Driveway Concrete Coating Comparison

[les_garten]

I'm looking to put a stain on my concrete driveway and seal it with a topcoat. I have a car that is like a dog that is not housebroken. It weeps oil from here and there and will continue to do so. So whatever I use has to be able to stand up to some oil that will be cleaned off every week or so. So I need a durable product, easy to put down, relatively easy to maintain and keep up over the long haul. I don't mind recoating every 3-5 years if I have to.

I don't want to get stuck with a chipped nasty looking mess. This is South Florida and will have some Rain and Sun. Driveway has an Eastern exposure.

So I got a suggestion from Legacy Industrial for their HD 6414 Solvent based Acrylic.

I also got a recommendation from Wolverine for a water based acrylic, the acryloseal 3501.

Anybody had experience with these products?

How do people decide which to go with?

Any other suggestions?

 

[dcs Inc]

I haven't a clue on the products mentioned. You need to look at the solids content, if it's UV proof, not just resistant and wearability. I'm not a big fan of water based acrylics even though we sell one. The solvent based products wear much better and longer. Our solvent based CSS acrylic based sealer is a concentrated 53% solids and is laced with methyl methacrylate. It helps with wear and adds strength to the sealer. We also have a voc compliant CSSv.

As far as acrylic based sealers go, they must be applied in thin coats. More isn't better with any acrylic based product. Acrylics themselves are soft in comparison to say urethanes or epoxies. Of course you should never use an epoxy that is subjected to any UV. It degrades and yellows out quickly. Urethanes may be an alternative if you pick the correct product. Not all are made equal and some you can't use outside. Also, some urethanes will not allow moisture transmissions. Gene: Elite Crete Indiana

 

[les_garten]

Here are the 2 products.

Everyone claims theirs kicks the snot out of everyone else's.

Acryliseal 3501

Legacy Industrial 6414

I got no clue other than here where to get accurate information on this stuff.

I know one thing. I bought some **** stuff at HD and put it on my last driveway to get it ready to sell. After seeing how that "Gray Paint" performed, I'm sure the new owner appreciates me a lot!

Trying not to screw up like that again.

These products won't do that, but I like something that would be long lived, chemical resistant, cheap, easy to apply, easy to maintain.

Don't we all!

But I would like to get the most of these requirements that I can.

I got 1500 sq' to cover.

 

[flaconcrete]

Les,

I am not going to get into who has the best products, or bash any other product.

I am here in Florida as well and use as Gene described above the CSS solvent based acrylic sealer for outdoor applications all the time. Works great on driveways etc. Will hold up very well to vehicle traffic too.
I would never recommend a waterborne sealer on a driveway as it will not wear as well over time with vehicles.
As Gene says, a few thin coats are better than one heavy coat.
Recommended to clean and reseal every three years or so to maintain.

John

 

[les_garten]

Les,

I am not going to get into who has the best products, or bash any other product.

I am here in Florida as well and use as Gene described above the CSS solvent based acrylic sealer for outdoor applications all the time. Works great on driveways etc. Will hold up very well to vehicle traffic too.
I would never recommend a waterborne sealer on a driveway as it will not wear as well over time with vehicles.
As Gene says, a few thin coats are better than one heavy coat.
Recommended to clean and reseal every three years or so to maintain.

John

I'm really interested in chemical resistance. The water based listed above says it will hold up to gasoline and brake fluid. That seems amazing. All of them seem to have around a 3 year life cycle for maintenance.

 

[les_garten]

I haven't a clue on the products mentioned. You need to look at the solids content, if it's UV proof, not just resistant and wearability. I'm not a big fan of water based acrylics even though we sell one. The solvent based products wear much better and longer. Our solvent based CSS acrylic based sealer is a concentrated 53% solids and is laced with methyl methacrylate. It helps with wear and adds strength to the sealer. We also have a voc compliant CSSv.

