Permanent Driveway Sealer - Concrete Remedy

#4. Easy Details How You Can Solve This Problem Before It's Too Late. Have Less Work Removing Ice & Snow. Make Your Driveway and Sidewalks a Lot Safer This Winter

Dear Owner of New Concrete:

Before going on, I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Mike. My business involves making concrete last longer and accomplish what it is intended to do. As an independent contractor who makes a living solving problems with concrete, I have seen too many cases of improperly installed and cared for concrete. Sadly, folks end up having to spend a lot money unnecessarily.

"Grant: Again, I really appreciate your help. You have been really great! Thanks"

Monica Fisher -- Chicago, IL

To find out more about my way of doing business and treating my customers, click here and read the opening portion of the home page. Otherwise, please continue on.

While de-icers and road salts provide the very important function of making public streets, highways, our own sidewalks, and driveways a lot safer during the winter...there is a huge trade off in exchange for that extra safety. Their use contributes greatly to the costly destruction of concrete -- which is exactly why public warnings are given.

#1. The Truth Behind the Dire Warnings of De-icers and Road Salts

The danger is so high in the first year or two of concrete's "life", that the makers of the products warn you NOT to use their product unless you have protected the concrete against damage first.

At least they warn you with an *asterisk, when they say on the front label it is "Gentle to Lawns and Concrete* " and then direct you to "Carefully read precautionary statements and directions on back of package".

If you happen to notice the asterisk* and look on the back of the package this is what you will find: ( I replaced Product Name with "brand X")

NOTICE:All snow and ice removers may be harmful to concrete surfaces. However, independent testing shows that "brand X" contributes less to concrete scaling than other commonly used deicers. As with all deicers, use only on properly cured concrete. Do not use on porous concrete or concrete less than two years old. Use of deicers on porous brick, mortar joints and flagstone is not recommended.

The fact that manufacturers of de-icers tell you right up front..."Don't Use Our Product on New Concrete" should be taken very seriously. Do you think they would risk losing sales and profits if it was not a very serious problem?

You Don't Use Ice Melters, So You Think Your New Concrete Will Escape Because You're Being Careful?

Well, a lot of folks don't. BUT, even if you don't, you do probably drive your vehicles in the winter.

When you pull into your driveway from the city streets and highways, the de-icers that have collected under your car in the slush and ice from driving home assault your new concrete in the same way the ice melters you might buy and apply yourself do.

Often, authorities recommend that as weather permits in the winter, you frequently wash off your driveway to remove as much of the deposited de-icer as possible. This may help reduce the damage. Realistically, not many of us are going to follow THAT suggestion.

The right conclusion about the dire warnings is that they are legitimate and truthful. When concrete less than two years old is exposed to de-icers and the freeze / thaw cycle, bad things are going to happen. So, remember the old saying "A Word to the Wise...." and don't neglect preventing this problem.

#2. How De-icers and Road Salts Ruin Your New Concrete

There is much difference of opinion regarding the details of exactly what contributes to concrete damage. Commonly, some people assume it is a chemical process of various substances "attacking" the concrete.

While many problems are caused within various concrete structures, particularly reinforced concrete (reinforced usually means there is metal or iron reinforcing bars or mesh present inside the concrete), the majority of experts agree that the commonly used highway de-icers do not actually chemically attack concrete.

There is, however, some evidence that magnesium chloride can slowly disintegrate concrete. Also, there are some types of materials which can be used as de-icers that actually do ruin concrete, such as ammonium nitrates or ammonium sulfates. These are essentially fertilizer materials and definitely should not be used on concrete.

Will the REAL Culprit Stand Up?

The mechanism behind concrete scaling, spalling, popping off etc is really the FREEZE / THAW CYCLE.

"The most common winter damage to concrete paving is scaling, which is caused by repeated cycles of freezing and thawing in the presence of de-icers, road salts and moisture"

Damaged Driveway Water is absorbed into the very fine capillary spaces and hairline cracks in concrete, almost like a sponge. Once about 90% of the pores in concrete are filled with water, the freezing and thawing actions will start to ruin the concrete. When water freezes, it expands by about 9%. This expansion is what really directly does the damage.

