Care guide

After Your Stamped Concrete Reseal

Fresh sealer is the easiest part of your concrete to protect and the easiest to ruin in the first 48 hours. Here's what to expect and what to do.

What to Expect

Fresh sealer deepens the color and adds gloss. It will look its richest the first few weeks and then settle to a satin finish. Our sealer includes an anti-skid additive, so a slightly gritty feel underfoot is normal.
In hot weather the surface can feel tacky for a day or two. Stay off it until it's dry to the touch.
If you see white or cloudy spots after a rain, call us. It's usually moisture-related and fixable, and the sooner we see it the easier it is to correct.

Read this before the first snow

Avoid ice melt entirely if you can. Sand is always the best choice for traction.
If ice melt is absolutely necessary, use Safe Step Mag Chloride 8300 only. Use about 1/4 cup per square yard, spread evenly, and don't pile it up. Never use rock salt, calcium chloride, or any melt containing ammonium.
Road salt drips off cars onto driveways and garage aprons. Rinse these areas when temperatures allow, and give everything a good rinse in the spring.
Use plastic shovels only. No metal or metal-edged shovels, and no metal ice choppers.
Raise snowblower skid shoes or switch to poly skid shoes, and don't drag equipment on the surface. If you use a plow service, ask them to use a poly or rubber blade edge.

Do not drag furniture across the surface. Use hard nylon glides on furniture legs.
Avoid rubber feet, rubber-backed mats, and flowerpots sitting directly on the surface, as they trap water and discolor the sealer. Use pot feet and move items occasionally.
Rust stains concrete. Keep bare metal off the surface, and sweep up fertilizer granules right away (most fertilizer contains iron).
Clean up oil, gas, and solvent spills quickly, as they soften the sealer.
Never set a fire pit directly on the concrete; use a raised stand. Use a grill mat and lift it periodically.
Pool decks: rinse off pool water splash-out and keep chlorine and pool chemicals off the concrete.
Adjust sprinklers so they don't spray the concrete, and clear wet leaves in the fall to prevent staining.

Plan to reseal about every 2 to 5 years. Driveways, pool decks, and areas in full sun may need it sooner. The simple test: if water stops beading on the surface after a rain, it's due.
Call us to schedule your next resealing. If you plan to reseal yourself, ask us which sealer we used first. A different type of sealer, or coats applied too thick, can cause whitening and peeling.
If you reseal yourself, add an anti-skid additive, especially on pool decks, steps, and walkways.

Pressure wash gently: a wide fan tip (25 or 40 degree), and the wand at least 12 inches from the surface. Never use a turbo or 0-degree tip.
No pressure washer? Use diluted Simple Green and a soft-bristle brush, then rinse with a garden hose.
Never use muriatic acid or harsh solvents.

Questions about something specific on your concrete? Send a photo to distinctivestoneandconcrete@gmail.com or call (315) 676-0005 and we'll tell you what you're looking at.