It is very important to protect concrete driveways, particularly in areas of the country where a large amount of salt is used on the roads to clear ice or snow during the winter.
Salt eats into the concrete causing the surface to deteriorate and break up. The small nickel or quarter sized holes that appear are referred to as “pop outs”.
Once the surface has been damaged, the concrete will rapidly deteriorate. It is not practical to try and refinish concrete that has been damaged in this manner. The use of a good quality waterproofing sealant will protect the concrete against moisture and salt penetration while still allowing it to breath.
The product should be clear (invisible) after it has dried, combat algae and fungus growth, and provides freeze-thaw stability.
The use of a good quality waterproofing sealant before the damage occurs will save you a lot of money.
Sealants can be purchased from most concrete companies and at major hardware stores. Most sealants are designed to be applied with a hand pump deck type sprayer.
Recommend sealing all cracks in the surface with a flexible concrete caulk prior to sealing and power washing the concrete to remove any staining before applying the sealant.
