If the concrete sealer on your carpark is starting to wear down, then it's time to think about resealing. Leaving your surfaces without a protective coating isn't a good idea.

If concrete doesn't have an adequate seal, it can get damaged by heavy use and exposure to water and chemicals. If you add a new layer of sealant, you keep your surfaces in good order for longer.

While resealing makes sense, it poses some problems on a working carpark that you wouldn't have during the initial build. To get the job done quickly with the best long-term benefits, look for sealants with the following features.

1. Minimal Preparation Time

Some sealers require a fair amount of preparation work. For example, you might need to clean off old sealant as well as the surfaces you'll work on. This increases the time that you have to take parts of the carpark out of service.

Some sealants speed up this process for you. You still have to give the surfaces a basic clean; however, you don't necessarily have to take off any old coatings. The sealants can go down on top of them. This is a good option if you don't have the manpower or time to spend on basic surface prep.

2. Quick Drying Times

The longer it takes a sealant to dry, the longer you have to wait before you can use a freshly treated surface. While you're keen to get parking bays open again as soon as possible, you don't want to take any risks at this stage.

Cars are heavy vehicles that can damage a coating that hasn't had time to dry and cure completely. If your new seal is walked or driven on too soon, it won't create a protective cover. 

Look for products with quick drying times. They reduce the time you have to wait to reopen bays. You also won't have to worry about damaging a new sealant by allowing access too soon.

3. Problem Management

Some sealants simply form a protective cover over concrete. While useful, it's a good idea to look for solutions that have additional features that might protect against problems you've had in the past.

For example, if you've had problems with water ingress or chemical spills, then look for waterproof sealants with chemical resistance. Sealants that add strength to the concrete and that move flexibly after application are a good option if you have areas of wear or cracking.

To work out which sealant you should use, ask carpark sealing companies for advice.

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