Plain broom-finished concrete generally takes a clear penetrating or acrylic sealer. Stamped and coloured concrete needs a sealer that also protects the pigment from fading and prevents efflorescence, the chalky white staining caused by moisture carrying mineral salts to the surface.
Water that gets into unsealed concrete expands when it freezes, widening small cracks over each winter.
De-icing salt pits and flakes unsealed concrete surfaces; a sealed surface sheds it instead.
Sealer slows the moisture movement that causes chalky white mineral staining on concrete.
We check whether the concrete is plain, stamped or coloured, then confirm a written price before booking. Surface prep matters as much as the sealer itself.
Stamped and coloured concrete gets a sealer chosen to protect the pattern and pigment from fading.
We treat the chalky white staining caused by moisture and mineral salts before sealing over it.
The slab dries fully before sealing so the product penetrates and cures instead of clouding.
We work carefully around landscaping, planters and anything sitting on the surface.
We check whether the concrete is plain, stamped or coloured, then confirm a written price.
We pressure wash off dirt, oil residue and loose surface laitance, then let the slab dry fully.
We apply a sealer matched to the finish so it penetrates and cures without clouding or peeling.
We check the finished surface with you before we leave.
Capital Wash & Seal provides professional concrete sealing throughout Ottawa and the surrounding area. Homeowners and property managers reach out when a poured, broom-finished or stamped concrete surface is showing surface staining, chalky efflorescence, or the first hairline cracks that come from repeated freeze-thaw stress. Poured and stamped concrete is one of the most common driveway and patio materials in Ottawa's suburbs, and each finish type responds differently to sealer chemistry and to the de-icing salt that homeowners and the City both use through the winter months. Sealing creates a barrier that keeps salt, moisture and UV exposure from working into the surface, which is especially important on stamped or coloured concrete where the sealer also protects the pigment. We assess the concrete's finish, age and condition and confirm the right sealer and price in a written quote before starting.
Sealing itself does not repair structural cracks, but we treat existing surface cracks as part of the prep so the sealer is applied to a properly prepared surface, and we flag anything beyond that scope.
Newly poured concrete generally needs a curing period before sealing, and we confirm the right timeline for your specific pour when we quote the job.
Yes, stamped and coloured concrete typically needs a UV-stable sealer to protect the pigment, while plain broom-finished concrete usually takes a clear penetrating or acrylic sealer.
That is efflorescence, caused by moisture carrying mineral salts to the surface, and a proper sealer significantly slows how much of it develops.
Most concrete surfaces in the Ottawa area are resealed every two to three years depending on traffic, sun exposure and winter salt exposure.
A quality sealer typically enhances the existing colour slightly and can be applied in a low-sheen or wet-look finish, depending on what you prefer for the space.