Concrete sealing

Your concrete, your finish

Walked first, then quoted

We’ll walk the area with you and talk through the finish you’re after before we quote.

Already need the concrete cleaned? See driveway and path cleaning.

What sealing does

Protection for outdoor concrete

Dulux Avista, a maker of concrete sealers, says unprotected concrete may crack, fade and stain over time. It says a sealer helps protect against fading and staining, and makes cleaning easier because dirt has a harder time soaking in. Some sealers can also be tinted to refresh the colour of tired concrete, and it makes a separate sealer for exposed aggregate driveways and paths. Its general purpose sealer is described as protecting against stains and UV damage.

Ask any provider how long the product is expected to last and when it will need doing again.

Gold Coast conditions

Rain, warmth and wet areas

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Gold Coast Seaway records show the coolest month, July, averaging 21.2 degrees by day and 12.1 at night. Outdoor concrete here is warm for most of the year and wet for a good part of it.

Where concrete gets wet, grip matters. Dulux Avista says a slip reducing additive can be mixed into the final coat of sealer. If the area is a path or a pool surround, ask about slip resistance before you choose a finish. Dulux Avista also lists crushed glass as an additive for a coarser, grippier texture.

Colour

Natural or tinted

If you want the colour of the concrete changed, ask whether the sealer is tinted and whether you can see a sample patch first. Dulux Avista describes a tintable base that is mixed with colour tints. Sealing can change how concrete looks, which is why a data sheet and a sample patch are worth asking for.

Which areas

Driveways, paths, patios and pool surrounds

Tell us whether it is a driveway, path, patio or pool surround, roughly how big it is, and whether it has been sealed before. A photo helps. We will walk the area with you before we quote.

Before you book

Questions to ask any provider

• What product is going on, and can I read its data sheet?
• What finish will it have: natural, satin or gloss?
• Is it slip resistant for wet areas?
• Does the concrete need cleaning first, and is that in the price?
• How long before I can walk or drive on it?
• When will it need doing again?
• Is it suitable for the surface I have, such as exposed aggregate?

Clean first

Grimy or stained concrete

If the concrete is stained or grimy, start with driveway and path cleaning. Looking after a floor inside the garage instead? See epoxy garage floors.