Although house painter memphis is a solid matter, it is a porous material which means it absorbs liquids just like a sponge. Different liquid substances can seep into concrete from water to vehicle oil, greases and grime. Once the concrete has absorbed these liquids, it would be very hard to remove them. Sealing your concrete prevents liquid substances to penetrate its pores, ultimately prolonging the life of the concrete surface.
How do concrete sealers work as a protective barrier?
A concrete sealer changes the qualities of the concrete’s surface so that when water comes into contact with it, the water molecules form tiny blobs on the surface instead of penetrating it. Then, the water droplets just roll away from the surface. Sealing gives concrete the same protection against oils and grease so even these normally hard-to-remove stains become easy to clean. It also protects against de-icing salts so sealing is especially important on exterior concrete surfaces that go through freeze-thaw cycles. It also eliminates the problem of mildew penetrating the cement, which can leave black stains on the surface over time.
How does it affect the concrete’s appearance?
Sealers usually impart sheen to concrete surfaces drawing out the rich colours of decorative concrete. Any decorative concrete finish will look much better when sealed. Exposed aggregate concrete will definitely benefit from sealing because it enhances the beauty of the decorative aggregates (i.e. pebbles and small stones) in the concrete. A tinted sealer can be applied to a plain gray slab or decorative concrete to add colour. Regular application of a quality concrete sealer will make your concrete more resistant to fading and wear.
How often should concrete sealing be done?
There is no exact rule to this because several factors are involved, mainly the type and quality of the product you used, the location of the area and the conditions the concrete is exposed to. A sealer, depending on the exact product, may last from 1 to 3 years.
Basically, you should seal your concrete as soon as you notice the coating is starting to wear away. You should also reseal coloured concrete as soon as you see the need for it because delaying the work may result to a slight fading of colour.
You should consider traffic and weather factors. Naturally, concrete surfaces that get a lot of vehicle traffic and is exposed to sunlight will wear faster than, say, a covered concrete area with moderate foot traffic. This is why concrete driveways are normally sealed more frequently than patios or sidewalks.
