That 'cure and seal' my supplier pushed almost ruined my driveway job

I was dead set against using this new cure and seal my supplier recommended for a residential driveway in Phoenix. I figured my old method of wet curing with burlap was fine, no need to change. But last summer, the burlap dried out too fast in the heat, and the surface craced in 3 spots before I even finished. I finally tried the sealant on a small patio last month, and it held up perfect through a 110 degree week. Has anyone else had burlap fail on them in extreme heat like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

victorb171mo ago

Burlap in Phoenix is a nightmare waiting to happen. I had a similar blowout a few years back on a 105 degree day. The burlap was bone dry by noon and I had cracking by the end of the week. That cure and seal stuff is basically your only real option when temps stay above 100 for days at a time. You gotta make sure you apply it heavy enough so it forms a good film. I still use burlap for shaded or cooler jobs but any big summer pour gets the sealer treatment now.

tessa_clark7412d agoMost Upvoted

Oh come on, is it really that bad? I've been using burlap out here for years and never had a total blowout like you're describing. Sure, you have to stay on top of keeping it wet, but if you set up a sprinkler on a timer it's not that hard to manage. I've done plenty of summer pours in the triple digits and the burlap worked fine as long as I wasn't lazy about it. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I think people get a little dramatic about this stuff sometimes.

lunakim1mo ago

Burlap in Phoenix is basically playing hydration roulette with a concrete slab. (Spoiler: you usually lose.)