How to tell if your concrete needs resealing

Three simple tests tell you whether your concrete sealer is still doing its job.

The water test. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the surface. If they bead up, the sealer is intact. If they soak in and darken the concrete, the sealer is gone or compromised.

The look test. Stained or sealed concrete should look uniform and slightly enriched. If the color looks faded, blotchy, or chalky, the sealer has worn down to the point where the protection underneath is exposed.

The cleaning test. Sealed concrete is easy to clean. Spills wipe up. Dust comes off. If you find yourself scrubbing harder than you used to to keep the surface looking right, the sealer has worn through.

Most concrete sealers last five years or more depending on traffic and exposure. Garage floors with vehicle traffic wear faster than basement floors. Patios with full sun wear faster than shaded ones. When the time comes, we can re-prep the surface and apply a new finish without starting from raw concrete.