Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Necessary to seal acid stained concrete?

I just had a new slab of conrete poured for a patio. He made the concrete into a smooth finish because it would take the acid stain better.

I'm waiting the standard 28 days before I acid stain it. Is it necessary to seal it? I live in Austin TX - so no snow, very few days below freezing but the sun is intense.

My concern is keeping the acid stain look without any fading. I'm not a big fan of the glossy cement look as well as being slippery.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

You should seal it, and then maybe even wax the sealer.

NO! Do not wax an exterior patio! That's for interior work.
It is not absolutely necessary to seal an acid stained slab, but you'd be much better off to do so. If you don't want any gloss but you still want protection, use a penetrating sealer instead of the typical film-forming acrylics. These sealers will be either silane or siloxane. They work differently than film-formers because they do not "coat" the surface. They work from the inside instead, and leave the concrete looking completely unsealed. I use them a lot with great results. Your contractor would have to get them from an actual concrete supply house, not Lowes, HD, Menards, etc. Another plus is that they are a one-time shot so you don't have a continuing maintenance issue. Good luck.

Pecos

Oops, I skipped the exterior part. CMC Sheplers, RSS, or MPI should have the products you need in Austin, Ma'am.