Everywhere you go, you can see scaling, spalled concrete. Maybe you have faced this problem yourself before. Next time you go out, check out the concrete in parking lots and sidewalks around businesses, motels, schools, etc.

This is a very serious and costly problem that can easily and safely be prevented -- permanently.You will find out how you can do that when you read #3. How You Can Avoid the Expense of Premature Repair or Replacement of Your New Driveway

Here's How It REALLY Works

De-icers used by you or dripping off your vehicle after driving on wintery streets and highways cause melting. These substances essentially turn ice into water and slush.

Then this watery, slushy layer covering your driveway or sidewalks eventually soaks down into the pores and voids of the concrete--creating a time bomb.

When the concrete gets saturated with moisture -- a level of about 90% saturation -- and then freezes, the water in it expands by around 9% and the stresses push the surface skin up and off the underlying aggregate. The concrete has "scaled". You have an expensive, irritating problem.

It is the repeated freezing and thawing that causes the trouble.

The de-icers and road salts continually cause melting.
The slush and watery result of the repeated melting then soaks down into the concrete.
Warming and melting due to the power of the sun also creates more water and slush
And then the moisture filled concrete repeatedly freezes causing disaster

There you have it in a nutshell.

The damage to your driveway, and streets and highways is caused mainly by the freeze / thaw cycle and the extreme hydraulic pressures caused when water expands as it freezes.

De-icers and road salts accelerate the destruction because they create the excessive moisture that is absorbed into the concrete.

Here's What the Experts Say to Lessen the Damage

There are many factors that will affect how resistant your concrete is to deterioration. For example:

quality of the craftsmanship during finishing
weather conditions when it was poured and finished
quality of the concrete itself (if it has proper air entrainment)
water content of the mix.

The American Concrete Institute offers specific guidelines for concrete pouring and finishing in severe climate zones, which obviously includes where we live.

They advise that the likelihood of surface scaling, or spalling can be minimized IF the proper steps of screeding, broom finishing, curing AND SEALING the concrete are followed.

These steps describe how concrete should be finished and protected by sealing. The details are more involved than space allows, but the issue of bleed water and finishing technique is critical to the quality of outcome.

The specifications of the concrete is also an important factor. In severe climate areas, concrete should be air-entrained. Briefly, this means adding small air bubbles through the use of an additive, so that there are spaces which relieve the pressure build up during the freeze / thaw cycles. The success of this approach partially depends upon the quality and technique of the finishing process when the concrete is poured. Improper or hurried techniques can nullify the benefits of air-entrainment by eradicating the little bubbles.

If you are interested in a more detailed explanation of the technicalities of de-icers and the freeze / thaw cycle damage to concrete, you may want to look at these links:

The Effects of Common Deicers Upon Concrete

Freeze - Thaw Deterioration of Concrete

"Using Deicers Correctly"

I have been around construction for many years. Long enough to know that proper pouring, finishing, and curing is not always done.( Of course, that should not be taken to be a comment upon your specific contractor.) Add to that the challenges of weather conditions during construction, (such as low humidity, heat, wind) and you often end up with concrete that is not perfect and much less resistant to freeze / thaw damage than ideally it should be.

Applying a proper sealing is a step that is often skipped, as it adds cost to the project. Unfortunately, the cost of NOT doing it is exceedingly higher than the price of not following the recommendations of people who know.

In cases where the final sealing step is done, it is very rare that a product of any lasting capability is used. Corners may be cut by using an inexpensive material that needs to be re-applied at very frequent intervals. Often finishers just spray on a "curing agent" which is a very short-lived coating for the purpose of keeping moisture in the concrete for curing. Within a month or so this will be dissipated from the surface and the concrete left vulnerable.

As a home owner, you have virtually no control over how your new concrete driveway was poured or finished. There is every reason to believe it was done according to the recommended best practices.

