Concrete driveway guys, please help

[richg99]

I recently had my 1600 sq ft. driveway power-washed. I then hired a local guy to seal it. He used Thompsons.

What I have now is a mess. This driveway is about 17/18 years old. It appears that when they poured it, they let many stones come right to the surface. It is solid, but a patchwork of concrete and stones. That is where the mess shows up.

The Thompsons soaked into the areas where there was concrete, but didn't soak into the stone sections. It looks like a patchwork quilt, sewed by an old lady on drugs. Some areas are gray (even though he used Clear) , some white, and a lot are streaked (apparently due to the sealer guy using a large push-brush but not using enough material to cover properly.)

I called the sealer guy back. He said "I've never seen anything like this". He tried to spray some additonal Thompson's on the driveway, but that didn't do much, if anything. He won't be back, I am sure.

Anyhow, bottom line now...is that the Thompson's is sealing the driveway alright. Water beads and runs off pretty well. The appearance, though, is as if I had never cleaned it at all.

While talking to a guy at Sherwin Williams, I learned that the Thompson's should wear off enough in six months so that another power-washing will remove it. Is that true?

If and when I get it off, I am considering just using Black Asphalt driveway sealer over the concrete. That would cover the blotchy affect of stones and concrete. Can I do that?

This is a Summer house, so I don't want to spend a ton of money replacing the driveway.

Any help or advice appreciated.
Thank You.

[Blazer1]

Might want to rent a concrete grinder. Youtube videos show results. Might work in your application.

[bullet20vee]

Strip it and Paint it after you get the sealer off.

[jham0077]

You could stain it. It may take an acid wash to get the Thompsons off. I would think the stain would adhere to the straight stone without a problem....maybe. I would look into an actually concrete stain an snot asphalt sealer though.

[wildturkey]

If it’s not pitting I would ignore until it wore off. No need in extra work.

[pa.X19]

You could stain it. It may take an acid wash to get the Thompsons off. I would think the stain would adhere to the straight stone without a problem....maybe. I would look into an actually concrete stain an snot asphalt sealer though.

This is your best option concrete stain / bandaid.
Pressure washing concrete (can) tear it up trying to clean it.
Regardless of how good of a job they done when it was poured.

[barbarian]

Pictures?

[ericm]

Don’t do anything crazy. The Thompson’s will wear off and the surface will return to normal. You can power wash to expedite if you want to. In the the future stick to Hydrozo products for sealing. Your local contractor’s supply house will handle this.

[CatFan]

Thompson’s is just a wax. Give it a few months and it will be gone.

[AirForceAngler]

I recently bought a 3200 psi power washer from Sam's and a device that attaches to the spray bar called a surface cleaner. I'd be willing to be it'd take off that sealer with no problem. It ate the mold and crap off of my driveways and sidewalk with ease. It is a beast. You could probably rent something similar.

[pa.X19]

Thompson’s is just a wax. Give it a few months and it will be gone.

But the stones will still be there and the concrete surface isn't coming back.

[Stoner]

Mother Nature will take care of it in a few months.

[CatFan]

But the stones will still be there and the concrete surface isn't coming back.

You can demo and have new concrete poured.

[fishnfool38]

But the stones will still be there and the concrete surface isn't coming back.

It doesn't destroy the concrete it's just sealer seeped in a little deeper and you can see where the rocks are.
It will wear away.

[richg99]

I am pretty sure that, in 6 months, the Thompson's can be power washed away. Given the variety of surfaces, I will want to paint it or cover it with something solid color. What do you recommend? I am afraid that a translucent stain will put me back where I am now... blotchy.

[spinningreel]

Asphalt sealer will not bond to concrete, in a month it will flake off.

[krindgen]

Dumasses didn't finish enough to push the stones deeper into the slab.

[richg99]

Pix.

[pa.X19]

That looks like the pressure washer blew the surface off, to aggressive, almost looks etched. Let it wear off then clean it might even need to etch it, then get a concrete stain tinted close to a concrete color or any color you like.

[brushsjigs]

Thompson's is nothing more than a paraffin based wax. Give it 6 months and mother nature will remove it. Get your money back from the jackass that sealed it with the wrong material. He ripped you off big time.