Some customers like to reseal on a regular basis. If this is the case, it is highly unlikely that the sealer will have been worn off between reseals. In such instances, rather than applying ‘another coat of sealer’, it is a good idea to treat the area with the sealer rejuvenator.

We recommend using as little product as possible in order to produce a uniform, even sheen on top of the paving. As soon as a light sheen has develloped, resist the temptation to continue applying more sealer. If you are using a solvent based sealer, you can put the lid on it, place it in storage and it will still be good to use again in 3 -5 years time when you may want to reseal the surface again.

Sealer doesn’t wash off with the rain or get blown away with the wind. It is on the surface ‘indefinitely’, though it can get worn off with vehicular or foot traffic. Even when the sealer coating has worn an element of the sealer will still remain as it will have soaked into the concrete, which will continue to help reduce dusting.

First things first, if you are in any doubt that you may not be using a compatible sealer, we always recommend that a small test area is undertaken and left for a few weeks to determine if the sealer is compatible with the existing surface.

No. Imprinted concrete is used repeatedly in areas of high footfall by the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Butlins, Pontins, all the theme parks throughout the UK, virtually every single zoo has some decorative concrete, public areas, and domestic driveways and patios. This would not be the case if imprinted concrete had a poor skid resistance value.

Pattern Imprinted Concrete, properly installed, requires very little upkeep. Good quality, well-laid plain grey concrete can be down for years and still maintain an excellent condition, the same is true for properly installed pattern imprinted concrete. 

While it is fair to say that concrete doesn’t like salt, nor does it like freeze thaw cycles, if the correct concrete is used then neither putting salt on it nor freeze thaw cycles will damage it. If concrete wasn’t suitable to be used in areas where salt may be put it on it, then it wouldn’t be used in the construction of bridges, roads, sea defenses, and so on.

The polythene that PICS sell is far more cost effective than other polythene in terms of cost per square metre, because it is thin.

For covering up freshly laid concrete, thin polythene is far better to use than thick polythene. This is because when unfolded, thin polythene does not retain the fold lines, whereas thick polythene when unfolded, does retain the fold lines and these fold lines can mark the unhardened concrete surface with straight lines.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve had a good few days of sunshine and some high(ish) temperatures and unsurprisingly we’ve had our annual rise in calls regarding the concrete setting quickly and asking the question, how is it possible to get more time?

Following on from the recent tip about creating a shade to give yourself more time when laying concrete, I’ve had a few calls asking why I didn’t mention polythene?!

Well guys, this hot weather is continuing (no rain, great eh!), so I thought I’d continue down the hot weather tips. We’ve done the shades and the polythene, so let’s go onto a BRIEF bit on concrete, or more precisely, the cement in concrete.

Although it is impossible to guarantee against cracking, the chance of random uncontrolled cracks is greatly reduced by the introduction of contraction joints.

Acid Washing is one very critical part of the wash off process. Many people do it. Some do not. It is simple, easy to do, and costs very little to undertake, yet the benefits are very tangible.

Washing the Release Agent from the surface of completed PIC is an important part of the process and exposes the true colour and pleasing aesthetics of the paving and brings the PIC “to life”.

I know many of you guys know (and over the years have learnt!!!) the answer to this question. Nonetheless Dr Concrete often gets asked how much CSH should be used on an installation and the reasons why. So, I apologise in advance that this Dr Concrete may seem a little bit long winded.