Concrete clean and seal

By Mitch Allen

Each year on the summer solstice in Northeast Ohio—around June 21—we enjoy roughly 15 hours of daylight, compared with just 9 hours on the winter solstice near December 21. That means right now we’re losing two minutes of daylight every single day.

That may not sound like much—until you consider that we’ll lose a full hour just in the month of August.

So if you have home improvement projects to get done before the snow flies, it’s a good idea to get started now.

You are literally burning daylight.

One essential project is having your driveway and other concrete surfaces cleaned and sealed to protect them from winter’s damaging freeze-thaw cycle.

Your Concrete Is Worth Protecting
“The cost of concrete and labor has soared over the past few years,” says Ken Wilson, the founder of Pristine Clean, which specializes in cleaning and sealing concrete, as well as power washing siding, roofs, decks and more.

“And worse, there’s been a concrete shortage for years, so manufacturers have been cutting corners and delivering lower-quality concrete to contractors. Unfortunately, our driveways aren’t the same high-quality pour as, say, Hoover Dam.”

That means it’s even more important now to protect your concrete.

“The average price of a new concrete driveway is around $12,000,” Ken says, “which makes this an investment well worth protecting.”

Don’t Wait Too Late
“As soon as the nighttime temperatures drop too low—and that’s coming faster than any of us would hope—concrete sealants cannot penetrate and protect,” Ken explains. “That’s why August and September are such big months for us. If you don’t do it now, it won’t get done before winter.”

Having a beautiful, like-new driveway is important for your home’s curb appeal, but the more essential reason for having your driveway cleaned and sealed is to protect it from Northeast Ohio’s damaging freeze-thaw cycle and ensure its long life.

Preventing Chipping, Pitting, Cracking
“Water can be damaging to concrete’s structure,” says Ken. “It penetrates into the molecules, then when it freezes, it expands and takes up to nine percent more space, shattering your concrete. Our goal in sealing is to fill those molecular spaces so water cannot penetrate them, ensuring the integrity of your driveway, patio and walkways.”

Using high-tech walk-behind cleaning units, the highly trained techs at Pristine deep clean the concrete to clear it of dirt and contaminants. Then they apply a sealer made of silane-siloxane, which chemically reacts to create a hydrophobic barrier.

“Concrete is porous and the holes are various sizes,” Ken explains. “We use this unique combination because silane fills the small spaces, and siloxane expands into the bigger spaces. Plus, after the application, our sealer will mitigate staining and protect your driveway and walkways against further contaminants, such as oils and road salt.”

In addition to concrete clean and seal services, Pristine Clean also power washes homes and decks and cleans roofs. If you haven’t had your home power washed this season, Ken says it’s still in your long-term best interest to eliminate built-up grime, algae and moss from the siding and roof before winter hits. And Pristine will tackle the job for one flat rate.

“You won’t find pricing gimmicks or games with us,” Ken says. “That’s just not how we roll. Every customer gets our best price, up front, period.”

Headquartered in Berea, Pristine Clean beautifies homes throughout Northeast Ohio. They are consistent winners of the Angie’s List Super Service Award and are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau. Call 440-454-7041 to arrange for a free estimate, or visit PristineClean.com. All technicians are bonded, insured and certified by the Power Washers of North America.