Concrete driveways are of course very popular, with high durability being a leading reason why. That being said, they are not totally perfect, especially in terms of moisture and stain resistance. One thing that may be beneficial is to seal your concrete driveway.
There are both pros and cons to consider when it comes to sealing a concrete driveway. With that, let’s figure out what exactly they are, and whether or not you should do it.
Pros of Sealing a Concrete Driveway
First off, let’s take a look at all of the advantages that come your way when you decide to seal your concrete driveway.
#1: Increased Moisture Resistance
One of the biggest advantages that you get by sealing a concrete driveway is that its moisture resistance will be greatly increased. Plain concrete is extremely porous and will absorb a whole lot of moisture. That moisture will end up causing damage such as erosion. Moreover, if it gets cold outside and that moisture freezes, it can expand and cause the concrete to crack and fall apart.
Concrete sealant will help prevent moisture from being absorbed and will therefore help increase its overall lifespan and durability. It will save you some time you would otherwise have to spend on fixing the cracked concrete.
#2: Increased Stain Resistance
Concrete is very prone to being stained by various fluids, mainly oils, gasoline, and other such automotive fluids. If something like oil stains your concrete driveway, that stain is never going to go away.
However, the right concrete sealant can make concrete much more stain-resistant. For one, things like oil and gas won’t really stick to the surface. Second, if they do, they will be much easier to clean. This both helps to maintain the lifespan of and add aesthetic appeal to the concrete driveway.
#3: Increased Weather Resistance
Yet another advantage that you get by sealing your concrete driveway is that it will have increased weather resistance. This is true whether we’re talking about extreme heat or cold, or extreme dryness or humidity.
In terms of weather resistance, yes, the resistance to moisture and extreme cold, particularly when it comes to the problem of freezing and thawing, is a very big deal no doubt. Weather can take a huge toll on concrete, but sealing it can help prevent this from occurring.
#4: Increased Wear Resistance
The next advantage that you get from sealing your concrete driveway is that it will feature increased resistance to wear and tear. You might not think that driving over your driveway once or twice a day with your vehicle is going to cause it to wear down, but with that being said, concrete is just not all that tough, at least not as tough as some might think.
Sealing your concrete driveway can help prevent physical damage from occurring. No, it won’t stop your concrete driveway from cracking if you drop a thousand pound brick on it, but it will definitely help prevent minor damage from occurring.
#5: Increased Aesthetic Appeal
The fifth and final advantage that you get from sealing your concrete driveway is that it can help increase the aesthetic appeal of it. In other words, depending on the concrete sealant you get, you can make your driveway look much better.
There are various styles, colors, and other options to go with, mainly in terms of texture.
Cons of Sealing a Concrete Driveway
There are of course also some downsides to sealing a concrete driveway as well, so let’s take a look at these.
#1: Decreased Traction
Right off the bat, one of the major downsides to sealing a concrete driveway is that you may very well reduce the overall traction that you get on it. Concrete itself is very porous, but when you put a sealant on it, which is why it becomes much more water-resistant, it will become much smoother. Of course, the smoother it is, the less traction it will feature.
This can be a problem in wintertime when there is snow and ice involved. However, with that being said, there are special options to go with, such as concrete sealers that feature special textures that can help prevent slipperiness.
#2: Possible Health Concerns
Something else you need to be aware of here is that most concrete sealants are extremely harsh, poisonous, and dangerous. Generally speaking, you need to wear gloves, respirators, goggles, and other such protective gear to protect yourself from these dangerous chemicals. They’re definitely not safe to use around pets or kids, and they won’t help protect the environment either.
For all of the advantages that concrete sealers come with, they definitely aren’t eco-friendly, not in the least.
#3: Not Possible to Do on Fresh Slabs
Another major disadvantage that you need to be aware of here, or at least a big-time inconvenience, is the fact that fresh concrete takes up to a full month to cure. As the concrete is curing, you cannot yet seal it. This means that you need to wait a full month to seal your concrete driveway after having poured the slab.
No, it’s not a major disadvantage but it’s definitely not convenient.
#4: Requires Periodic Resealing
The final disadvantage that you need to take note of here is the fact that resealing will need to be done every few years. The unfortunate reality here is that concrete sealants do fade and wear down over time. Generally speaking, you can expect them to last for three to five years but no longer.
Yes, this means that there is a bit of added work involved, but seeing as concrete sealants make your driveway much more durable and weather-resistant, we do think that it is worth the time and money invested.
Should You Seal Your Concrete Driveway?
When we weigh the list of pros and cons against each other, it is pretty obvious that the pros far outweigh the cons. A concrete sealant will make your driveway far more durable, wear-resistant, moisture-resistant, weather-resistant, and stain-resistant. Sure, working with sealants requires taking certain precautions and they require a bit of added maintenance in terms of resealing requirements, but that is about it.
The bottom line here is that sealing your concrete driveway can help you save a whole lot of money over the long run. If you are convinced, make sure to check my list of recommended concrete driveway sealers.
Summary
When it comes down to it, even though there are a few cons that come your way with sealing a concrete driveway, the simple reality is that your driveway will look better and perform better, especially over the long run.
For you, when all has been said and done, this means saving time, money, and your own sanity.