Can I DIY my concrete driveway or do I need a professional?

Concrete repairs, resurfacing and sealing can rejuvenate and add value to your home. What can you do yourself, and when do you need to call in the professionals?

If your concrete surfaces are cracked, stained or faded, Dulux Avista’s concrete products can help. You can give your driveway, courtyard or porch a makeover, or turn your garage into an extra room with a sleek new floor.

Most Dulux Avista products are recommended for use by experienced applicators. In fact, we train up our most trusted trade professionals to become Dulux Avista Accredited Applicators. But there are some products and situations where you can save money by doing it yourself.

When to DIY

We recommend the following small repairs and concrete maintenance jobs for DIY. 

• Repairing cracks to small sections of a concrete surface such as a driveway or garage floor
• Resurfacing a small section of concrete that is otherwise in good condition
• Resealing concrete as a maintenance task every two years. However, if there are signs of peeling, flaking, whitening or blooming, we recommend hiring a professional to grind back the previous sealer coat.

DIY concrete products

Dulux Avista’s Bunnings range includes products tailored to DIY jobs like those listed above:

• Dulux Avista Crack Repair Kit
• Dulux Avista Concrete Patch and Resurface kit
• Dulux Avista General Purpose Concrete Sealer (Semi Gloss)
• Dulux Avista General Purpose Concrete Sealer (Matt)
• Dulux Avista Exposed Aggregate Sealer
• Dulux Avista Coloured Concrete Sealer
• Dulux Avista Resurfacing Primer

See our full Bunnings product range.

Things to keep in mind with DIY

• Surface preparation: Take care to properly grind and clean cracked concrete before commencing patch repairs. Previously sealed concrete may require high pressure washing, or a stiff broom and all-purpose cleaner may suffice.
• Make sure you have the right equipment for the job: For example, concrete sealer should be poured into a roller tray and applied using a good quality 12-20mm nap roller.
• Condition check: Our sealing products include testing instructions to determine if the existing sealer is suitable to be sealed over, or whether you need to strip it back and start again.
• Finish: When resealing concrete, make sure you apply the concrete sealer evenly. For the best results, aim to apply 1 square metre at a time.
• Safety: Check the safety instructions and wear protective gloves, eye wear and a respirator mask if required.

It's important to follow the instructions perfectly to get an excellent finish and lasting result. Surface preparation is particularly critical.

When to call a professional applicator

Professional applicators can ensure a stunning concrete resurfacing or sealing result at your house. If you are renovating a large concrete area or your concrete has more than one or two small cracks, we recommend hiring a professional. Our internal flooring solutions are also designed for professional application.

Dulux Avista Accredited Applicators are highly skilled and experienced at applying our products on large areas like driveways, where specialist equipment and the right application technique are critical. They can also help you decide which products are right for your project.

Jobs for the pros

• Driveway resurfacing: If you're resurfacing an entire driveway or larger area, we recommend this is a job best competed by a trained professional. The Dulux Avista Driveway Resurfacing System requires special equipment and skills. Surface preparation across the entire area is critical to ensure the resurfacing compound bonds to the concrete.
• Flake flooring: a professional applicator will get the best results from Dulux Avista’s Flake Flooring System to create a unique look for your garage floor, rumpus room or commercial space.
• Decorative concrete stencils and stamps: The stylish finishes achieved through concrete stencils and stamps require specialist training and equipment. Definitely a job best left to the professionals!
• Sealing new or unsealed concrete: While maintenance resealing can be tackled DIY, we recommend calling in experts to seal new or unsealed concrete. Getting the first seal right will set you up with the best finish and durability going forward.

What next?

Even with the help of a professional applicator, concrete resurfacing and resealing are still much cheaper than ripping up your old concrete surface and starting again.

Still not sure whether to DIY or call in the pros? Get help from our handy FAQs or seek advice from a Dulux Avista Accredited Applicator.