How To Clean and Reseal Your Concrete Driveway

No matter where you live, grime and debris can really take their toll on your concrete driveway. Following are instructions on how to pressure-wash and reseal your drive to keep it looking great.

Preparation

Over time, grease, grime, and road salts can weaken the bonding agents in concrete and brick driveways, causing early deterioration.

The solution: Regular pressure-washing followed by a good resealing. This job can be done in any season, depending on local climate, but is most often performed in the spring or fall. The following steps apply to cleaning and resealing both concrete and brick driveways and paths.

Pressure Washing

01 Select a medium to heavy-duty pressure washer. You can use a light-duty pressure washer if you hold the water stream closer to the surface.

Pressure washer distance guidelines:

TIP: Set up the pressure washer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Review the safety precautions for your unit and wear appropriate clothing, including closed-toe shoes.
CAUTION: NEVER point the sprayer at anyone or yourself.

02 If pressure-washing brick, use a garden hose to wet down the entire area first. For concrete, you can skip this step.

03 Wear latex or rubber gloves and safety goggles when applying chemicals and using the pressure washer.

04 Apply pre-treatment cleaner on any obvious spots or stains. Pressure-washing may not remove deep stains, but a pressure washer-approved multi-surface cleaning detergent and heavy degreaser may help.

05 Scrub the pre-treated areas with a utility broom or the pressure washer’s brush attachments.

TIP: On brick driveways, pre-treat any efflorescence (a white discoloration) following the same procedure.

06 Fill the pressure washer unit with the cleaning detergent recommended by the pressure washer manufacturer. They typically are biodegradable so they won’t harm the vegetation surrounding the drive or walkway.

CAUTION: DO NOT use bleach as it can harm the pressure washer unit and
the environment.

07 Connect the unit’s water supply to a garden hose, no longer than 50'.

08 Connect the spray gun, wand and low-pressure tip to the unit, assuring that the safety latch is on.

09 Start the motor. If the engine is difficult to start, squeeze the spray gun trigger to relieve internal pump pressure.

Some smaller pressure washers use electric motors that are plugged in to an electrical outlet.

10 Press the spray trigger until soap is visible in the water stream.

11 Test the pressure washer and cleaner in an inconspicuous spot before continuing.

12 Begin cleaning. Move the wand over the driveway slowly, using long, even strokes. Keep the speed constant and the distance between the nozzle and the driveway consistent to avoid streaking, stripping or leaving distinguishing spots on the drive.

13 Allow the detergent to work on the concrete surface for 5-10 minutes (20 minutes for brick surfaces). Keep rewetting the surface with a gentle spray as needed so the detergent does not dry on the surface.

14 Set the pressure washer to rinse and squeeze the trigger until the stream is clear. Then rinse the surface.

CAUTION: If you’re pressure-washing a brick driveway, rinse the surface with a low-pressure spray tip.

Resealing The Surface

01 Allow the driveway to fully dry for a few days before applying the sealant. Resealing the surface prevents future stains from setting in.

TIP: Check the weather forecast before sealing. Make sure there is no rain in the forecast for the next few days as the sealant must dry before use.

02 Thoroughly stir the sealant. If more convenient, pour the sealant into a separate 5 gallon bucket.

03 Pour a small amount of the sealant into a paint tray.

04 Use a paint brush to apply sealant to the seams between concrete pads and to the pad edges.

05 Use a paint roller to apply sealant to the concrete pads, working from the middle outward.

06 Allow the sealant to dry according to the manufacturer’s directions (typically one or two days) before using the drive.

Replacing a driveway can cost thousands of dollars. An annual cleaning and resealing can help protect your investment. For more outdoor projects, refer to our how-to videos and printable instructions at Lowes.com/Videos.

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