What are the best water repellent sealers?
If you are looking to apply a penetrating water repellent sealer we recommend choosing a silane/siloxane blend. Silane/Silixane blended concrete sealers not only penetrate concrete substrates providing concrete protection from the inside out but they chemically bond keeping water from entering the concrete. Since a Silane/Siloxane blended sealer is also a penetrating sealer driveways, sidewalks and high traffic areas will be unaffected and will not lose protection. After sealing, the concrete will stay in its natural state with no added sheen or texture. Water will be repelled and bead from the surface and concrete will be protected from water damage. Added bonuses are protection from: efflorescence, staining, spalling, scaling and deicing salts; it is considered a breathable sealer allowing water vapor to leave the slab. We recommend a Silane/Siloxane blended sealer for all concrete based surfaces especially concrete blocks, pavers, stucco, brick, clay tile, exposed aggregate, sandstone and slate. Since Silane/Siloxane sealers are blended sealers you get the benefits of two different products in one formula. Keep in mind even though they are penetrating sealers Silane/Siloxane blends are too topical in nature to be used in conjunction with a topical sealer such as an acrylic.
What is the best penetrating concrete sealer?
If the primary concern for your concrete is to protect it, waterproof it, prevent concrete dusting, and resist staining without worrying about having the latest cosmetic finish, then a penetrating sealer may be what you are looking for. Why do you ask? Well, it is assumed that the main reason people want to apply a coating or covering to an interior or exterior floor is to make it look nice. But if you are not concerned about how nice it looks, but rather how well it performs without a lot of expense and preparation then a penetrating sealer is your best bet.
What makes silanes, siloxanes, and siliconates different than other coatings is the fact that they actually penetrate (hence the name) into the concrete to create a protective barrier. Other sealers such as acrylic, epoxy, and polyurethanes are topical in nature. Which means they sit on the surface and form a protective film or coating. A silane, siloxane and siliconate sealer works by impregnating the concrete forming a hydrophobic surface barrier. In essence, water and liquids will bead and resisting stains and the concrete surface also becomes more resistant to wear.
Additional benefits to consider include resistance to mold and mildew and protection from deicing salts. A penetrating sealer also has the added benefits of freeze thaw protection, pitting and spalling. Since the sealer is clear with a natural looking finish without any sheen, it has the same anti-slip protection as bare concrete.
Other factors to consider about a penetrating sealer are expense and ease of application. These sealers are usually priced quite reasonable and since they are long lasting (10 years or so) sealers. Also application of a penetrating sealer is much easier than applying a coating or even painting for that matter.
Our take: If you want to protect your concrete with minimal preparation and expense, then a silane/siloxane, or siliconate penetrating sealer is definitely worthy of your consideration. We like this one from HomeDepot.com.
What is a concrete densifier, and what is the best concrete densifier? According to the Internet, “A concrete densifier is a chemical applied to a concrete surface in order to fill pores, increasing surface density. Chemical densifiers are used on polished and non polished slabs to reduce dusting and wear; on polished concrete surface densifiers help concrete take a better polish and make the surface less permeable to liquids so the slab does not require sealing.”
Now lets explore this: Why would you need a concrete densifer in the first place? Concrete is composed of three ingredients, Portland cement, aggregate and water. It may seem simple but concocting the exact ratio of these three components is tougher than you think. If the proportions are even slightly off it will result in weakened concrete that will begin to deteriorate. After concrete is poured it solidifies and hardens through a chemical process called hydration. Water reacts with the cement and causes all of the ingredients to bond together. If too much water was added to the mix and the water-cement ratio is off, the aggregate will begin to separate from the cement paste. If water is not fully absorbed through hydration some of it may evaporate as it hardens resulting in bleeding that will reduce the final strength of concrete. A mix with too much water will also experience increased shrinkage and visible cracks which will also affect the strength of concrete. That being said when you buy a home that already has a poured concrete basement, driveway, patio etc. you do not know what the water-cement ratio was when poured. In most cases since the ratio is so difficult to perfect it is adequate to assume your concrete will weaken with time.
