Untreated commercial concrete has a design life of about 30 years, but it starts to look its age at year seven. The right maintenance program stretches the aesthetic life to match the structural life.
The annual clean
Every commercial concrete surface — sidewalks, plazas, dumpster pads, curbs — should be hot-water pressure washed once per year at minimum. Bi-annual for high-traffic entry approaches.
The 3-year sealer
Every 3–5 years, apply a penetrating siloxane sealer. This is not a topical coating — it soaks into the pores of the concrete and creates a hydrophobic barrier that resists salt intrusion, oil staining, and freeze-thaw cracking.
The stain response protocol
Oil, rust, and organic staining should be treated within 72 hours. After that, the stain penetrates into the sealer / concrete matrix and becomes far more expensive to remove.
