Driveways & Hard Surfaces
Driveway resealing, with the spec out loud
Sealer for concrete and pavers across the Northern Rivers. We tell you the product, the coverage, the curing time, and what a sealer doesn't fix.
Exposed-aggregate driveway with one half freshly sealed, glossy compared to the matte unsealed half — placeholder until real photos loadWe’re going to talk about a sealer like an honest tradesperson, not a salesman.
A sealer is a topical product. It darkens the surface a touch, deepens the colour of pavers or exposed aggregate, makes the surface easier to clean, and slows the penetration of oil, water and dirt. It is not a structural repair. It does not fix cracks. It does not turn a tired driveway into a new one. If the slab has moved, the slab has moved; a sealer on top of it makes it look better but doesn’t change what’s underneath.
We use either a penetrating sealer (sinks into the concrete, no surface film, doesn’t go glossy) or a film-forming sealer (sits on top, can be matte, satin or gloss, gives a more pronounced colour pop). Each has trade-offs. Penetrating sealers wear less visibly because there’s no film to crack; film-formers look more dramatic but wear in tyre tracks first. We’ll talk you through which suits your driveway, your aesthetic preference and your usage.
The application has rules. The surface must be fully dry. The weather must be sympathetic — no rain within 12 hours, no direct sun above 35°C, no application below 10°C overnight. We’ll reschedule if the forecast doesn’t cooperate; trying to push a job through bad weather is how you get milky or peeling sealer, and we don’t do that.
Expected life of a sealer in the Northern Rivers climate is three to seven years depending on traffic, sun exposure, and product. We tell you the real range, not a “lifetime” number. When it wears out, you clean again and re-seal; it’s not a do-it-once-forever product.
Please read the warranty page before you book a resealing job. It’s how we make sure everyone is clear before the work starts.
When you need this
The reasons people call
- Concrete has been cleaned but you want a deeper colour and easier maintenance
- Pavers have lost their colour and are starting to spall on the surface
- Exposed aggregate is dusting (small stones detaching when you walk on it)
- Previous sealer applied 5+ years ago has worn off in the tyre tracks
How we work
What actually happens
- Clean and dry the surface fully — at least 48 hours after a pressure wash before we seal
- Re-sand paver joints if needed
- Apply the chosen sealer in two coats, working with the weather and the surface temperature
- Cordon off the area; no foot traffic for 24 hours, no car for 48–72 hours depending on product
What's included
In the quoted price
- Pre-seal driveway clean (if not done as a separate booking)
- Two coats of sealer
- Joint re-sand on pavers as needed
- Cordon and signage during cure
- Written product spec and expected service life on the invoice
Honest about scope
What can go wrong, what's not included, what we check first
A recent job
"Has this gone too far? Do I need to replace the driveway?"
Tweed Heads, NSW · Exposed-aggregate driveway clean and reseal, Tweed Heads
The brief
Long exposed-aggregate driveway facing east. Owners said the surface was 'dusting' — small stones coming loose underfoot. Wanted to know if it could be saved or needed replacing.
What we found
Dusting was from the surface binder breaking down after about twelve years of UV and salt exposure, but the substrate was sound. No structural cracking, no movement. The previous sealer had worn off entirely in the tyre tracks, which had then aged faster.
What we did
Pressure-cleaned at a soft pressure suited to exposed aggregate. Let it dry properly — three full days because of the late autumn humidity. Applied two coats of penetrating sealer, no surface film, in a satin finish. Walked the owner around the cured surface before signing off.
Result
Surface stabilised, colour deepened slightly (we showed a test patch first so they knew what to expect), and the dusting stopped. Expected sealer life: three to five years given the exposure. Owner now on our reminder list for the next reseal.
FAQ
Driveway Resealing questions, answered
Will the sealer change the colour of my driveway?
It darkens the surface a touch and deepens the colour of exposed aggregate or stained concrete. Sometimes that's the point (most owners like it); sometimes it's a surprise. We can do a small test patch in an inconspicuous corner so you see the actual colour change before we commit to the whole drive.
How long do we need to keep cars off the driveway?
Foot traffic after twenty-four hours, vehicle traffic after forty-eight to seventy-two depending on the product and the weather. We cordon off the area, leave signage up, and time the job so the cure window doesn't trap a car. If you can't be without the drive for two days, we can split the work into two halves done a few days apart.
Penetrating sealer or film-forming sealer — which one?
Penetrating sinks into the concrete with no surface film, less obvious gloss, wears more evenly over time. Film-forming sits on top, gives a bigger colour pop and more shine, but wears visibly in the tyre tracks first. We talk through both on the quote — what suits your driveway depends on the surface, the look you want, and how heavily it gets used.
Related
Often booked together
Quote for driveway resealing
Specific to this service. We'll come back with a written number within one business day.
Ready for a real number?
Phone is the fastest. Quote form if you'd rather write. Either way, you'll hear back with a written number, not a starting price.