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We have a stenciled concrete driveway and paths that, after several years, started to look weathered and in need of maintenance. To refresh its appearance and restore some of the faded areas, we decided to seal it and bring it back to life. We followed the tips from a previous post, and the whole process took about 3-4 days.
Cleaning the concrete surface was the most time-consuming part, as it involved multiple stages, and drying times at least 24 hrs. After cleaning, we applied the sealer. When the concrete was originally laid and stenciled, the contractor added coloured pigments to achieve the desired look. However, some of the colour had faded over time, so we chose to apply a tinted sealer to areas like the borders to refresh them. After our mini-restoration, the driveway looks great and the sealant should last for at least 3-4 years depending on the use and weather.
Materials
- Driveway liquid cleaner
- Clear Sealant
- Tinted Sealant
Tools
- Gerni Pressure Washer
- Outdoor Broom
- Blower Vac
- UNi-PRO 230mm Concrete And Paving Roller Cover 11mm Nap
- 230mm roller frame and pole
- Small paint brush
- PPE for sealing steps
- Gloves
- Water Hose
Steps
Step 1
Cleaning the driveway Stage 1
Inspect the area and broom as much debris off as possible; use the wide outdoor brooms as they are wider and have stiffer bristles. You can use a blower vac as well. Make sure all leaves and debris are removed from the driveway and paths.
Step 2
Cleaning the driveway Stage 2
Wet the area with water using a garden hose and add in the driveway cleaner. Strongly broom over the area to remove ingrain dirt and marks off the concrete. Once this is completed, the next step is to pressure wash the concrete surface. This is important to do as the Gerni or similar will remove all the surface contaminants. Your concrete is now ready to seal.
Step 3
Drying the concrete
Grab a coffee and wait till the surface dries. For us, we waited at least 24 hrs before applying the sealant. Before application, use the blower vac to remove all dirt and debris. Ensure the surface is still clean after drying.
Step 4
Restoring faded areas with a tinted sealant
Most stenciled concrete surfaces are coloured, and this is achieved by adding pigments to the concrete surface. Our driveway, like most others, has a border which was faded over time. We restored this area by painting over the stenciled border using a tinted sealant. We also restored some of the stenciled patterns in the main driveway using a matching tint. Leave to dry for 24 hrs.
Bunnings and most concrete suppliers offer the option to tint sealant to match the colour of your driveway. In our case, we went back to the same company that supplied the stencils to get the exact matching colour. If you can, restoring the colours before applying the final clear sealant makes a real difference.
Step 5
Applying the clear sealant
In the final step, a clear sealant is applied to the entire surface of the stenciled concrete. Begin by blowing off any dirt and debris, then use a roller to apply a thin, even coat of sealant. It's important to work methodically, covering the surface in a consistent pattern.
Avoid the temptation to apply too much sealant at once—this can cause bubbles to form, as I learned firsthand. Applying multiple thin layers is far more effective than a single thick coat. Let the first layer dry for about two hours, then apply additional coats. We did two coats.
Tip. Wear PPE gear when applying the sealant, especially gloves and eyewear. Don't rush the drying process, give it plenty of time.
Stunning work, @Nham, that came up as a treat! I bet you are super-stoked with the results.
Your effort has really paid off. Well done.
Mitchell
