concrete driveway sealer (Detroit: home, construction, contractor)

[yasv]

Hi ,
I was going to post this on the home forum, but thought it may help to post here because the weather conditions are similar around here (Detroit metro) .

Has anyone had their concrete driveway sealed and does it really help? Planning on getting mine redone this summer and some of the quotes I received had a "sealer" option for about $400-500 more.
They say it helps with snow/water damage etc.

Trying to get some opinions on whether it really helps - if anyone has any experience, I would appreciate any input.

Thanks for any help.

[MI-Roger]

The installing contractor will reap more benefit than you.


A sealer (i.e. curing compound) is sometimes applied to wet, freshly placed, concrete during extremely hot and dry summer conditions to prevent shrinkage cracking of the concrete. These cracks are fine spider web cracks which appear across the surface within the first two days of curing. Actually, it is very wise to apply curing compounds in hot, dry, and windy summer conditions. Without use of a curing compound you run the risk of the outer surface drying too quickly, cracking, and ruining the entire slab. In lieu of these compounds the slab can be covered with visqueen and top surface of the plastic kept moist by misting the plastic with a garden hose sprayer. Anything to slow the curing of the top surface.


Unless you apply insanely copious amounts of salt, the sealer will not provide any benefit. Since these sealers are usually water based you want to apply any sealer in Fall for salt protection. Otherwise it will all wash and wear away before winter arrives.


Member, American Society of Civil Engineers
12+ years of pavement management experience

[yasv]

Thank you so much for your reply and saving me some money ..I am going to pass

[MI-Roger]

Originally Posted by yasv

Thank you so much for your reply and saving me some money ..I am going to pass

If your contractor schedules this job for the middle of summer, you may want to specify the curing compound as an Owner's Alternate at time of construction. But since you are collecting proposals in February I am guessing this job will be completed in April or May, well before damaging heat arrives.

[Retroit]

No expert here but...If you will be home the day this is done and a few days after, I would recommend lightly spraying the concrete whenever it looks like it is starting to dry to slow the curing as MI-Roger mentioned. If you have a misting nozzle, even better. I wouldn't bother with the visqueen or sealer unless you will not be home.

[yasv]

Yes, I will be home and weather permitting, I plan to get this done in Spring. So hopefully it will not be hot ..although, looking at this week - who knows , it may be 100 degrees in May!

Thanks again.