Sealing Tips
Concrete
(plain, colored, aggregate, salt, washed and sand finish)
Sealing is not essential in many applications but it does offer some benefits.
Pro's:
1- Sealing intensifies colors and can give various concrete finishes (plain, colored , aggregate, salt, washed and sand finish) a low, medium or high sheen.
2- Sealant can protect concrete from UV rays, water and other natural elements, to keep the color fresh and similar to the day they were installed. Concrete will fade without sealing.
3- Sealing protects concrete against oil spills, tire tracks and other stains.
4- Sealing makes concrete easier to clean.
6- Sealing makes concrete tougher and more resistant to wear, by increasing it's surface density.
7- Sealing helps prevent efflorescence, that chalky white coating that sometimes appears on the surface.
Con's
1- Additional Expense
2- Requires repetitive applications (once every 1 - 3 years) to keep it looking new. Pressure washing will be necessary to prepare the surface for future coatings.
3- Must keep off while curing (1 - 3 days)
4- Sealers will add a slight sheen.
5- Sealers without a traction additive can reduce traction when wet.
6- If a section of the concrete needs to be replaced the new concrete will require sealing to match.
7- Dry weather is required before, during and after.
Stamped Concrete
Sealing is not essential in many applications (except "dust on color" ) but does offer some benefits.
Pro's:
1- Sealing helps to protect and preserve the secondary, dust on / release color added to stamped concrete.
2- Sealing intensifies colors and can give stamped concrete a low, medium or high sheen.
3- Sealant can protect stamped concrete from UV rays, water and other natural elements, to keep the color fresh and similar to the day they were installed. Stamped concrete will fade without sealing.
4- Sealing protects stamped concrete against oil spills, tire tracks and other stains.
5- Sealing makes stamped concrete easier to clean.
6- Sealing makes stamped concrete tougher and more resistant to wear, by increasing it's surface density.
7- Sealing helps prevent efflorescence, that chalky white coating that sometimes appears on the surface.
Con's
1- Additional Expense
2- Requires repetitive applications (once every 1 - 3 years) to keep it looking new. Pressure washing will be necessary to prepare the surface for future coatings.
3- Must keep off while curing (1 - 3 days)
4- Sealers will add a slight sheen.
5- If a section of the concrete needs to be replaced the new concrete will require sealing to match.
6- Dry weather is required before, during and after.
Masonry
Sealing is not essential in many applications but offers some benefits.
Pro's:
1- Sealing helps to protect and preserve natural and manufactured masonry elements.
2- Sealing intensifies colors and can give masonry a low, medium or high sheen.
3- Sealant can protect masonry from UV rays, water and other natural elements, to keep the color fresh and similar to the day it was installed. Most masonry elements will fade without sealing.
4- Sealing protects masonry against oil spills, tire tracks and other stains.
5- Sealing makes masonry easier to clean.
6- Sealing makes most masonry tougher and more resistant to wear, by increasing it's surface density.
7- Sealing helps prevent efflorescence, that chalky white coating that sometimes appears on the surface.
Con's
1- Additional Expense
2- Requires repetitive applications (once every 1 - 4 years) to keep it looking new. Pressure washing will be necessary to prepare the surface for future coatings.
3- Must keep off while curing (1 - 3 days)
4- Sealers will add a slight sheen.
5- If a section of the masonry needs to be replaced the new masonry will require sealing to match.
6- Dry weather is required before, during and after.
Pavers
Sealing is not essential in many applications but it does offer some benefits.
Pro's:
1- Sealing intensifies colors and can give pavers a low, medium or high sheen.
2- Sealant can protect pavers from UV rays, water and other natural elements, to keep the color fresh and similar to the day they were installed. Pavers lose their color without sealing.
3- Sealing protects pavers against oil spills, tire tracks and other stains.
4- Sealer that gets in-between the pavers helps hold the joint sand in place and resists mildew, insect attack and weed growth.
5- Sealing makes pavers easier to clean.
6- Sealing makes pavers tougher and more resistant to wear, by increasing their surface density.
7- Sealing helps prevent efflorescence, that chalky white coating that sometimes appears on concrete.
Con's
1- Additional Expense
2- Requires repetitive applications (once every 2 - 4 years) to keep them looking new. Pressure washing will be necessary to prepare the pavers for future coatings.
3- Must keep off while curing (1 - 3 days)
4- Sealers will add a slight sheen.
5- If a paver needs to be replaced the new paver will require sealing to match.
6- Dry weather is required before, during and after.
Asphalt
Sealing is essential in many applications and there are many benefits.
Pro's:
1-Sealing fills in the pores that exist between the aggregate protecting the surface.
2-Sealing reduces the impact of ultraviolet rays.
3-Sealing will reduce degradation of the asphalt increasing the life of your investment.
4-Sealing helps the asphalt hole on to its oils and aggregates.
5-Sealing will make the asphalt look better in appearance.
Con's:
1-Expense
2-Requires repetitive applications (once every 3 - 5 years) to keep it looking new.
3-Must keep off while curing (1 - 3 days)
4-Dry weather is required before, during and after.
EASTROCK LANDSCAPE
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Pro's and Con's of Sealing