But YOU do have control over the recommended step of SEALING. In fact, that is the only step you can control. It is too late for checking and fixing the other recommended protections against freeze / thaw damage which need to be assured when the concrete was poured and finished.

What happens to your new concrete driveway and sidewalks this winter is NOW completely in your hands.

Here's a Quick and Simple Test You Should Do Right Away:

Put some water on your new driveway. Watch it to see if it soaks into the concrete. If it does, then you know that you are at a very high risk that this winter will produce significant damage to your new concrete.

If the water does NOT soak in, but just sits on top or beads, then you can assume that your driveway has been sealed somewhat effectively. In this case, you should be aware that most sealers lose their effectiveness relatively rapidly. That means you will have to watch it and re-apply as often as needed.

#3. How You Can Avoid the Expense of Premature Repair or Replacement of Your New Driveway

Here's My Best Advice...

Guaranteed to Save You Thousands of Dollars Since...

You will greatly extend the good life of your driveway

Before reading on--please understand this: "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"

In other words, you can radically improve existing concrete, and greatly reduce the natural deterioration by properly treating it... But there is not a product in the world that can take poor concrete and make it perfect. Nor make concrete last forever.

Admittedly, many ads lead you to believe if you just use Brand X, that it is a miracle and you can get indestructible concrete regardless of how good it is to start with.

My advice on that idea? Probably overselling and over-promising in order to make a sale to gullible folks.

What I believe to be true is that you cannot find or use any material that will improve your existing concrete and prevent future problems better than my Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal

But they cannot transform a sow's ear into a silk purse...

Step One:

Make up your mind right now to protect your investment in your new home and driveway. If you do not protect it before its first winter, the seeds of destruction will be sown deep in the concrete.

It will just be a matter of time until the surface is scaled. And you will either have to put up with a driveway that is an "eyesore" and is impossible to keep clean OR you will face a huge expense of tearing out your old driveway and replacing it with a new one. Nothing lasts forever and concrete needs to be protected to extend its useful life.

Before You Read On, You Need to Know This Is Definitely Something YOU Can Do Yourself. It is Easy, Safe, and Quick and I Will Tell You Step by Step What to Do.

If you would prefer to have someone else do it for you, I can make those arrangements for you with a reputable local contractor. Just send me an E-mail and we can work out the details together.

Click Here & We Can Make Those Arrangements Together

Frankly, it is so easy that you really should just do it yourself. I'll send complete easy to follow instructions and you can always call me or E-mail if you have questions. I am here to help you do it yourself.

Step Two:

The Secret is Concrete Remedy Deep Seal.

This is an Industrial / Commercial level concrete stabilizer that works internally to totally, permanently stabilize, preserve, harden, dustproof, waterproof and extend the life of concrete.

Concrete Remedy Deep Seal will harden your concrete. Contractors report that concrete treated with Deep Seal is much harder to cut through and harder to drive fasteners into. That's good evidence from the real world.

In one easy application, you effectively stop water from entering into the concrete. Concrete Remedy Deep Seal will not wear out or off. It is unaffected by acids, salts, weather conditions and traffic.

By preventing water from getting INTO the concrete... you reduce the opportunity for the freeze / thaw cycle to damage the concrete through the pressure created when water expands.

This is not a typical "sealer" that just covers your concrete with toxic waterproofers that wear off in a year or so. It is not like materials you can just go buy in a store for home use that need to be reapplied every couple of years.

Because Concrete Remedy Deep Seal only needs to be applied once, you only buy the material one time and spend your time applying it once.

While the "price" per gallon of Concrete Remedy Deep Seal is a little higher than typical "do-it-yourself" sealers, the "cost" of using it is exceedingly lower than any other option. When you add up repeated purchases of ordinary materials that frequently need to be reapplied, it is clear that their "cost" is a lot higher. Plus, you have to monitor how they are lasting so you can re-do the job before their effectiveness is completely gone. Then you have to do it all over again.

