Sometimes areas around our houses that we see every day become invisible to use. If there isn't a current problem then we tend to keep it out of mind even though it may be in our vision every day. One area that you have probably never considered is your concrete driveway. Do you know what you should be doing to protect it from wear and tear? Maybe you should find out before it is too late.
Once the time comes to re-seal your driveway, it is a must that you check out the different options available. Many people will consider using epoxy based products but the standard kits do not work great on driveways because epoxies are vulnerable to radiation caused by UV rays. This leads to their early degradation. This means that the light coming from the sun can make the coating fail and come off. If you want a concrete driveway sealer, then you should check out the products that are based on acrylics and polyurea. For light traffic and pedestrians, the acrylic is a good choice but, if your driveway has to endure heavy traffic, you should go for the more expensive one which is based on polyurea.
One of the things to always remember when you are applying any type of sealer is that the sealer cannot function very well if the surface is not absolutely cleaned. An absolutely clean floor should have all dirt and grime swept up. Aside from this, it is a must that you remove any form of contamination caused by oils spots or stains on the concrete. Petroleum contamination is, in fact, the main reason why the concrete sealer fails to adhere because it mucks up the boundary so the coating cannot permeate and bond with the molecules of the concrete.
The best way to have an absolutely clean driveway is by first using a pressure washer to push away all the dirt and road grime. Then the next thing to do is apply a degreaser of good quality onto the surface. You can get these in powder form or liquid but the powder seems to scrub better. With the help of a stiff bristled floor broom, you next scrub the whole floor area and spend extra attention on areas where there are oil spots and stains. When you are done scrubbing the area with the degreaser, you use a power washer or hose to wash off all the leftovers. Then, you should let the floor become totally dry before you start applying the coating.
Be sure the concrete is dry and then you can roll out the coating using a ½" nap roller or brush. Once the product has been applied be sure to keep all animals and kids off of it for at 18 hours in order for it to cure properly.
