Concrete & Paving: The Aussie Guide to Longer-Lasting Surfaces
Aug 22 2025 0 Comments
If your driveway’s looking chalky, your pavers are patchy, or the garage floor is a slip-n-slide after a rinse, it’s time to show your Concrete & Paving some love. With the right prep and the right products, you can protect surfaces from the elements, spills and scuffs, while lifting the look of your place in a single weekend.
This guide covers how to diagnose your surface, choose between sealers and coatings, and apply like a pro. When you’re ready to stock up, explore PaintWorld’s Concrete Care range for cleaners, etchers, sealers, primers and heavy-duty coatings that suit Aussie conditions:
Step 1: Diagnose your surface (so you pick the right system)
Before you buy anything, work out what you’re dealing with:
- New vs old concrete: New slabs need time to cure. Older slabs may show wear, oil staining or hairline cracks.
- Bare vs previously sealed/coated: A quick water drop test helps—if water beads, there’s likely a sealer present. If it darkens immediately, it’s unsealed and porous.
- Pavers (clay, concrete, stone): Identify the substrate and whether they’re sealed. Natural stone can be sensitive to harsh cleaners; go gentler.
- Common issues: Efflorescence (white salts), oil and grease, tyre marks, mildew, flaking or powdering surfaces (poor adhesion/UV breakdown).
Knowing this sets your shopping list and avoids the classic mistake of putting the wrong product over the wrong base.
Step 2: Prep like a pro (this is where results are won)
Great finishes start with great prep:
- Clear & protect: Move cars, pots and furniture. Mask adjacent surfaces and door bottoms.
- Dry clean: Broom or blow off dust and debris.
- Wet clean: Use an appropriate cleaner for the job (degreaser for oil, mould wash for mildew). Pressure-wash if suitable.
- Etch/profile (if required): Dense, smooth concrete often needs profiling to help the next coat bite. Follow the product’s data sheet and rinse thoroughly.
- Repair: Fill hairline cracks and chips with a compatible patching compound and allow to cure.
- Moisture check: Trapped moisture is the enemy of adhesion, make sure the substrate is bone dry before sealing or coating.
Step 3: Sealer or coating, what’s the difference?
Both protect, but they do it differently:
- Penetrating sealers (e.g., silane/siloxane): Soak into the surface and repel water and stains while keeping a natural, non-gloss look. Excellent for paths, porous pavers and driveways where you want invisible protection and vapour breathability.
- Film-forming sealers (e.g., acrylics): Sit on top to create a protective film. They can deliver a wet-look sheen or a subtle satin finish and are easier to refresh by recoating. Great for decorative concrete and pavers.
- Coloured concrete coatings (e.g., driveway/garage coatings): Provide colour plus protection in one system. Ideal for driveways, garage floors and patios where you want a durable finish that looks uniform and is easier to clean.
Not sure? Start with the end in mind: natural look vs enhanced colour vs full colour change. Then choose the system to match.
Project ideas to tackle this weekend
1) Driveway revival
A fresh sealer or coloured coating lifts kerb appeal and makes cleaning a breeze.
Game plan:
- Degrease and pressure-wash.
- Repair cracks.
- Choose a penetrating sealer for a natural look, or a film-former/coloured coating for sheen and colour uniformity.
- Add an anti-slip additive if you want extra grip on slopes.
2) Garage floor upgrade
Turn dusty concrete into a tough, low-maintenance floor.
Game plan:
- Degrease thoroughly and profile the surface.
- Prime if the system requires it.
- Apply thin, even coats, observing recoat and cure times before driving back in.
- Consider a flake or quartz broadcast if you want extra texture and camouflage for marks.
3) Patio & path protection
Stop stains from BBQ splatter and pot-plant drips.Game plan:
- Clean and rinse.
- Select a penetrating sealer (natural look) or film-forming sealer (enhanced colour/sheen).
- For areas around pools and steps, add non-slip grit to the final coat.
4) Paver makeover
Bring faded pavers back to life.Game plan:
- Clean and remove efflorescence.
- If you want “wet look”, choose the appropriate film-forming sealer; if you prefer a natural matte, go penetrating.
