Home › OnCall Tips › Why Sealing Concrete Matters
Why Sealing Concrete Matters.
New concrete is not finished when the truck leaves. Sealing protects the surface from water, freeze and thaw cycles, salts and wear, and it is the cheapest insurance a patio or driveway can buy.
What sealing actually does
Concrete looks solid, but the surface is full of microscopic pores. Water enters those pores, and in central Indiana that water freezes and thaws dozens of times every winter. Each cycle expands inside the surface and lifts a little of it away, which is where pitted, flaking driveways come from. Sealing matters because it:
- Helps reduce water intrusion
- Helps protect against freeze and thaw exposure
- Helps resist salts and contaminants
- Helps preserve the appearance of the concrete
When to seal
New concrete needs to cure before it is sealed, which is why sealing is scheduled after the appropriate cure time rather than the day the finishing crew leaves. Existing concrete can usually be cleaned and sealed in a single visit, and resealing on a maintenance cycle keeps the protection working.
The salt problem
Deicing salt is the fastest way to age a concrete surface. It lowers the freezing point, which multiplies the number of freeze and thaw cycles the surface goes through, and the chemicals attack the paste that holds the surface together. A sealed surface resists both effects, and choosing sand over salt near new concrete helps even more.
What OnCall does
Concrete sealing is one of OnCall's outdoor living services, for concrete we placed and for concrete you already have. Every new OnCall patio includes sealing options after the appropriate cure time, because protecting the slab is part of the standard, not an upsell.
Frequently asked questions.
How often should concrete be resealed?
It depends on the product used, sun exposure and traffic. It is specified with the work rather than guessed.
Can an old, already pitted driveway be sealed?
Sealing will not undo existing damage, but it can slow further deterioration. Whether it is worth it depends on the surface, which is a quick onsite answer.
Rather just have it handled?
Send the project over and OnCall takes it from there.
One Call. We Handle It All.