Even more important than the clear "cost benefit" of using Concrete Remedy Deep Seal, you can be assured that Concrete Remedy Deep Seal WILL perform according to expectation. You can depend on only having to apply it one time -- and then forget about it.

Now YOU can get this same unique, proven material for your own use...and experience a permanent, cost effective solution yourself.

Concrete Remedy Deep Seal fill the voids and canals with "glass-like" material that bonds to the concrete due to the proprietary catalyst enhancing the creation of C-S-H in the concrete.

By applying Concrete Remedy Deep Seal to your new driveway and sidewalks you greatly reduce the chances of freeze / thaw damage. The concrete will not absorb moisture from below, nor will moisture soak down into the concrete. This literally is a permanent, one time application.

Concrete Remedy Deep Seal is totally safe to use. It is not harmful to people, animals, kids or the environment. In fact, I personally know that you can drink Concrete Remedy Deep Seal without harm. Now don't try that at home, please. But the point is that it is extremely safe.

Concrete Remedy Deep Seal, besides being totally safe for people and the environment, has the unique capability to make a substantial positive impact on our nation's landfill problem.

Concrete waste materials comprised of ruined concrete that is being replaced represent a major contribution to land fill capacities. This heavy environmental load could be dramatically reduced if Concrete Remedy Deep Seal was used on all concrete. Parking lots, driveways, streets and buildings would not have to be demolished and put in the landfills. At least each one of us can do our part and make sure our driveways do not end up the landfill before their time.

I am trying to give you a brief explanation of why and how Concrete Remedy Deep Seal will solve the problem that is staring you in the face.

To get more detailed information now, Please

Click on the Links below to open new pages and see:

1. Complete Concrete Remedy Deep Seal Information

2. Technical Reports, Help for Specific Problems

When you are finished looking over the information opened in new pages by the links above, just close that window, "X" it out, and you will be returned to this page, so you can continue here.

After checking out the links above, it should be clear how and why Concrete Remedy Deep Seal is truly a permanent, one time application that will greatly reduce the source of damage to your concrete.

You have a unique opportunity to protect your investment by using a proven industrial grade material that is not available in your local hardware store or do-it-yourself home store.

There's even better news. Besides making your concrete impervious to moisture and resistant to the ravages of the freeze / thaw cycle, Concrete Remedy Deep Seal makes snow and ice somewhat easier to remove. And if you want to use ice melters or salt, their impact will be greatly reduced once the concrete is protected with Concrete Remedy Deep Seal.

Here's the better news.

If you want to make ice and snow removal even much easier
If you want the very top surface to repel moisture, make oils and spills and dirt very easy to clean up... just add a coat of Concrete Remedy Top Seal.

Concrete Remedy Deep Seal works ONLY inside the concrete. It leaves a "bondable" surface. In other words, the very surface of the concrete, about 1-2 mm will accept and hold sealers, paints or any other material exceptionally well.

By applying Concrete Remedy Top Seal, on top of the concrete now stabilized by Concrete Remedy Deep Seal, you will get the very best result for ease of cleaning, and time saved in snow and ice removal and control.

Click Here for Detailed Information on CR Top Seal.

Neither the Concrete Remedy Deep Seal, nor the Top Seal changes the appearance or coefficient of friction of the concrete. It won't be slick or look different.

By combining these two materials, you get the very best, easiest to take care of concrete. You can, however, just apply the DS and ensure that you have maximally reduced the effects of freeze / thaw damage, even if you use de-icers.

If you have a "north facing" exposure that does not get much sunlight in the winter, applying Top Seal will really give you an extra benefit of keeping those hard to deal with areas free of ice and snow.

If you have questions about the difference between using just the Concrete Remedy Deep Seal or
Getting the maximum result by using both Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal
Just click here & ask me by E-mail, or call me at 636-299-0601

#4. Easy Details How You Can Solve This Problem Before It's Too Late. Have Less Work Removing Ice & Snow. Make Your Driveway and Sidewalks a Lot Safer This Winter

Take These Simple Steps to Get This Done Before the Snow Flies and It's Too Late!

