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discolored spots on sealed concrete less than a year old

by Keith
(Orange, CT)

Q. I had a colored stamped concrete patio put in last spring. I was told it was sealed and to reseal every 2-3 years.

Problem #1. There are a number of light colored spots about a dime in size that looks like the sealer is worn away or that the "smoke_ dust" from the stamping procedure has washed away. Is this normal? Does this need something as simple as resealing to rid myself of this discoloration?

Problem #2. This is a very slippery surface. When I do reseal, should I add an anti-skid agent? If so, any recommendations so that I can do this with the least amount of damage to the patio?

A. It's probably just the sealer wearing away. It's a common problem that happens when not enough of the release powder is washed away before sealing. Rolling on a thin coat of new sealer should solve your problem.
If the concrete is too slippery, you can broadcast silica sand as you seal. Just roll out a small area, put some sand in the palm of your hand, and blow it across the wet sealer. When this is all done and dry, roll on another thin coat of sealer to lock in the sand.
Anything you do should be tested on a small area first to make sure it solves the problem before doing the entire patio.