Concrete Sealing in Gilroy CA - concrete that sheds water and keeps its look
Driveway soaking up every stain and turning dark after rain? We seal it so water stays on top and the concrete keeps the look you picked.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Should I seal my concrete, and what kind of sealer do I need?
Concrete sealing in Gilroy, CA puts a sealer on your driveway, patio, walkway or garage floor to help keep moisture and the trouble it brings out of the concrete, either by soaking in and leaving a natural look or by forming a coat on top for a wet look.
Most people call when the driveway has gone blotchy with oil spots or the patio they paid good money for has turned dull, and the first thing I want to know is how you'd like it to look when we're done. The price mostly moves with the size of the area, how much cleaning and stain work it needs, whether an old sealer has to come off first and which sealer you choose. The schedule turns on the weather, because sealer wants dry concrete and a dry stretch after it goes down. I'll leave you a written estimate with each step spelled out, so you can see where your money goes.
How can you tell your concrete needs sealing?
Water soaks right in
When you hose it off and the concrete turns dark right away, there's little or no sealer left doing any work. Every rain and every spill gets carried a little deeper, and stains that sink in are a lot harder to lift later.
Oil and drip stains spreading
Dark spots where the car parks, or rust and leaf marks on the patio, mean the surface is open and taking in whatever lands on it. The longer they sit, the more cleaning they need before sealing, and some may not come out all the way.
Old sealer peeling or patchy
Shiny in some spots and dull or flaking in others usually means an old film sealer has worn through where feet and tires go. Recoating before it peels is simpler than waiting until the loose sealer has to be stripped off first.
How we handle concrete sealing
We start with the look you want, natural or wet look, because that choice decides which sealer goes down and how often it'll need another coat. Then we check the concrete for cracks, flaking and old sealer and clean it well, since anything left on top keeps the new sealer from soaking in or sticking. We plan the sealing itself around the time of day and the rain, so the sealer has a fair chance to soak in and set the way it should, and we put it down in even coats rather than flooding it on.
A sealer protects concrete that's in decent shape. It won't fill a pit or glue down a flake. If the top of your slab is scaling or patched in three shades of gray, we'd talk with you about concrete resurfacing and overlays first, and on an indoor floor with dips and low spots, self-leveling concrete and overlays can flatten it out before anything goes on top.
Penetrating sealer, natural look
This suits you if you want concrete to look like concrete, because it soaks into the surface and adds no gloss. There's no coat sitting on top, so there's nothing to get slick or peel.
Film sealer, wet look
This suits you if you want deeper color and that just-hosed-down shine, since an acrylic or urethane film sits on top and brings the color up. Plan on the upkeep, because one sealer guide says these films need recoating every few years, and they can get slippery when wet and cloud white if moisture gets trapped under them.
Get a written estimate for sealing your concrete
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I come out, look at the concrete and leave you a free written estimate, with no obligation.
- Based in
- Gilroy, CA 95020
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
What happens after you call about sealing your concrete?
Here's how a sealing job runs from your side, from the first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call or send us a message
Call (669) 205-6336 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. It helps if you can tell us whether the concrete is plain, stamped or colored and roughly how many square feet it is.
I look at the concrete
I come out, look the concrete over, ask about old sealers and any damp spots, and walk you through the natural look and the wet look. You get a written estimate with each step of the job spelled out, so you know what the price covers before you decide anything.
We clean and seal it
Our own crew does the work, with me or our lead installer on site. Before we start, we'll tell you which areas need to stay clear and for how long.
Walk the finished job together
Before we pack up, we walk the sealed concrete with you so you can see the finish and point out anything you want looked at. We also go over how to care for it and when it's likely to need attention again.
Why Gilroy homeowners call us to seal their concrete
I walk your concrete with you
I come out for the estimate myself, and our own crew does the work with me or our lead installer on site. The person who looked at your concrete and wrote the estimate is the one keeping an eye on the job.
