Getting the Best Concrete Sealers for Your Driveway
Driveway sealing is a necessity. Doing this will keep the concrete from forming fissures and getting discolored. Concrete sealing makes easier the cleaning of oil or gas spills on the driveway. Concrete driveway sealers come in different kinds, so it is important for you to assess which one best fits your needs.
The two broad categories of concrete driveway sealers can be organized into subcategories. By looking at the clear distinction between a sealer for penetration and a sealer for surface application, you will know which one to choose. A penetrating sealer can reach deep into the concrete for about a quarter of an inch to four inches, while a topical concrete sealer is limited only to the driveway surface.
A penetrating sealer is useful in covering holes within the concrete. This sealer provides optimum protection and preserves the concrete longer than a topical sealer can. Topical sealer, on the other hand, costs less, yet provides ample fortification. Unfortunately, the driveway would have to undergo resealing more regularly since topical sealer does not last as long. Still, the application of the sealer is as effortless as painting.
Upon choosing a penetrating sealer, you must identify which among a silane, a siliconate, and a silicate sealer you are to use. Silane concrete sealers are known for lasting as long as five to year years. However, it is the most costly in the long term since you would need to make very frequent use of it. A silane sealer also darkens the color of the concrete. The ability for silicate sealers to permanently fuse with concrete make it a great seal. One disadvantage is that it does not easily penetrate smooth surfaces. Since it favors rougher concrete more, it would not be suitable to use for a driveway. A siliconate driveway sealer is the best choice you could probably have. Its ability to fit well with concrete also makes it a quality seal. One benefit it gives is that it can be used to both maintain and repair the driveway. Therefore, the sealer may be applied on the driveway the same day it had been installed.
In getting a topical driveway sealer, there are also several varieties to choose from. Silicone sealer is the most inexpensive, and it does not do a good job on driveways. It is not as durable against scraping and grazing, which is why its effects are not long-lasting. Acrylic sealers have a longer-lasting hold and can therefore last for about five years. The value it will provide will makes it to be a price worth paying. Last but not the least, we have polyester sealer as another choice. Since it offers better quality than acrylic, it will come out to be more expensive. Alas, paying such a considerably higher price for a little more protection will not be worth it.