1. Measure your driveway and sidewalks to find the total square footage you need to protect. Just multiply the width by length and you will come up with the number of square feet.

2. Divide the number of square feet you have by 150. This will give you the number of gallons you will need. On the average, I apply both Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal at a rate of 150 square feet per gallon.

3. For example, if your measurement is 30 X 50, you have 1500 square feet. 1500 square feet, divided by 150 = 10 gallons.

In order to apply both Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal, you will need to order 10 gallons of each.

Since there is a noticeable price break per gallon in five gallon pails, I would recommend rounding up to the nearest five. Concrete Remedy has an infinite shelf life, so it will keep forever and you will have other places to use it besides your driveway or sidewalks. Garage floors, basement floors, patios. All cementitious material is made exceedingly better by applying Concrete Remedy..

Pricing: Remember to compare apples to apples. Concrete Remedy Deep Seal becomes a permanent part of the internal nature of the concrete. It NEVER has to be re-applied. It is NOT a typical sealer that only coats the surface. It increases hardness, and reduces scaling, spalling, dusting, and the damaging effects of the freeze / thaw cycle. Once is enough. Consequently, this is the most economical and safe way to make your concrete driveway last longer.

Please Click Here for a short, interesting commentary on "price" vs. "cost". It was written over 100 years ago but still applies to everything we do in our day.

Product		Per Gallon in 5 Gal. Buckets X 5 = Total 5 For 5 Gallon Bucket
Concrete Remedy Deep Seal	Apply First	Only $39.95 per each X 5 = $199.75
Top Seal	Apply Second	Only $41.95 per each X 5 = $209.75

4. After you determine how much Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal you will need, Click Right Here: and you will go to the secure ordering page.

Our credit card processing is done by Bank of America, for your security and peace of mind.

5. When your order arrives at your home here are the easy steps for application:

1. Wash off your concrete with your garden hose.

2. Allow the water to soak in until all standing water is gone, and the concrete is still damp.

3. Shake the bucket containing the Concrete Remedy Deep Seal

4. Apply with spray. I think a pump jug garden weed sprayer is easiest. Or you can pour it out and evenly spread it around using a push broom, while you walk right on it.

5. Let dry for a day or two.

6. If you are applying Top Seal to get the very best, easiest to care for result, wait until the concrete is completely dry.

7. Apply same as in step 4 above.

8. Both DS and TS are odorless and about the consistency of water. It will not ruin any equipment. Clean up is with water.

9. You can walk and drive on the concrete after 1/2 hour for DS. The Top Seal accepts limited foot traffic after 1/2 hour and sets completely in 2-4 hours.

That is all there is to it. Complete instructions will be included in each box. You can also view and download information by clicking here: Download Brochures The ABC's of DS Application and the brochures for Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal will tell you everything you need to know.

If you prefer to not do the work yourself, I would be more than happy to arrange for a reputable local contractor to come by and do the application for you at a reasonable cost.

In that event, go ahead and do steps 1 through 4 above, and then E-mail me and we can work out arrangements for someone to contact you about application.

P.S.

If you still have questions, please feel free to contact me. As I mentioned, I am a working contractor, so this time of year I am not in the shop very much. E-mail works better as a sure way to get in touch with me.

There is not much time left. Concrete Remedy Deep Seal and Top Seal should be applied when the temperatures a high enough that the material does not freeze until it has had 8 - 10 hours to sit.

Don't wait till it is too late. If you did the test of putting water on your driveway as I suggested, and it soaked in -- then do not delay.

Right now Click Here on this button:

Place Your Order Today So It is Not TOO Late.

You only have one chance to protect your new concrete... and that is in its very first year, before the weather gets bad.

Thank you for reading through this long page. I am sure that you will be very glad that you did.

Looking forward to being of service to you,

Sincerely,

Mike

Please contact us for more information:

SolvingConcreteProblems.com

636-299-0601
E-mail: mike@SolvingConcreteProblems.com

Last Updated March 2006