What is the best sealer for concrete? The 3 best concrete sealers to buy in 2019 are outlined below:
Applying a concrete sealer to concrete may seem like a boring, unrewarding job. However, on the contrary we like to think of it this way, life is too short to spend your time worrying about sealing your concrete. If you choose the right concrete sealer in the beginning you will never have to worry or have to spend any future time researching and figuring out how a basement became wet or how a driveway became cracked. When people ask us what we do for a living and we tell them we review concrete sealers they look at us funny; concrete sealer what is that!? Concrete sealer is one of those things that most people don’t think about until it is too late. Your basement starts to leak and then you think about sealing it. Your driveway is showing signs of cracking and pitting and then you think about sealing it. Concrete sealers should be used as soon as concrete has been poured and cured in order to properly protect it. That being said it is never too late to seal your concrete. If you don’t know where to start, if you don’t know how to choose a concrete sealer or even what a concrete sealer is continue reading to learn more.
When it comes to choosing a concrete sealer and figuring out what is the best sealer for concrete, you need to determine what type of problem you are trying to fix, or what end result you are trying to achieve. Are you looking to waterproof a basement, are you looking to prevent staining or spalling in a driveway or are you looking to make your patio pavers look darker and wet. You’ll have to consider the finish vs. the type of protection you are looking for since the glossier the product the less likely it is to last. Most concrete sealers for the DIYer are water based and are generally an acrylic based sealer found at a big box store. There is a lot to think about when choosing the right concrete sealer, but thankfully we’ve done the dirty work and have found the best concrete sealer whether you are looking for a budget pick or an easy application.
Best concrete sealer overall for any type of concrete:
Your local supply store will have a ton of options for you to choose from when selecting a concrete sealer. However, they are not always the best concrete sealers to use since they tend to be cheap and not long lasting. We prefer concrete sealers that are industrial grade, used by contractors but are also available to the DIYer. To pick the best from the crop, you need to find a concrete sealer that will keep out the water. Water is a huge problem when it comes to concrete. Since concrete is extremely porous if left unsealed it will absorb as much water as it can. This can be problematic in basements since it can lead to wet basements. This can be problematic in driveways and patios since the water will take with it road deicing salts that can cause the concrete to spall, pit and crack. The best concrete sealer will be a water repellent or waterproofing sealer. We also prefer penetrating concrete sealers. What is a penetrating concrete sealer? Penetrating concrete sealers do just what their name infers, they penetrate and travel deep into the concrete.
According to Concrete Decor magazine, “Penetrating [concrete] sealer is a catch-all or umbrella term used to describe multiple chemistries and hundreds of products. What these various chemistries have in common is that they all penetrate the surface, provide some level of stain resistance and don’t leave a film. This lack of a film means there won’t be any gloss or shine, and the concrete, not a sealer film, will be the wear surface.”
Ghostshield offers one of the most diverse selections of concrete sealer available to homeowners, contractors and engineers. According to the manufacturer the Siloxa-Tek 8500 has been used on residential applications like driveways, patios and basements and commercial projects like the parking decks at the Orlando International Airport.
The Siloxa-Tek 8500 is a penetrating concrete sealer based on a 40% actives silane-siloxane, which is the highest actives concentration of a water based liquid sealer; anything higher than this in the water based realm is really not possible. (If you are looking for a higher actives concentration you would need to use a solvent based or 100% actives sealer.) It is extremely easy to apply, leaves a clear, natural, matte finish and can last upwards of ten years before another application is necessary. After two coats are applied, the Siloxa-Tek 8500 dries invisible into a durable mold and mildew resistant, road salt resistant and freeze-thaw resistant surface. It has low VOC content with virtually no odor and can be used in all 50 states.
We also like that this product is available and trusted by big box online stores like Homedepot.com Lowes.com and Amazon.com. The unique characteristic of the Ghostshield 8500 is that it is available as a ready to use gallon or an ultra concentrated gallon. It is not available in a five gallon bucket; however, one ultra concentrated gallon is mixed with 4 gallons of distilled water to make a five gallon bucket. This saves on shipping costs and creates less empty container waste earning an A+ for being environmentally responsible.
There really has not been anything new on the market that has captured our attention and when we put our name and recommendation behind a product you know it has been tested and approved. Which is why for the third year in a row we still like this product. After three years we did not have any noticeable cracking, spalling or deicing salt damage on the driveway applications. We did proactively decide to touch up one area where a car continually parks. Though we haven’t tested the product for a full five to ten years like the manufacturer claims it will work for, we haven’t experienced any major issues ourselves but we’ll continue to long-term test to see if any problems arise. The positive five star reviews have continued to grow for this product and there have not been any negative issues.
Best decorative name brand concrete sealer:
Euclid Chemical has been offering high quality products for over a century so their brand is true and tried. Their Everclear product is a pure acrylic that enhances and protects with a clear non-yellowing seal. It will help to repel road salts for a few months but its primary function is enhancement. We like that it can be tinted and can also be used as a cure and seal to cure new concrete. Giving stamped concrete, aggregate and colored pavers a deeper, wetter look, if you are looking for a decorative concrete sealer this is a great option. It is a product typically used by contractors and unfortunately it is not sold online. A number of select building supply stores do stock this product or if you have a contractor doing the sealing work for you they should be able to get their hands on this product.
