Concrete Sealing in Walnut Creek CA - concrete that holds up to water, oil and stains
Oil spots on the driveway or a patio that drinks up every spill? The right sealer helps keep water, grease and stains from soaking in.
Should I seal my concrete, and which sealer fits it?
Concrete sealing in Walnut Creek means putting a clear sealer on your driveway, patio or pool deck that either soaks into the surface or forms a film on top, so the concrete stands up better to moisture, stains, oil, grease and weather. The choice between the two comes down to whether you want the surface to look unchanged or want some shine.
Most people call Walnut Creek Truefinish Epoxy Floors after a driveway starts collecting drip marks or a patio stains every time something spills. Sealing usually helps, as long as the slab is sound and the sealer goes on clean, dry concrete. We're based in Walnut Creek and work across the cities around it.
The price comes down to how much area you have, which sealer you choose and how much prep the slab needs, because an old sealer or cracks that need repair add work before anything goes on. The schedule mostly turns on dry concrete and a clear forecast, and on new concrete having cured long enough. Your written estimate lays out the prep and the sealer for your slab, so you can see where the cost comes from.
- We seal driveways, patios, walkways and pool decks, plus garage and basement floors.
- One maker says its penetrating sealer won't stop water getting through structural cracks or open joints.
- On pool decks, one maker's film-forming sealer includes a slip-resistant additive to help with traction.
What happens after you call us about sealing your concrete?
Sealing goes well when the slab gets checked before anything goes on it. Here's how a job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through on the finished surface.
Tell us about your slab
Call or send a message with what kind of slab it is, about how big and how old, and whether it has cracks or an old coating on it. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come out.
I come out and check it
I look at the concrete for moisture, old coatings and cracks, then walk you through what I see and which sealers fit. You get a written estimate with the prep and the sealer spelled out, so you know what you're paying for before we start.
We prep and seal the concrete
Once you say yes, our trained installers and I prep the surface properly and put the sealer down. One maker says the surface should be dry with no rain expected for 12 hours after its sealer goes on, so we set the day around the forecast.
We walk the finished job together
Before we pack up, I go over the sealed surface with you and tell you how long to stay off it. If anything doesn't look right to you, that's the time to say so.
Sealed, coated and finished concrete floors and outdoor slabs
These photos show the kinds of concrete surfaces our trade seals and finishes, from plain driveways to glossy garage floors. They're a quick way to see the difference between a natural look and a film with some shine.
Close-up of a glossy metallic epoxy floor with flowing black, white, and bronze swirls.
Garage with a glossy, dark gray flake-coated floor, open tool storage, and two closed garage doors.
Close-up of a gray speckled concrete floor with two diagonal control joints crossing.
Garage with a glossy metallic epoxy floor in vivid blue, black, and white swirls.
A glossy gray-and-white flake-coated garage floor extends to the driveway, where a silver pickup truck is parked.
Close-up of a glossy epoxy floor coating with dense black, white, and gray decorative flakes.
Get a written estimate for sealing your concrete
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a free visit, where I look at your slab in person. The estimate comes in writing, with no pressure and no obligation.
(925) 433-7858Questions about sealing concrete in Walnut Creek
These are the questions we hear most about sealing concrete around Walnut Creek. If yours isn't here, ask me on the visit and I'll walk you through it.
How much does it cost to seal a driveway in Walnut Creek?
Driveway sealing in the San Francisco-Oakland area usually costs about $250 to $1,250 per job. That's the going range for driveways around here, not a price of ours, and where yours lands depends on its size and the prep it needs. The written estimate from the visit gives you your own number.
Should I get a glossy or natural finish on my concrete?
Choose natural if you want the concrete to look unchanged, and glossy if shine and extra protection from stains and oil matter more to you. My own rule of thumb is that surfaces where cars park or drip are worth the gloss, while a patio or walkway you already like the look of usually stays natural. If you're torn, we can talk it through on the visit.
How long do I have to wait to seal new concrete?
One sealer maker requires concrete to be at least 28 days old or fully cured before its sealer goes on. So if you've just had a slab poured, plan the sealing for after that wait, not right after the pour.
Does a contractor need a license to seal a small patio in California?
State law caps the job size an unlicensed person may take at $1,000, so anything bigger needs a licensed contractor. Even under $1,000, a license is required when the work needs a permit of any kind or the person hires workers to help. We're fully licensed and insured, so that's settled before you call us.
What causes concrete sealer to peel or turn white?
On a film-forming sealer, one maker says improper application, poor adhesion or trapped moisture can make the film peel or turn white, which is called blush. That's why we want the concrete clean and dry before a film goes on, and if yours is already peeling, the old film has to come off before we reseal.
How long does sealed concrete take before you can walk on it?
For one maker's film-forming sealer, foot traffic should stay off for at least six hours, and 12 hours is better. Other sealers have their own times, so I'll tell you the one for the product we used before we leave.
Concrete sealing in Walnut Creek and nearby cities
Work in Walnut Creek's public right of way needs a city encroachment permit, so if your job reaches it, I check with the city first and tell you what I find. We do the same work in Concord and Pleasant Hill.