I want a shiny driveway
 

You know, like the floors at Costco. The concrete floors at Costco always seem to have a sheen and look really clean. I want my driveway to shine like that. What product will produce that effect and how long will it last?

It's how the concrete was poured and finished. You could probably rent an industrial buffer with some abrasive, like sand ,and get that finish with a month or two of work.

I would think a solvent based gloss sealer should do the trick. Apply it with a pump sprayer. You may want to consider using an acid stain first to get a uniform (pleasant) color. Then seal. I'm going that route for my garage floor...when I ever get the time...

'Gloss'n Seal' makes a product you could test. Import Tile in Berkeley sells it.

Yes, as mentioned, it's the finish that produces the smooth shiny surface.
Ever seen the riding finishers they use before they 'tilt-up'?


KT

Most sealers will deteriorate with exposure to UV over time.

You're looking for a concrete polishing place although from first-hand several of them are very flaky and difficult to get them to show up - and this is for fairly large-contract commercial gigs. To do some dude's driveway on a residential job I'd suspect it might be a nightmare (either they'll quote you a huge fee as their way of telling you "we can't be bothered" or it'll be a runaround for weeks or months).

I can give you the names of two companies clients of ours use (in my Rolodex at work) but chances are you might have better luck trying to source someone locally - if they even exist.

The equipment these guys use is pretty expensive and heavy/large. Probably not worth it for residential, but you might get lucky. . .

There is a concrete sealer called "TRAZ 25" that we used on our concrete patio last fall after I stained it and it gives a nice shiny appearance and doesn't flake off. It's also supposed to protect the concrete...

Oh and by the way, if you ever do get a nice shiney driveway, I'd suggest a little caution the first time you get home in the rain. Don't be in a hurry, is all I'm sayin'.

;)
Les

Very true.

And make sure it's sloped to drain.

I'd check with the mfrs to verify that any sealer is suitable for outdoor use before trusting it for that kind of application.

Wax it. But make sure you use a clay bar first.

I'm starting a project now that will have a concrete floor finished like glass. It is a Caterpiller dealer/service center in central Florida. These guys know thier concrete; +/- 150,000 s.f. of 10" thick, 5000 psi, with two mats of #5 rebar, 12" O.C., each way. PLUS at each joint they use 4" x 1/4 steel angles to prevent the concrete from chipping. They drive a D10 Dozer right over this stuff and it won't leave a mark. We're using a BASF MasterPlate shake-on hardener, which is applied at the time of placing/finishng.

I realize this has nothing to do with your driveway but it shows what can be done.

Have you tried Armor All? I hear it's good for making the driveway Jet Fokkin Black!

I think floors such as COST's are cleaned, polished, buffed, etc weekly by commercial cleaning services. Without that care, I wonder how good they would look. And a driveway being outdoors, you'd have to sweep it all the time, since even shiny concrete gets dusty.

Dunno, seems like being a slave to your driveway.

I think you'll need to change your sig. From "Learn like you'll live forever. Live like you'll die tomorrow." to "buff your driveway today, because you'll die tomorrow."

all it takes is money...

http://concreteff.com/

From what I can tell, they are cleaned, polished and buffed at Costo CONSTANTLY. Like at Disneyland. When they get to the final aisle, the go back and start over again.

If this is really what you want, it would likely be cheapest to remove the existing driveway and have a new one installed with the smooth surface you want.

Maybe not. Show a picture of what you've got.


KT

Have Trekkor tile it.:D

True polishing results in a very low-maintenance finish.

Go into one of the newer Office Depot stores and look at the floor there. That's polished concrete. Pretty nice look and durable as hell, especially if you use concrete admixtures for higher compressive strength.

You can color it too.

1x1 glass mosaic of a 911!:cool:


KT

When you polish concrete with diamond grinders you use a densifing compound which gets forced into the pores of the concrete making it very durable. No topcoat is required which is the point of polishing vs coating. Coatings will all fail - its a matter of when, not if.

Places like Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, etc. are all polishing now in lieu of coating. It is more expensive up front but cheaper in the long run. They don't polish it every day as much as simply clean it with a Zambony machine which squirts down a cleaning liquid or plain water, scrubs it around and sucks it back up. This cleaning along with constant foot traffic keep the floor polished and looking relatively new. Waxes and polishes are used sparingly to keep the floor relatively slip resistant. Non slip waxes are available for when the floor eventually gets a little scratched up.

This type of concrete finishing would be great for a driveway if your main goal is to slip and die of a head injury in the near future. Nothing like running out to your car and slipping on a little patch of oil or water unexpectantly.


Some folks with exposed aggregate driveways like the wet look so clear glossy sealers can be applied every year or two as required. Many such products are available at your local paint store or big box location.

You don't tell us where you live, but...

You will NOT like it when it rains. or snows.