Short answer
Yes, for most driveways. A sealer keeps water, deicing salts and oil out of the surface, which is what causes scaling, staining and freeze-thaw damage. Seal a new driveway after it has cured (about a month), then every few years depending on the product and wear. Professional sealing runs about $1 to $2 per square foot nationally. Decorative and stamped concrete should always be sealed; plain broom-finished concrete lasts without it but stays cleaner and ages better with it.
| Professional sealing | $1–$2 per sq ft[1] |
|---|---|
| Main cause of surface scaling | freeze-thaw with deicing salts on unsealed, poorly cured concrete[2] |
| First sealing | after the slab has cured, not before[3] |
What a sealer actually does
Concrete is porous. Water carries deicing salts into the surface, freezes and pops the top layer off (scaling). Oil and rust soak in and stain. A sealer either fills the pores (penetrating) or sits on top as a film (acrylic, urethane, epoxy) so those things stay on the surface where they can be washed away.
How we seal a driveway
- Pressure wash and let the slab dry fully; a damp slab is the most common reason a sealer fails.
- Repair cracks and spalls first, so the sealer isn't hiding a problem.
- Apply the sealer in thin, even coats with the right tool for the product, on a dry day that isn't too hot.
- Keep traffic off until it has cured, usually a day for foot traffic and longer for cars.
When not to bother
A driveway that is already scaling, heaving or cracking widely needs repair or replacement, not a sealer. Ourfix-or-replace guide covers how to tell. And a brand-new slab needs to cure first; see how long concrete takes to cure.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a concrete driveway be sealed?
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It depends on the sealer. Penetrating (silane or siloxane) sealers go years between coats; film-forming acrylics wear faster on a driveway with daily traffic and are usually redone more often. We write the product and the resealing interval on the estimate.
Which sealer is best for a driveway?
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A penetrating sealer for plain broom-finished concrete: it soaks in, doesn't change the look, isn't slippery and doesn't peel. A film-forming acrylic or urethane for stamped and colored concrete, where the sealer also brings out the color and protects the pattern.
Does sealing make concrete slippery?
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Film-forming sealers can, especially when wet. On a sloped drive we add a non-slip grit to the sealer or use a penetrating product. Penetrating sealers don't change the surface texture.
Can I seal a new driveway right away?
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No. Let it cure first, typically about a month. Sealing too early traps moisture and the sealer fails. Our curing guide explains the timeline.
Do you need to seal concrete in Georgia?
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We get fewer freeze-thaw cycles than northern states, but north Georgia still sees freezing nights and the occasional deicer. Across the state the bigger enemies are oil, tire marks, red clay stains and mildew. A sealer makes all of them wash off.
Sources
- [1]ConcreteNetwork.com, How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? (updated January 13, 2026)
- [2]National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, CIP 2: Scaling Concrete Surfaces (checked October 30, 2026)
- [3]ConcreteNetwork.com, Curing Concrete (updated May 6, 2025)
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on size, access, site preparation and local labor rates in Georgia. Our free on-site estimate is the price for your site.
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