By applying a concrete densifier you are permanently closing the pores in the concrete thus in fact hardening the concrete and making it stronger. There are a few types of concrete densifiers on the market today. The oldest and most popular being silicate based densifiers. They can include sodium silicates, potassium silicates, lithium silicates or a combination. Silicate densifiers are chemically reactive sealers that penetrate and react with calcium silicate hydrate or C-S-H. C-S-H is the same material that is produced in the reaction between Portland cement and water giving concrete much of its original strength. When a densifier is applied to the surface of concrete the silicate begins to immediately react with the calcium hydroxide. Not only does densifying begin but the once empty pores of the concrete are filled creating a tougher, stronger concrete slab. But beware silicate sealers are known to leave a white residue called carbonation on the surface (When silicate left on the surface that did not penetrate reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.) This is often times difficult to remove. A newer technology on the market is a colloidal silica densifier. It is claimed that colloidal silicas are the silicates of the future since they have a low viscosity, penetrate deep and also react with lime found in concrete. Since colloidal silicas have the ability to bond to itself (silicate sealers cannot do this) it can densify stronger and has the ability to bond to cement products not made from regular Portland cement. It is claimed colloidal silica is safer to use than traditional silicates and since there are small amount of metallic salts compared to silicates, there will never be whiting left on the surface. Application is quicker (the slab is dry in 1-2 hours vs. 6-24 hours.) But which densifier is the best choice?
Our take : Best Concrete Densifiers
When it comes to silicate sealers we feel the best densifier and hardeners are lithium based. Since lithium silicates will react with calcium hydroxide present in concrete to produce the same molecule that concrete naturally forms to hold itself together (C-S-H) we feel this is the strongest, most durable densifier. They have a faster dry time than sodium silicate densifiers and they are a cost effective solution to harden concrete.
What is a urethane concrete sealer and what is the best urethane concrete sealer? Urethane concrete sealers are the most durable but they can also be the most expensive solutions. We find them to be highly scratch, abrasion and chemically resistant topical sealers that have the longest life cycle before reapplication compared to an acrylic or epoxy. Urethane sealers are also available in water and solvent based versions. Unlike epoxies they can be used on both interior and exterior surfaces since they are clear and non-yellowing. Urethanes do not allow moisture to travel through the concrete and they are not very breathable so we do not recommend them for sealing driveways. Please note that urethanes do not bond well to concrete so it if not ideal to apply a urethane to an existing concrete floor. Instead we recommend using an epoxy as a primer and then use a urethane as a top coat especially because urethanes are UV resistant. Commonly used in industrial settings like the food and beverage industry urethane coatings are usually high gloss and they retain their gloss very well over time.
Our Take : Best Urethane Concrete Sealers
Urethanes are tricky to apply and dependent on surface preparation. Some of the top urethane based sealers include Urethane 645 and an alternative to that is APF’s Polyurethane 250 High Performance Concrete Sealer
Recommended For:
High traffic area floors. Urethane provide excellent protection for floors with heavy traffic and vehicle traffic because of exceptional abrasion and chemical resistance properties.
Stamped or decorative concrete: Urethane’s will bring out details and colors when applied to decorative concrete.
Interior Concrete Floors: Since urethanes are abrasion and chemically resistant they are ideal for hopsitals, pharmaceutical facilities and supermarkets.
What is an epoxy concrete sealer and what is the best epoxy concrete sealer? Epoxy concrete sealers are topical film forming concrete coatings that produce a hard long lasting abrasion resistance surface. They are an ideal product for resurfacing a concrete floor to product the floor surface. Epoxies exhibit similar qualities to acrylics in regards to characteristics but they are different in performance, lifespan and of course price. Epoxies are an invisible protective barrier that adheres well to concrete factory floors, garage floors and restaurants. A harder material than acrylics they also come in solvent and water based versions. Some water based epoxies are non-porous allowing moisture to escape. But most epoxies do not tolerate moisture well and they are not very breathable. This means that bubbles may occur if water vapor transmission is trapped under the surface after applying an epoxy. Please note that Epoxies should not be applied over a slab with a moisture problem. Epoxies are sometimes used as primers and provide outstanding resistance to chemicals. Since epoxies tend to yellow when exposed to UV rays, they are typically used only indoors. Epoxies are excellent for repelling water and they tend to be used on concrete countertops. Be aware that most epoxies are two component products that are mixed together and then rolled onto concrete. Some negatives include the fact that they require more floor preparation, take a long time to cure and the installation process can be confusing and time consuming. But they last a longer time before needing to be reapplied than say an acrylic.
Our take : Best Epoxy Concrete Sealers
We recommend using an epoxy in a garage or restaurant when you have a few days to let it dry. They are stain proof but tend to make the concrete look like plastic. Some of the top epoxies on the market include Epoxy 325 and Euco #512 VOX Epoxy Sealer.
Recommended For:
Floors with high traffic areas, cement overlays and concrete counter tops.