Concrete drives are one of, if not the best options for a low maintenance driveway. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need any maintenance to look their best.
To keep your pattern imprinted concrete driveway looking great, and protect it from general wear and tear (especially from the weather), you should aim to re-seal your concrete every few years.
Some recommendations say every two years, but we’ve seen drives last a good five years before needing a re-seal. It varies based on use and weather.
You’ll know when a drive needs re-sealing based on how it looks – and you’ll clearly see the results of a re-seal.
Why re-seal a concrete drive?
The seal on a printed drive will naturally wear off over a few years, especially in the UK when its exposed to a range of weather conditions, salt from tyres and shoes in the winter, and other chemicals from vehicles.
A concrete driveway should be re-sealed every so often to:
- Adds a layer of protectant across the bare concrete
- Seals any natural cracks and expansion gaps in the concrete to stop weeds growing
- Restores the colour of your original driveway (or adds new colour where needed)
- Prevents blooming – the white, cloudy marks on the concrete surface
- Revives the whole look of your concrete drive
When to re-seal a concrete drive? Signs to look out for
Knowing when to re-seal your concrete drive is generally fairly easy. You’ll see it starting to look a little tired and worn out.
The key signs to look out for are:
- Colour fading, looking dull
- Shine no longer present
- Bare patches showing through in places
- Cloudy or white spots and patches
- Edges starting to crack
The difference a good re-seal makes
Take a look at these examples of before and after re-seals, to see how effective a simple re-seal can be. It’s just one of the ways we can repair, re-seal and revive your concrete driveway.
Grey front concrete driveway re-seal
Red front concrete driveway re-seal, with double garage
Side driveway clean and re-seal
Front drive and entrance concrete re-seal
