Sealing Your Concrete Driveway: Pro Tips And Mistakes To Avoid
Sealing the driveway is something that many people do not think about doing, despite how important it is. In fact, many people consider sealing a driveway to be one of the hardest tasks of maintaining a driveway. Sometimes, though, it is worth it to make sure that you are well informed about sealing driveways so that when you get around to doing it, your hard work will not go to waste. There are a few things that you will need to know about sealing a driveway, especially when it comes to concrete driveways.
Make Sure That the Driveway Is Clean
Sealing a dirty driveway is one of the worst mistakes you can make when it comes to sealing a driveway. After all, you are quite literally sealing in dirt and grime that is caught in the driveway when you seal an uncleaned driveway. Nobody wants this to happen. By making sure that your driveway is thoroughly scrubbed and cleansed, you can rest assured knowing that the sealed driveway will look better than ever by the time you are done with the sealing process.
Make Sure That the Weather Is Suitable
When you are working on sealing concrete driveways, you will want to make sure that the weather is nice and it’s sunny outside. Because sealing a driveway is a task that many people do not enjoy doing in the first place, it becomes even more important to ensure that you are getting the job done as efficiently as possible. Sealants almost always dry noticeably faster out in the sun than in cloudy, rainy weather. If you have the time and the foresight to do this, you should make sure that you take on the sealing project on days that are bright and sunny.
Make Sure the Area Is Tested
To make sure that the sealant you bought is the sealant you want for your concrete driveways, you will probably want to test out the sealant first. After you have cleaned the driveway, you should find a spot where you wouldn’t mind using a sealant that is potentially not what you want. In other words, finding an obscure corner of your driveway is often the best way to go about doing this. Apply the sealant and let it dry; if it is what you want in a driveway, then you can begin applying it to the rest of the property.
With that being said, you should also know what not to do when you are handling a sealing project.
Avoid Not Protecting Yourself
Sealants, because they seal concrete driveways, contain chemicals that should not be applied to people. This means that you should always, always shield yourself during the entire sealing process from the time you bring the sealant out and open it up. From having goggles on your eyes to having special clothes to keep the sealant from touching your skin, you should be protected from head to toe so that you do not apply the sealant to yourself. It is meant for the driveway and the driveway only.
Avoid Choosing the Wrong Sealant
Choosing the wrong sealant is something that can mean the difference between a beautiful driveway and a driveway that looks absolutely horrendous. Some sealants are designed to leave a glossy, shiny finish. Others are matte and are the exact opposite of the other sealants. If you choose a sealant that you do not like and you don’t realise it until you have applied it to your whole driveway, then you will be in for a sore surprise. This is where the importance of the testing phase lies and why you should always test out your sealant before applying it to your entire driveway.
Choosing a sealant and applying it is not as arduous as a process as many people think it is. There are a few things that you have to be wary of, such as a dirty driveway and the type of sealant that you bought, but as long as you know what you are doing and protect yourself, you will soon have a driveway that will be the highlight of your property. Simply make sure that you test out the sealant you bought before applying it to your whole driveway. Also, make sure that you are well protected and that the weather is optimal for sealant applications and you will be ready to go. Follow these tips and you will have a beautiful driveway for years to come.