Four Reasons To Seal The Concrete Around Your Home
Posted on: 22 January 2020
Whether you have a concrete pathway in the garden, a polished coloured kitchen floor or exposed aggregate on the patio, you'll improve the surface by applying a sealer. Read on to discover several reasons to reseal your concrete regularly.
Prevent Moisture Intake
Concrete is a porous substance, and without a sealer, water can penetrate inside. In regions with temperature extremes, exterior concrete is prone to cracking as the moisture within freezes and thaws. Penetrating sealers, such as silanes, silicates and siloxanes, seep into the cement, minimising water absorption. The surface of your driveway or path will retain a natural look as these products are invisible.
Enhance Its Beauty
As well as protecting your concrete, sealers can enhance the beauty of decorative concrete, bringing out its vibrancy. To improve these surface, apply topical sealers such as acrylics, polyurethanes and epoxies. These products create a protective film over the flooring. Create different looks by using various sheen levels, from matte to polished. Reserve epoxies for interior floors, however, as they are prone to yellowing under sunlight. You can apply a clear epoxy sealer or one infused with colour to intensify the existing hue of the cement.
Protect From Stains
Kitchen flooring, patios and driveways can all benefit from protection when it comes to stains. It's easy to spill food and drink items, or your car might leak oil. While it's always best practice to clean up spills promptly, sealers can help protect the surface. For indoor flooring with high traffic, epoxy or polyurethane sealers will provide the most robust resistance to stains and also scuff marks. Depending on the particular product, a softer acrylic sealer might need the additional help of a floor finish or wax.
Ensure Its Longevity
By looking after your concrete and regularly resealing it, as per expert recommendations, your concrete will look it's best for longer. Thus it will save you from replacing or resurfacing the flooring sooner than is necessary.
Heed expert advice when selecting a sealer to maintain your concrete surface as various sealers can be more appropriate for different applications. Penetrating sealers are ideal for outdoor environments, while topical acrylic and polyurethanes sealers are suited for indoors also. Epoxies are best reserved for indoors. If you have beautiful exposed aggregate, coloured or stamped concrete, use a sealer to enhance and bring out its beauty and intensity. Remember to follow the recommended frequency also to maintain the concrete over the long-term. Speak with someone who provides concrete sealing and resealing services in your area for more information.
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