How Long Does Concrete Driveway Sealer Last? (Comprehensive Explanation!)
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How Long Does Concrete Driveway Sealer Last?
Penetrating Concrete Driveway Sealers last 7 – 10 years. Acrylic Topical Concrete Driveway Sealers last 1 – 3 years. Epoxy or Polyurethane (PU) Topical Concrete Driveway Sealers last 5 – 10 years.
So, How Long Does Concrete Driveway Sealer Last? Typically, manufacturers do not specify a life for Topical Concrete Sealers as life depends a lot on the severity of vehicular traffic & weathering.
What Are the Different Types of Concrete Sealers?
The different types of Concrete Sealers are classified, first by how they function and then by the key resin system used.
Penetrating Concrete Sealer
A Penetrating Concrete Sealer penetrates into the capillaries of the porous concrete slab, reacts with the free lime & calcium and blocks the pores from within. To do so a Penetrating Sealer must use resins with very small molecular structures.
Penetrating Sealers can either use a “Densifier & Hardener” approach or a “Water Repellant” approach. The penetrating sealer for concrete driveway must use the “Water Repellant” approach based on Silicone (ex. Silane, Siloxane, Siliconate) chemistries.
As penetrating sealers do not form any film on the concrete surface, they do not get abraded by traffic, pressure washing or weathering. However, penetrating sealers within gets depleted as the top layer of the concrete driveway gets abraded by traffic, pressure washing or weathering.
The life of Penetrating Concrete Sealers is 7 – 10 years.
Topical Concrete Sealer
Topical Concrete Sealer does not penetrate into the concrete at all. It adheres to the concrete surface and forms a film. In essence, a Topical Concrete Sealer, is just a clear (no pigmentation) paint or a coating with some special properties.
The life of a Topical Concrete Sealer depends directly on the type of resin used and the abrasion severity of the traffic and weathering.
Topical Concrete Sealers tend to use Acrylic Resins. However, Topical Concrete Sealers with Epoxy or Polyurethane resins are also available.
Acrylic Resin Topical Concrete Sealer
Acrylic Resin Topical Concrete Sealers are single pack products and can be Water Based or Solvent Based. They are clear but will darken the concrete driveway surface. They come in several finishes ranging from matt to high gloss and even wet look!
Typically, Solvent Based Acrylic Topical Concrete Sealers have a better performance and life. However, they also have higher VOC and are more difficult to apply. Homeowners tend to prefer Water Based Acrylic Sealers for their concrete driveways on account of ease of application and cleaning up.
The life of Acrylic Resin Topical Concrete Sealers is 1 – 3 years.
Epoxy or Polyurethane Topical Concrete Sealer
Epoxy or Polyurethane Topical Concrete Sealer are two pack products consisting of a base and hardener. These sealers are a lot more hard wearing than Acrylic Sealers.
Polyurethane chemistry is better suited to sealing a concrete driveway as:
- Polyurethane is more flexible than Epoxy
- Polyurethane has higher scratch resistance than Epoxy
- Polyurethane resists crack propagation better than Epoxy
- Polyurethane has a much higher UV resistance than Epoxy
- Polyurethane has better gloss retention than Epoxy
The life of Epoxy or Polyurethane Resin Topical Concrete Sealers is 5 – 10 years.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
The Best Sealers for Your Concrete Driveway or Patio
A topical sealer is essential for protecting concrete surfaces from water permeation that can damage the concrete from within and compromise its lifespan.
I highly recommend Foundation Armor Concrete Sealers. Pick the one that best meets your aesthetic and application preference.
Is Concrete Sealer Permanent?
No. Concrete Sealer has a life and can not be permanent. It gets depleted from natural wear & tear.
As you can imagine, a concrete driveway sees a lot more wear & tear because:
- It is in exterior space and exposed to the elements such as UV radiation, sandstorms, rain, sleet, snow, etc.
- It bears the brunt of vehicular traffic. Tires abrade a fair amount of the topical sealer and the top layer of the concrete (that contains the penetrating sealer), every time the vehicle is driven on the driveway.
- Pressure washing is abrasive as well!
How Long Does It Take for Concrete Sealers to Wear Off?
Acrylic Topical Concrete Driveway Sealers may last just for a season, if there is fairly heavy traffic. If the traffic is sparse it may still be effective after 3 years.
Epoxy or Polyurethane (PU) Topical Concrete Driveway Sealers are rarely used by homeowners. They can withstand abrasion for 5 – 10 years, but are not very cost effective. The cost is high and they are not easy to apply on a long concrete driveway.
Penetrating Concrete Driveway Sealers will only wear off when the top layer of the concrete wears off. This can take 7 – 10 years.
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
