Bradly Lewis Home Maintenance Inc. of Portland, OR is an applicator that uses our Trojan Masonry & Concrete Sealer with his services.  He's provided a few reasons and we happen to agree on why using a penetrating sealer on your driveway is vital.

15 reasons why sealing driveways with a penetrating concrete sealer is important. 

  1. Sealing minimize pebbles popping out from aggregate concrete by hardening surrounding cement
  2. It minimizes erosion of cement from pressure washing and rain
  3. Reduced cracking by strengthening concrete and encouraging water to flow off the surface
  4. It slows weathering and breaking up of existing crack edges by hardening the concrete
  5. The sealer reduces the potential for staining (oil stains) because fewer air pores are available to be filled
  6. Sealer seals driveway by providing a harder surface with fewer pores which makes cleanings easier.
  7. It helps concrete look more uniform by increasing hardness and minimizing wear
  8. Concrete sealer slows sub concrete soil erosion by keeping the surface water on top
  9. The sealer hardens the concrete and makes it more resistant to wear
  10. Sealer fills air pores, slows water absorption and minimizes seepage of water to feed algae after the rains
  11. Sealer slows the growth of mildew in the same way
  12. It is safer to walk on because of reduced slipperiness from mildew and algae
  13. Save money and time by going longer between concrete cleanings
  14. Drip lines on the driveway by garage door from gutter water eroding the concrete. 
  15. Hardening the concrete with a sealer and keeping the gutters clean helps keep the concrete keep a more uniform appearance for longer.

What Type of Concrete/Masonry Sealer Should be Used

There are several types of concrete or masonry sealers: Acrylic (topcoat), Silica / Silicate (surface, and slightly penetrating) and long-lasting polyester (Eco-Wares Staff Note: This is the Trojan Masonry & Concrete Sealer )

Polyester is the best sealer because it has a 15-year guarantee, penetrates the masonry or concrete to a depth of up to 2 inches. Depth can be greater than 2 inches depending on porosity of substrate and amount of product applied), hardens the surface and is not subject to UV damage in the way top coating sealers (acrylic, silicas, silicates) are exposed.

Sealer TypeTypical DurationHardens surface
Polyester>Last minimum of 15 YearsYes
Acrylic>1-2 YearsNo
Silicas/Silicates>3-5 YearsNo

The Purpose of the Sealer

The purpose of the sealer is to preserve the concrete and keep it looking nice.


Since the polyester sealer penetrates the concrete, it does not give a sheen like acrylic sealers do. Since it fills up more of the pores in the concrete, the concrete stays cleaner longer. Since the concrete is more water-resistant, it doesn't provide as much water to support the growth of mildew, algae and moss.

Durability of Concrete and Masonry Sealer

The polyester-based sealer penetrates the concrete to strengthen the surface 1-2 inches. This makes the surface harder (easier to clean) and also helps the concrete withstand the brute force of pressure-washing in the future.

Making Concrete Easier to Clean

Since the polyester sealer penetrates the concrete 1-2 inches, this fills more of the pores in the concrete which makes it more resistant to water. This also makes the concrete surface easier to clean because there are not as many pores for the dirt to fill up. The dirt stays more on the surface. The harder surface allows it to be cleaned with a pressure-washer quicker too.