That $80 'pro' sealer from home depot ruined my driveway job

I was skeptical about spending $80 on a gallon of sealer when the cheap stuff was $25. Used it on a 600 sq ft driveway in Phoenix last month and it peeled off in sheets within 2 weeks. My customer was pissed and I had to redo everything on my dime. Anyone else had bad luck with that brand?

3 comments

3 Comments

logan_young2920d ago

Phoenix heat is brutal on sealers. 600 sq ft in July is a recipe for peeling even with the good stuff. You gotta prep the concrete right and apply it in the early morning or late evening when the surface temp is under 90. That brand you used is overpriced and not worth it for desert climates. I've had way better luck with the Rust-Oleum rock solid stuff, but even that needs the concrete to be bone dry and clean before you roll it on. Next time, do a small test patch in a corner and wait a few days to see if it sticks before you do the whole driveway.

xenaf5120d ago

Did you try power washing it first? I sealed my patio one summer and learned the hard way that leftover dust from the wash makes it peel like crazy.

michael_coleman1020d ago

Yeah, that thing about leftover dust... I ran into the same problem but from a different angle. The water leftover from power washing can be just as bad if you don't let it dry out long enough. @xenaf51 you mentioned peeling from dust but I bet that moisture trapped under the sealer was doing its own damage too. For 600 sq ft in Phoenix the humidity might be low but the concrete itself stays damp deep down especially if you washed it the day before. I always wait a full 48 hours after power washing before I even think about sealing even if the surface feels dry to the touch. A moisture meter on concrete is cheap and it'll save you from having to strip and redo the whole thing.