Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement · Episode 5
Listen to this episode
Freeze–thaw damage is expensive and often permanent — and the window to prevent it closes in the fall. Shawna Turner on why a lapsed sealer lets water get underneath, what to do with outdoor countertops and garden décor, and how cold is too cold to apply a sealer.
3 min 31 sec · Download MP3
For this job you need: ProSeal Li™ · EasySeal™
Not sure which is right for your slab? Send us the details — the free project consultation is a person, not a form letter.
The written guide on this topic, with photographs: Winterizing Outdoor Concrete.
Editor’s note. This episode was recorded some years ago. The transcript below has been corrected where the facts have changed; nothing about the technique has been altered.
- The sealer discussed throughout was then called the “Penetrating Lithium Hardener Sealer”. It is now ProSeal Li™ Penetrating Concrete Sealer.
- One sentence said the sealer “permanently seals the concrete against weather impacts”. That has been softened — no sealer is permanent, and we do not claim it is.
- The application-temperature figures given on air (solvent-based down to freezing, water-based at 60°F or above) are left as they were said, but they have not been re-verified against current formulations. Follow the instructions supplied with the product you actually buy.
- The sign-off’s RSS-feed line and social links have been dropped — the list included Google+, which shut down in 2019, and Twitter, now X.
- The series is no longer in production, so the closing reference to a twice-monthly schedule reads in the past tense.
- Housekeeping, applied to every episode in this archive. The spoken sign-off has been rewritten to point here rather than at the old directcolors.com/listen address. The RSS-feed line, the social-media list and any pointers to retired photo-gallery, blog or video pages have been dropped, along with pointers to pages that have since been retired or superseded by the links under What’s Next — in some episodes that removes a whole sentence or a short exchange. Every speaker says “design consultation”; the service is now called the free project consultation, and we have used the current name throughout rather than send you to a page that no longer exists. Run-on speaker turns, duplicated intro lines and obvious transcription slips have been repaired without changing meaning. Nothing bearing on technique, safety or product choice has been altered; those changes are itemized above.
Still accurate: AcquaSeal™ is still positioned for indoor work, and ProSeal Li™ is still the water-based exception that belongs outdoors.
What you need for this job
Winterizing is about the sealer, and both options here are current.
- A penetrating, matte finish that will not lift
- ProSeal Li™
- A film sealer with color depth
- EasySeal™ Satin
- Pavers specifically
- Portico™ or PaveWave™
Not sure what is already on the slab? Send us the detail through the free project consultation before the first freeze.
Full transcript
Amie Nolen: You’re listening to podcast episode 5: Winterizing Outdoor Concrete. In this podcast, Direct Colors offers tips and recommendations on getting your outdoor concrete, countertops and concrete décor ready for the cold weather season. Time to winterize your outdoor concrete! If this is your first time listening, then thanks for listening and welcome.
AN: Today we’re talking with Shawna Turner about winterizing outdoor concrete. Let’s get started. Hey, everybody. Amie Nolen here. Hi Shawna — why should I worry about sealing my concrete before winter sets in?
Shawna Turner: This answer differs depending on where a customer lives. If you live in a cold northern climate, sealing your concrete before winter has a great deal of value. Ice and snow can damage concrete sealer over the winter, particularly if it has been a few years since it was last sealed. Water can penetrate under the sealer, causing flaking or milky spotting on the concrete surface. While this can be repaired without too much difficulty, applying sealer in the fall before the bad weather begins can prevent the damage from occurring.
ST: If you haven’t yet sealed your outdoor concrete, I would reconsider. The freeze–thaw cycle can do very expensive and often irreparable damage to concrete in cold weather climates. Spalling — where water infiltrates the concrete and causes the surface to break away from the substrate — is both difficult and costly to repair. Even if you have no interest in changing the color of your concrete, consider using ProSeal Li™ on porches and especially driveways to avoid concrete replacement or re-topping. The sealer penetrates into the concrete and fills the pores so that water and ice cannot. It saves a great deal of money in the long run and keeps your concrete surfaces looking great year round.
AN: Other than sealing, what else should I do?
ST: If you have countertops or concrete décor like fountains, you definitely want to protect those as well. If you won’t be using your outdoor kitchen or entertainment area much during the winter, and the area isn’t protected from winter precipitation, I would consider covering my countertop with plastic or a tarp to prevent extended contact with ice or snow. Your sealer will thank you.
ST: For concrete décor, I would bring what you can inside and make sure what stays outside has been properly sealed. This is particularly important for birdbaths or fountains that can collect water and ice. Again, ProSeal Li™ is an excellent choice for concrete décor and seals the concrete against weather impacts.
AN: When are the temperatures too cold to apply concrete sealer outdoors?
ST: Solvent based concrete sealers can be applied outdoors in temperatures down to freezing. Water based sealers can really only be applied to concrete that is at least 60°F at the time of application. With the exception of ProSeal Li™, most water based sealers would be used indoors rather than outdoors anyway.
AN: Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement podcasts were produced twice monthly for your enjoyment, and the show notes live here in the Direct Colors listening archive. Thanks again for joining us!
What’s Next
- The written guide → Winterizing Outdoor Concrete
- Choosing a sealer → Best Concrete Sealer · How to Apply Concrete Sealer
- If the finish has already failed → How to Fix Concrete Sealer
- Fountains and garden décor → How to Stain a Concrete Fountain
- Shop → ProSeal Li™ · EasySeal™
