Concrete is a durable material, but it can be prone to flaking and peeling due to moisture and other environmental factors. To prevent this from happening, it's important to use a good quality sealant designed for outdoor use. Water-repellent sealants are a great solution for concrete peeling because they reduce water absorption by up to 95%, preventing water from freezing inside the pores. Silicate sealants can also be used in combination with water-repellent sealants for increased strength and decreased water absorption.
Sealing is the best way to prevent concrete from flaking due to moisture. If the surface of the driveway has peeling concrete, then most likely the cause is an installation error. Common mistakes include adding too much water to the mix, spraying the concrete surface with water, and not curing the concrete properly after installation.
Shelling concrete
on a horizontal surface such as an entrance or sidewalk is not only an aesthetic problem, but also a safety hazard.Chipping on a concrete driveway or sidewalk may require a more comprehensive solution to ensure it doesn't return. The most common method to repair flaking on horizontal surfaces is to coat and seal the surface with a resurfacing solution. This not only repairs peeling concrete, but also prevents flaking problems from reappearing. If the chips penetrate less than a third of the depth of the concrete, a patch or repair can correct the problems.
V-SEAL can be applied to keep the concrete under control and greatly help prevent further damage. Deicing chemicals should be avoided as they aggravate already stressed concrete by allowing more water to migrate into it, increasing the size and depth of husking failures when freezing occurs. Smaller areas with just a few chips can be repaired without re-paving the entire area, although patches may be more noticeable. To prevent flaking, high-quality sealing and curing is necessary to allow concrete to breathe while protecting it, especially during that critical first year.
In recent years, complaints of chipping (flaking) of exterior concrete surfaces have been increasing due to internal pressure increases and decreases that stress the surface layer of concrete. When you use V-SEAL, you can be sure that you are using a deep penetration HI-TECH formula that will enter and protect during those critical years and stay for many years to come.