As far as acrylic based sealers go, they must be applied in thin coats. More isn't better with any acrylic based product. Acrylics themselves are soft in comparison to say urethanes or epoxies. Of course you should never use an epoxy that is subjected to any UV. It degrades and yellows out quickly. Urethanes may be an alternative if you pick the correct product. Not all are made equal and some you can't use outside. Also, some urethanes will not allow moisture transmissions. Gene: Elite Crete Indiana

Do you have a link to this product?

 

[flaconcrete]

Les,

Sorry, just getting a chance to get back to you.

Again I am not going to get into this and that about other products...I will say though to do your homework. The coatings industry is like the wild west with little to no regulation about what companies advertise or say on the spec sheets.

Anyway...if you have continuous gasoline and brake fluid getting onto ANY acrylic sealer...they will be damaged as these solvents WILL re-emulsify them and leave stain marks.

You might want to consider a urethane if you will be having alot of chemicals getting onto the surface as urethanes will hold up to most all solvents. Be careful though as not all urethanes will perform well outside as they do not allow moisture transmission.

You can read more about CSS here.

 

[knagy389us]

I just did my garage floor with H&C solvent based silicone acrylic tinted sealer. (From Sherwin Williams) 2 coats covered the new concrete nicely. I did not do a clear topcoat. I was told that this product will "re-wet" on additional coats, bonding to the previous application.

I am also concerned on fluid leaks from my classic car. This looks so nice, I was tempted to do some of our exterior walkways with it, maybe some driveway also.

Hoping I dont have troubles with hot tire pickup, though it is my alternate garage and not used for my commuter vehicles.

 

[les_garten]

Again I am not going to get into this and that about other products...I will say though to do your homework. The coatings industry is like the wild west with little to no regulation about what companies advertise or say on the spec sheets.

Anyway...if you have continuous gasoline and brake fluid getting onto ANY acrylic sealer...they will be damaged as these solvents WILL re-emulsify them and leave stain marks.

You might want to consider a urethane if you will be having alot of chemicals getting onto the surface as urethanes will hold up to most all solvents. Be careful though as not all urethanes will perform well outside as they do not allow moisture transmission.

You can read more about CSS here.

I'm just asking about your product since you introduced it. I'm asking about the this and that of your product.

That PDF of yours is pretty much useless.

How do I do my homework? Read ad copy? Or post in a forum and see if someone has been using a product a while? I'm in S. FL, things are never dry here.

 

[les_garten]

I just did my garage floor with H&C solvent based silicone acrylic tinted sealer. (From Sherwin Williams) 2 coats covered the new concrete nicely. I did not do a clear topcoat. I was told that this product will "re-wet" on additional coats, bonding to the previous application.

I am also concerned on fluid leaks from my classic car. This looks so nice, I was tempted to do some of our exterior walkways with it, maybe some driveway also.

Hoping I dont have troubles with hot tire pickup, though it is my alternate garage and not used for my commuter vehicles.

Do you have any info related to chemical resistance?

 

[flaconcrete]

Les,

I gave you my 2 cents...been using CSS on driveways for years with no problems as do many other installers do here in Florida. As I said it will hold up extremely well to vehicles, hot tires, skate boards, trash cans, etc. etc.

It also holds up well to normal fluids that drip off of cars from time to time.

If you have a leaky old car that drips gas/oils/fluids continually, then you will have a problem with it damaging an acrylic sealer over time. If you do have that type of situation I would recommend something under it to catch these liquids no matter what type sealer was applied.

Sounds like you are looking for a bullet proof answer to all the worlds problems...no such animal exists. I am not going to tell you it will do something that it won't. No one sealer is good for all applications.

I have CSS on my personal driveway as well as hundreds of others that I have done coatings on or decorative concrete and swear by it. That's the best I can give you. Never had anyone call me to complain about problems with it staining etc.

If you want to talk about it just PM me with your number and I will call you.