Okanagan Guide
Concrete Sealing vs. Sealcoating vs. Resurfacing
Quick Answer
These three words get mixed up all the time, so here's the short version. Sealcoating is a black coating for asphalt — a different material and a different contractor. Resurfacing means pouring a new overlay on top of worn concrete to change how it looks — a different trade again. Concrete sealing is what we do: a penetrating sealer that soaks into your sound grey concrete to block water, salt, and freeze-thaw. If you have concrete and you just used the wrong word, you're in the right place.
The Difference, Side By Side
Sealing vs. Sealcoating vs. Resurfacing
Three jobs, three materials, three different trades. Here's how they line up so you can spot which one your surface actually needs.
| Concrete Sealing | Asphalt Sealcoating | Concrete Resurfacing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A penetrating sealer soaked into the slab | A black coating brushed over the top | A new overlay bonded over the old surface |
| What material | Concrete (grey, rigid slabs) | Asphalt (black, flexible) | Concrete (worn or dated) |
| What it solves | Water, salt, UV, and freeze-thaw damage | Oxidation and cracking of asphalt | Worn, spalled, or dated-looking concrete |
| Who does it | Us — concrete sealers | Asphalt / paving contractor | Concrete overlay specialist |
| Typical lifespan | 7–10+ years (penetrating) | 2–4 years per coat | Varies by overlay system |
We'll be upfront: OKGN does the first column only. We seal sound concrete. We don't sealcoat asphalt and we don't pour resurfacing overlays. If you need one of those, we'll point you the right way rather than waste your time.
Tell Them Apart
Did You Mean Sealcoating? Here's How to Tell
The fastest way to know who you need is to look at what you've got. Asphalt and concrete are easy to tell apart once you know the tells. Walk out and check yours against these.
You have asphalt (you need sealcoating)
- It's black, not grey. Asphalt is a petroleum product, so it reads dark and tar-like — even faded, it's a charcoal-grey.
- It flexes a little. Asphalt is softer and slightly bendy. On a hot Okanagan afternoon it can even feel tacky underfoot.
- No control joints. It's poured as one continuous mat, so you won't see the saw-cut joints and slab seams concrete has.
- Faint petroleum smell, especially when it's hot. That tar smell is a dead giveaway.
If that's you, an asphalt sealcoating contractor is your call — not us.
You have concrete (you need sealing)
- It's grey. Concrete is cement-based, so it reads light grey — sometimes tinted, stamped, or exposed-aggregate, but never tar-black.
- It's rigid and hard. Concrete doesn't flex. It stays cool and solid even in summer heat.
- You can see joints and slabs. Look for the straight saw-cut control joints and the seams between poured sections.
- No petroleum smell. Concrete is inert — no tar, no tackiness, no asphalt odour.
That's exactly what we seal. Read on for what sealing actually does for it.
What Sealing Actually Does
If You Have Concrete, Here's What Sealing Does
Concrete is porous — it drinks water like a sponge. In a climate like ours, that's the whole problem. Here's why a penetrating seal matters, and how it differs from the cheap topical stuff.
Blocks water before freeze-thaw
The Okanagan hits concrete with 50–80+ freeze-thaw cycles a year. Water soaks into the pores, freezes, expands, and forces the surface apart — that's the scaling and spalling you see on old driveways. A penetrating sealer fills those pores so water can't get in to begin with. This is the single biggest reason sealing matters here.
Shrugs off UV and salt
With 1,943 sunshine hours a year and a summer UV index of 8–9, our sun bleaches and breaks down unprotected concrete. Winter road salt does the rest, scaling the surface and corroding rebar below. Sealing shields against both, which is why driveways, walkways, and pool decks get the biggest payoff.
Penetrating, not a film on top
Cheap topical sealers sit on the surface as a film that peels, hazes, and traps moisture — often in a year or two. We use Pavix CCC-100, a penetrating dual-crystalline sealer that reacts inside the concrete and becomes part of it. There's no film to fail, so freeze-thaw and UV have nothing to attack.
Protection, not a new surface
Here's the line that clears up the confusion: sealing protects the concrete you already have. It doesn't add a layer or change the look the way resurfacing does. If your slab is sound, sealing keeps it that way for years. If it's already crumbling, that's a repair-or-resurface conversation first.
The surface you have changes the payoff. Driveways cop the salt and the parking traffic, patios and walkways live out in the weather, and our full breakdown of concrete sealing in Kelowna walks through each surface.
Commercial & Parking Lots
"Parking Lot Sealcoating" — Concrete vs. Asphalt
This is the most common mix-up we see in the commercial world. Most paved parking lots are asphalt, so "parking lot sealcoating" usually points to a paving contractor. But plenty of lots, aprons, loading pads, and walkways are concrete — and those don't get sealcoated, they get a penetrating concrete sealer.
