How often should I seal my driveway?

Concrete sealers are great products for increasing the longevity of concrete elements like concrete patios, driveways, pathways and more. There are various types of concrete sealers on the market today, from penetrating sealers, to acrylic surface sealers, and more! 

Picking the right concrete sealer for your driveway comes down to selecting a product that is going to ensure your concrete is both aesthetically pleasing, and provides the necessary weather-proofing characteristics that you need. Depending on the concrete product, the frequency of application concrete sealing comes down to such factors as the type of product that is going to be utilized, the amount of traffic on the concrete, and the general aesthetic that you are looking for in your concrete.

Different concrete sealers have different aesthetics, and can totally transform the look and feel of any number of concrete elements, including patios, slabs, driveways, and stairs. 

Fresh Concrete Driveway: Actually best to seal a fresh concrete driveway in the first 12 to 48 hours of the curing process. Depending on the curing and sealing product, some are designed to help trap moisture(for curing), and others, to enhance aesthetics or both. That is not to say you cannot seal a concrete driveway long after curing, you can.

Acrylic sealers, which generally sit on the surface(think shiny gloss appearance), can be applied every 1 to 3 years. Keep in mind that the sub-sealer conditions, such as the presence of an existing sealer, can affect the installation of the subsequent sealer.

A penetrating concrete sealer may need to be re-applied every couple of years. As there is generally less of an aesthetic appearance noted with these products, follow manufacturer guidelines for re-application of the penetrating concrete sealer product. This can be done every 1-2 years.

Sealing a concrete driveway is essential to promote the longevity of the driveway. If you have a stamped concrete driveway or an exposed aggregate concrete driveway the sealing method should be done on a more frequent basis or as per the manufacturer’s suggestions. This is because a stamped concrete or exposed aggregate concrete has a higher level of aesthetic to achieve. Exposed aggregate concrete especially is prone to cracking, as the top of the concrete surface has essentially been chemically exposed. Repeat sealing allows for the surface of the concrete to have an adequate level of protection to reduce cracks from freeze-thaw processes.