Outdoor floors like concrete and pavers need extra care. These materials are more prone to damage. Also, being exposed to both foot and vehicular traffic, the steps outside need to be sealed and coated. Today’s post gives you everything you need to know about the best seal coat for driveways, the benefits, and other essential facts to consider.
Seal Coat for Driveways Defined?
Driveways are commonly made of concrete, asphalt, or pavers and these are popular outdoor surfacings. Pavers and concrete have more benefits in terms of aesthetics.
But, whatever you got for your outdoor floorings, the steps made for driving need absolute protection. Watch out for the sun, soils, rainwater, ice during winter, rock salt from deicers, and of course oil and gasoline from cars. These are tough matters to deal with.
Thus, sealcoating protects the exterior floorings from damages brought by the alternating seasons and elements that mix on the surface. Seal coats for driveways come in many kinds. To give you a quick preview and familiarize yourself with some terms, we listed them below:
- Concrete Coat Sealers (top layer coat)
- Water-based Sealers
- Oil-based sealers
- Blacktop driveway sealer
- Acrylic or acrylic-resin Based Sealers
- Topical Sealers
Types of Seal Coat for Driveways to Choose From
You can identify different types of driveways sealers according to the surfacing material used. Concrete, paver, and asphalt are the standard driveway floorings.
Differentiating Concrete Driveway Sealers
There are two main types of concrete sealers.
One is the topical sealer. These include epoxy floor coating, polyurethane coats, and penetrating resins.
The second one is a concrete coat sealer. The concrete mix is used as a thin layer on top of existing outdoor flooring. This is usually called a top layer coat, which is applied in thin and smaller measures.
Topical Sealers
Topical sealers are specially made for concrete driveways. Their main function is to be a microfilm of thin coating that protects the top layer of the concrete.
- Epoxy coating: Epoxy makes a durable topcoat. The epoxy seals the concrete and protects it from moisture. This coating is what you will use if you are looking for a vapor barrier system on outdoor floors.
- Polyurethane coating: This sealer also has the moisture and vapor barrier act. Polyurethane is more popular as the quick cure coat that most find its use among garages and small area-sized driveways.
Penetrating Resin
Unlike epoxy and polyurethane, the penetrating resin is synthetic silicone, siloxanes, and silanes. These substances seep within the concrete layers. It is more specific with repelling chemicals and other contaminants that want to go down to the concrete’s pores.
Concrete Sealer
A pure mix of concrete used to seal driveway surfaces is called a top layer of concrete. The outdoor concrete floors can be finished with a top a thin coat of new concrete. It fills cracks, creases, and small holes to create a seamless surface.
Is it worth sealing the driveways?
If the concrete is for the outdoors, what are the sealers for? Is it not a waste if the sealers will only be exposed to harmful outdoor entities? The answer is a hard, solid YES!
Here are factors to consider why you need the benefits of sealcoating the driveways.
- Appearance
Enhanced curb appeal is the number one reason for maintaining and cleaning the driveways. It would be great if you made a good impression on your gusset and neighbors. It also adds to the pleasant look of the whole community and surrounding areas.
- Function
When you seal the driveway’s surfaces, you are protecting them from severe damage. It will save you from costly repairs. One product can cost from as low as $39 to $390.
The difference depends on what type. Penetrating sealers are the one relatively high priced.
- Safety
And last but not least. Sealers provide safety. It will be safe for your cars to roll on your entryways and the front of your house. They provide skid resistance by creating added traction, especially if you have an epoxy coating.
A top layer of concrete sealer also makes the driveway surface much tougher. A more natural finish can be applied on top of it, like etching or engraving—no need to brush over those expensive products. Stencils or stamps will also make a nice finish on the concrete top layer.
