Unpopular take: we don't need to seal every residential driveway

I was on a job last summer in Phoenix where the homeowner insisted we seal his 2 year old driveway because 'everyone does it.' I told him it wasn't necessary yet, but he pushed back hard. He said his neighbor down the street had cracks after two winters without sealing, and he didn't want that. I explained the concrete was still curing and sealing too early can trap moisture, but he wouldn't budge. So I sealed it, charged him $450, and six months later he called to complain about white spots from efflorescence. Has anyone else dealt with homeowners who won't trust your advice on timing?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscar3905d ago

Why do homeowners think sealing is always the answer...

james_ross5d ago

300 dollars for a basic tube of caulk and some spray foam? @oscar390 that's where I stopped reading. I mean come on, a roll of window seal tape is like 15 bucks at the hardware store. I've seen guys charge 500 bucks to "seal" a crawlspace with a couple cans of Great Stuff and it's still drafty. Not saying sealing never works, but there's a difference between a real fix and just slapping goop on everything.