Concrete commercial flatwork takes a beating: salt every winter, heavy vehicle traffic, freeze-thaw across every season. Sealing it protects the slab and the rebar underneath, and it's a fraction of the cost of replacing a failed pad.
If you manage a strata, plaza, or commercial property with concrete surfaces, that's squarely in our lane.
Which One Is Your Lot?
Black asphalt lot? That's sealcoating — call a paving contractor.
Grey concrete lot, apron, or pad? That's concrete sealing — that's us.
Concrete sidewalks & walkways? Sealing protects them and cuts trip-hazard liability.
Not sure what you've got? Send a photo and we'll tell you.
Pool Decks & Patios
"Deck Surfacing" — Sealing vs. Resurfacing
Pool decks and patios are where "surfacing," "resurfacing," and "sealing" get tangled up most. They're not the same job, and which one you need comes down to the condition of your concrete.
Resurfacing (a new overlay)
Resurfacing or "deck surfacing" bonds a fresh layer on top of your existing concrete to change the look or feel — a new texture, colour, or coating. It's the right move when the surface is worn, dated, or you want a whole new finish. It's a separate trade from what we do, and it adds material rather than protecting what's there.
Changes the surface. Different trade.
Sealing (protects what you have)
Sealing soaks a penetrating sealer into a sound deck so it resists water, pool chemicals, sunscreen, and our hard freeze-thaw winters — usually with a non-slip additive around the water. It doesn't change the look much, it just keeps your existing deck protected and easy to clean for years.
Protects the surface. That's us.
Rule of thumb: if the concrete is sound and you just want it protected, you want pool deck sealing or patio sealing. If it's spalled or you want a brand-new look, that's resurfacing — a different trade we'll happily point you toward.
FAQ
Sealing vs. Sealcoating: Common Questions
Is sealcoating the same as concrete sealing?
No — they're two different jobs on two different materials. Sealcoating is a black coating brushed or sprayed over asphalt (the petroleum-based black surface you'd find on a paved parking lot or older driveway). Concrete sealing is a penetrating treatment that soaks into grey concrete to block water, salt, and freeze-thaw damage. The words sound similar and people use them interchangeably, but if your surface is asphalt you need a sealcoating company, and if it's concrete you need a concrete sealer. We do concrete sealing only.
Do you sealcoat asphalt driveways?
No, we don't. Asphalt sealcoating is a separate trade with different products and equipment, so if your driveway is black asphalt you'll want an asphalt sealcoating contractor. Where we can help is if your driveway is actually concrete — grey, with control joints between the slabs. A lot of people call us asking to "sealcoat" their driveway and it turns out to be concrete, which is exactly what we seal. If you're not sure which one you've got, we'll tell you straight.
Is deck surfacing the same as sealing?
No. "Surfacing" or "resurfacing" means applying a new layer — an overlay or coating — on top of worn concrete to give it a fresh face. Sealing doesn't add a layer; it soaks into the concrete you already have to protect it. If your pool deck or patio is sound but unprotected, sealing is what you want. If the surface is badly spalled or you want a whole new look, that's resurfacing, which is a different trade. We seal sound concrete; we don't pour overlays.
Can you seal a concrete parking lot?
Yes — if it's a concrete lot, apron, loading pad, or walkway, that's right in our lane. The confusion is that most paved parking lots are asphalt, and people search "parking lot sealcoating" for those. Asphalt lots get sealcoated by a paving contractor. Concrete lots, aprons, and commercial flatwork get penetrating concrete sealer, which is what protects them from salt and freeze-thaw. See our commercial sealing page for the details.
What's the difference between sealing and resurfacing?
Sealing protects concrete you already have by soaking a penetrating sealer into the slab so water, salt, and UV can't break it down. Resurfacing rebuilds a worn surface by bonding a new overlay on top of the old concrete to change how it looks or feels. Sealing is prevention and protection; resurfacing is a cosmetic and surface rebuild. They solve different problems, and they're done by different trades. We handle the sealing side.
How much does concrete sealing cost in Kelowna?
It depends on the surface type, square footage, and the condition of the slab, so there's no single sticker price. Our free interactive cost calculator gives you a tailored ballpark in seconds — see the Concrete Sealing Cost in Kelowna guide. For an exact number, we come look at your concrete in person, free and with no obligation.
Got Concrete? Let's Get It Protected
If your driveway, patio, pool deck, or commercial lot is concrete, we'll come look at it, tell you honestly what it needs, and give you a firm price — free, no obligation, no pressure.