Sealing Concrete Driveways

Concrete is defined as a medium used for building. Created from a mixture of broken stone or gravel, cement, water and sand which is then poured or spread into a mould and on hardening, the mixture forms a stone-like mass. Believe it or not, concrete is the most commonly used artificial material in the world and thanks to it’s high compressive strength, it can bear an enormous amount of weight without being crushed – making it a perfect medium for building, construction, pavements/sidewalks and driveways.

Why choose concrete?

The consistent growth of the Australian property market is compelling many current homeowners to seek low-maintenance ways to increase the longevity and curb appeal of their properties. Investing a little time and money into maintaining your property’s exterior surfaces will improve your home’s visual appeal and in addition raise it’s overall market value. There are a number of ways to increase your home’s appeal from the outside, yet the most obvious choice is your driveway.

Your driveway is not only the first thing that visitors will see when they walk onto your property, but it is also generally the most heavily used area. With that in mind, a durable yet visually appealing solution is required. It is natural to be overwhelmed by the abundance of possible building materials and ultimately, your choice should be determined by durability and longevity. It is also important that your chosen material can withstand your vehicles load while providing easy access.

What makes concrete better than other driveway materials?

Nowadays, concrete is not confined to that unsightly slate grey colour that we all know and hate, making concrete a more appealing option. Concrete is a strong, low-maintenance solution that can be enhanced for visual appeal and longevity by either a clear or coloured concrete sealer. If you prefer, you can opt to have your concrete coloured in the initial mixing process, but either way a coloured concrete driveway will add a decorative yet sturdy element to your house.

Gravel is generally speaking, a more cost effective alternative to concrete but in order for your driveway to look good and perform well, it requires regular maintenance for longevity and the strength of the gravel is questionable.

Bricks and pavers are undoubtedly a more attractive alternative to concrete, but incredibly high maintenance not too mention expensive. It is common for dirt and debris to sink it’s way into the cracks, making your driveway a breeding ground for weeds.

It is important to be aware that while concrete has few disadvantages, these still need to be factored in. Concrete has a low tensile strength, therefore if bent, cracking can occur. Reinforcing the concrete with other materials that are strong in tension usually solves this. The natural shifting of the earth can cause small cracks to occur. If these cracks are left un-repaired, the change in season will only enlarge these cracks and eventually you would have to re-surface your driveway.

Concrete also has low tolerance for thermal expansion, therefore concrete tends to shrink as it matures.

Maintaining your concrete driveway – to seal or not to seal?

A concrete driveway is an investment and you want ensure that you get what you paid for. Perhaps you already have an unsealed concrete driveway or perhaps you have recently had one laid – regardless, by sealing you are essentially extending the concrete’s life, improving it’s overall appearance, shielding it from the elements and providing protection from oil spills and other contaminates. Sealing your concrete driveway will effectively decrease the amount of time spent on maintenance and enhance the surface of the driveway by giving it a clean, polished look.

Ensure you preserve the life and appearance of your driveway by following a few simple guidelines.

1. Clean your driveway and re-seal as needed. Cleaning and re-sealing your concrete driveway on occasion will extend your driveways life and ensure that it always looks it’s best.
2. Remove stains immediately. Oil and other contaminates are likely to stain your driveway if they are not removed quickly.
3. Treat it with care. Remember that your driveway is an investment, and by maintaining it properly and treating it with care you are prolonging it’s life and adding value and curb appeal to your property.

What is the difference between coloured concrete and a coloured concrete sealer?

If you prefer, you can choose to enhance your driveway with a colouring agent. This is added to the concrete during the mixing process and by doing so, the concrete is already coloured when being laid. A clear sealer is then applied to enhance the concrete and increase longevity.

A coloured concrete sealer is essentially just a tinted sealer, designed to provide your driveway with protection from the elements in addition to colouring the concrete.

By choosing a coloured concrete driveway, you are providing your home with a unique, eye-catching feature that will not only withstand the harsh Australian elements but also enhance your homes curb appeal.

Before the sealer has been applied, the surface of the concrete must dry for a 24-hour period. If the concrete has not had 24 hours to dry, moisture can be trapped under the sealer resulting in whitening or clouding of the concrete and a reduction in the lifespan of the sealer. If you desire a coloured sealer, the colour that we use is combined with the sealer – penetrating the concrete surface, unlike paint, which is prone to peeling, flaking and chipping.

We are located in Penrith, NSW and currently service the Penrith, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains areas. We are dedicated to providing the very best service and that is why, unlike our competitors we will pressure clean on the first day and seal on the next. Our great range of Australian owned & made products is complemented by state of the art equipment.