How Often Does Concrete Need To Be Sealed?

As a conscientious homeowner, you've probably had sealant applied to your concrete projects — like driveways, patios, and garage floors, for example — as soon as they were complete to protect the concrete, keep it looking its best, and extend its life. Time passes, and you know you should reseal the concrete at some point, but you may be wondering how often you need to perform this maintenance. The general estimate is every two to five years, but that advice comes with a number of variables that can affect the frequency of resealing.

To get a better idea of when to reseal, consider how much foot and vehicle traffic your concrete gets. Is it exposed to harsh weather, ice-melting salt, freeze-thaw cycles, or intense sunlight? Was the project made from a special decorative concrete treatment, such as stamping or tinting? All of these factors can slowly degrade your concrete and are good reasons to regularly reseal it.

The type of sealer used initially is also a factor in how often sealer should be reapplied, and the product label can provide guidance for reapplication frequency. Of the different types of sealants you can use on concrete, acrylic sealers have the lowest longevity, needing resealing every one to three years, while epoxy and polyurethane sealers last the longest, needing resealing every five to 10 years. Penetrating sealers need resealing every three to seven years.

Though two to five years is a general resealing suggestion, the best approach may be to determine when to reseal based on what's going on with the concrete rather than relying on a specific frequency recommendation. Signs of the need to reseal include small cracks, a worn look, stains that are hard to remove, faded color, and a dull finish replacing the shine of the original sealant. An effective test of the need to reseal is to apply water to the concrete and see if it beads up; if it just seeps into the surface, it's time to reseal.

Inspect your concrete projects regularly for the need to reseal, especially decorative or stamped concrete, which may need resealing as often as every two to three years. Resealing may be one of your must-do tasks to prepare your concrete for winter. Maintain your sealant finish by regularly cleaning it with soapy water. Keeping on top of the need to reseal can boost the lifespan of your concrete project.