Working on Gilroy concrete since 2013
I learned concrete floors with an installer here in the valley and started this business in Gilroy in 2013, so we're 13 years in. That's long enough to see how a sealer holds up a few years after the crew drives away, which is the part you'll live with.
We're licensed and insured
California's Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates contractors in the state, and we're licensed and insured. That matters to you because the board also sets rules that protect homeowners, like the down payment cap in the questions below.
If your concrete needs work before any sealer goes on, I'll tell you that at the visit rather than seal over the problem. Send us a few details or call (669) 205-6336 and I'll come take a look.
Sealing and caring for concrete around Gilroy
Storm drains in the Santa Clara Valley carry water straight to local creeks and San Francisco Bay with no treatment, so whatever runs off your driveway while we clean it ends up in a creek. We block off nearby drains, keep rinse water and cleaner out of the gutter and keep sealer away from the curb, because on a sealing job the cleaning step is where most of the runoff happens.
Around here we mostly seal driveways, patios and walkways, and plenty of the patios are stamped or colored concrete with a wet-look film that's gone dull. We see the same mix on jobs in Morgan Hill and Hollister, and we handle it the same way, starting with the look you want.
Questions about concrete sealing in Gilroy
Should I use a penetrating sealer or a film-forming sealer on my concrete?
For plain concrete and pavers, one sealer guide suggests a penetrating sealer as the default, and for stamped or colored concrete it suggests a film for the look, with a non-slip additive mixed in. That's a sensible place to start. I'd still rather hear how you want it to look first, because a natural look and a wet look lead to different sealers and different upkeep.
How much does concrete sealing cost in Gilroy?
Professional concrete sealing across the US usually costs about $1 to $2.50 per square foot, and that's a national figure for the sealing work, not our price. Your own number comes from the written estimate after I've seen the concrete and we've settled on a sealer.
How long after sealing can I walk on concrete or let it get rained on?
For one water-based acrylic sealer, the maker says to keep foot traffic off for at least six hours and prefers twelve, and drying can run longer depending on temperature and humidity. For one penetrating sealer, the maker says to keep rain off for six hours, and many surfaces take several days to reach full water repellency. We'll tell you the waits for the sealer we actually use on your job.
What is the best time of day to seal concrete?
Early in the day is usually best, because hot, windy weather dries the water out of a water-based penetrating sealer before it can soak in, and one maker advises working early and in shade on those days. A different maker says acrylic sealer put on too heavy can trap solvents and bubble, mostly in high heat or direct sun, and suggests the morning or evening, between 60 and 90 degrees F. If a day looks hot and windy, we'd rather move it than fight it.
How much can a contractor ask for up front on a home improvement job in California?
In California, a down payment on a home improvement project can't be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. The state licensing board also says any other payments have to be listed in the contract and tied to work completed or materials delivered, so check any contract against that before you sign.
How do I get my concrete ready for sealing?
Mostly you clear it and we clean it, because one sealer maker says the surface has to be solid and clean, free of dirt, oil and anything else, before the sealer goes on. Move cars, pots and furniture off the area, and whoever you hire, ask how they'll clean and check the concrete first.
Concrete work that often comes before sealing
Concrete Resurfacing & Overlays
If your concrete is flaking, pitted or patched in three colors, a new overlay gives the sealer a sound, even surface to protect instead of hiding damage.
Self-Leveling Concrete & Overlays
When an indoor slab dips, slopes or has low spots where water sits, a self-leveling layer flattens it out before any sealer or coating goes on top.
Service areas for concrete sealing
Gilroy Epoxy Floors & Concrete Coatings is based in Gilroy, CA, and the 12 cities below have their own pages on this site, from Santa Clara down to Salinas. If your city isn't listed, call and ask.
Get your concrete sealed before more soaks in
The sooner I see your concrete, the fewer stains have had time to sink in before we clean and seal it, so call (669) 205-6336 or send the form.