.