- Always sample in an inconspicuous corner first, different pavers absorb differently.
5) Workshop & utility zones
Heavy knock-about areas benefit from coatings with chemical and stain resistance.Game plan:
- Deep clean (oil, grease, silicones).
- Choose a hard-wearing coating designed for concrete floors.
- Mark zones with contrasting colour for safer traffic flow.
How to choose the right product type (cheat sheet)
- Cleaners & degreasers: First line of defence. Removes oils and contaminants that cause fish-eyes and adhesion failure.
- Efflorescence removers: Dissolve mineral salts; always neutralise and rinse well.
- Etchers/profilers: Open the surface to help coatings and film-forming sealers bond.
- Primers & bond coats: Improve adhesion on dense, previously sealed or difficult surfaces.
- Penetrating sealers: Invisible protection; great water beading without changing appearance.
- Film-forming sealers: Satin to glossy look; easy to re-fresh by recoating.
- Coloured coatings: Hides patchiness; delivers uniform colour and protection in one.
- Anti-slip additives: Mix in for paths, slopes, pool surrounds and steps.
Application tips that separate pros from punters
- Chase the weather window: Aim for mild temps and dry conditions. Avoid coating hot concrete in full sun or late arvo when dew’s incoming.
- Thin, even coats: Two or three light coats beat one heavy coat. Heavy films can trap solvent or blush in humidity.
- Maintain a wet edge: Roll/spray in logical sections to avoid lap marks.
- Mind recoat & cure times: “Touch dry” isn’t “ready for cars”. Respect foot-traffic and vehicle-traffic timelines on the data sheet.
- Edges & drains: Work away from door thresholds and towards exits so you don’t paint yourself into a corner.
- Test first: Always patch-test in a low-visibility spot to confirm colour, sheen and absorption, especially on pavers and decorative concrete.
Maintenance: keep it looking schmick
- Regular sweep & rinse: Grit acts like sandpaper on films.
- Gentle detergents: Skip harsh solvents unless the product data sheet says otherwise.
- Spot-fix quickly: Oil and leaf-tan stains are easier to remove when fresh.
- Periodic refresh: Film-forming sealers and coloured systems may need top-ups after a few years depending on exposure, traffic and cleaning habits. Penetrating sealers can be re-applied when water stops beading.
FAQs: Concrete & Paving
Q1: How do I know if my concrete needs sealing or coating?
If water soaks in instantly, you’ll benefit from a sealer or coating. If it beads on the surface, there’s likely an existing sealer, test compatibility or strip/prepare before recoating.
Q2: Can I apply a sealer over an old, unknown coating?
Not safely without testing. Do a small trial patch for adhesion and appearance. When in doubt, remove the old film or use the recommended primer/bond coat per the product system.
Q3: What’s the best option for a natural look on pavers?
A penetrating sealer preserves the natural colour and texture while repelling water and stains.
Q4: My driveway is slippery when wet—what can I do?
Add anti-slip grit to the final coat of a film-forming sealer or coloured coating, or choose a texture-friendly system. Keep surfaces clean, algae and dust reduce grip.
Q5: How long before I can park the car after coating the driveway?
Follow the product’s data sheet. Most systems allow light foot traffic sooner than vehicle traffic, which typically requires a longer cure period.
Q6: Do I have to etch every slab?
Not always. Porous, broom-finished slabs may not need it, but dense or power-trowelled concrete usually benefits from profiling for better adhesion.
Q7: Can I use the same product on concrete and clay pavers?
Sometimes, check the label. Some sealers are universal; others are tuned to specific substrates. Always patch-test.
Q8: What’s the easiest DIY win for patios?
Clean, spot-repair and apply a film-forming sealer with a slip-resistant additive. It boosts colour, adds protection and is simple to refresh later.
Final word
Concrete and paving projects don’t have to be hard. With the right prep, the right product type and a sensible plan for weather and curing, you’ll get a tidy finish that lasts.If you’re unsure which sealer or coating suits your surface, swing past PaintWorld and our team will help you match a system to your slab, pavers and conditions.
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