Best value concrete sealer:
When it comes to recommending a value sealer the reviews of the ‘best value concrete sealer’ products were not stellar. Nor did they last as long as the more expensive products we tested. The saying, you get what you pay for applies to concrete sealers. Products that contain higher actives are going to be more expensive but they are also going to last longer. The higher the actives content the better the sealer will perform and the longer it will last. That being said, Eagle Sealer continues to get good reviews and is very economical at $26 a gallon. It is not available in store on shelves and it does not have a long lifespan due to the low actives content of 7-12%. Water beads up nicely after it is first applied but within a few months we found we needed to reapply it.
What not to use:
We recommend staying away from products like DryLok since it is a temporary fix. DryLok is like putting a band aid onto concrete, over time it is going to fail and then you are going to be left with an ever bigger mess. Thompson’s Water Sealer, Behr’s Masonry Waterproofer and Valspar’s protective sealer do not get good reviews nor did they last or withstand our testing cycles.
Why you should trust us
We have worked in the construction industry for more than 20 years. We’ve reviewed countless sealer products with our conclusions posted throughout this site. For this guide we also talked to a number of experts about what they look for when sealing any concrete application.
The American Concrete Institute provided us with resources about terminology and the industry, and we gained insight from magazines such as Concrete Decor, Concrete Construction and For Construction Pros as to which products were popular among contractors.
To determine the longevity of sealers we relied heavily on customer reviews from Home Depot, Lowes and Amazon.
Question: Should I use a concrete sealer?
Answer: Concrete sealers should always be used as soon as the concrete slab has been poured and fully cured for 28 days. A concrete sealer will help to increase the lifespan of the concrete by protecting it from UV exposure, cracking, pitting, staining and surface wear to name a few. Concrete sealers can be used on old concrete and new concrete and are relatively inexpensive. It is better to seal the concrete than it is to replace an old, worn and damaged slab years down the line.
When it comes to deciding, “should I use a concrete sealer?” you first need to determine what type of protection you are looking for. If your main purpose for sealing is to make the concrete look nice you are going to want to use a decorative concrete sealer. Decorative concrete sealers are usually acrylic sealers that will leave a wet look or high gloss finish to enhance and bring out the colors and textures of the slab. Decorative concrete sealers do require frequent reapplication and maintenance to maintain their decorative look year after year. If you are looking for the most durable interior concrete floor sealer, used an epoxy and/or urethane concrete coating. Concrete coatings are able to protect warehouse floors, garage floors and kennels from chemicals, acids and abrasions. They are usually available in a clear or colored format and you can add decorative elements such as paint flakes and metallic sands. If the concrete is prepped accordingly they can last upwards of ten years before needing to be reapplied. If your main purpose for sealing is road salt or waterproofing protection, use a penetrating concrete sealer. Penetrating concrete sealers leave a clear finish that will not change the look of the concrete. However, they are excellent choices when it comes to protection from moisture intrusion, deicing salts, surface staining and corrosion. Penetrating sealers last anywhere from 5-10 years and do not need to be stripped when it comes time for reapplication.
If you need additional help selecting the best concrete sealer for your application read our Best Concrete Sealers article.
What is the best way to seal a concrete floor? Concrete floors are found in garages, basements, warehouses, shop floors and interior floors. In order to determine the best way to seal a concrete floor you need to determine what type of protection and finish you are looking for. If you are looking to polish the concrete it would be best to use a concrete densifier and then polish the concrete floor. If you are looking for chemical and abrasion resistance it would be best to use an epoxy floor coating system. If you are looking for a decorative gloss finish it would be best to use an acrylic wet look concrete sealer. If you are looking to keep the concrete clear with out any sheen you can use a penetrating concrete sealer.
Once you have determined what type of protection you are looking for and what you are trying to seal you can then go about prepping the concrete floor. If the concrete has been previously sealed you will need to remove the previous concrete sealer or wait for the sealer to wear away. If the concrete is new you will need to wait for it to cure 28 days before applying a concrete sealer. If you are going to be applying a concrete coating to the concrete floor you will first need to grind it or acid etch it to achieve a good surface profile. Most sealers are applied with nap paint rollers, garden variety pump up sprayers, or brushes.
Ultimately the best way to seal a concrete floor depends on the type of protection you are looking for and the type of finish you are looking for. Read our other reviews for product recommendations and product selection tips.
What is a concrete sealer?
A concrete sealer is applied to concrete substrates, brick, masonry, stone, stucco, stamped concrete, cinderblock, slate and exposed aggregate.
A concrete sealer can protect concrete from water, deicing salts, staining, weathering, chlorides, rust, mold and mildew just to name a few.
A concrete sealer can also enhance the appearance of concrete to bring out the texture, colors and patterns with a matte, low sheen, satin, wet look or high gloss finish.
A concrete sealer can extend the life of a concrete slab and prevent the need to replace it down the road.
There are a lot of different types of concrete sealers: penetrating concrete sealers, decorative concrete sealers and durable concrete coatings.
A concrete sealer can be used in basements to waterproof concrete or reduce moisture.
A concrete sealer can be used on concrete driveways to waterproof, keep out chlorides and salt and prevent spalling, pitting and cracking.
A concrete sealer can be used on patios, pool decks and on pavers to protect from the chlorine and salt water or to give a nice decorative look.
A concrete sealer can be used on a garage floors to protect them from automobile fluid, oil and grease staining, and an epoxy floor coating can be used with flakes, paint chips or metallic sand.
A concrete sealer can be used on commercial and industrial applications, highways, warehouses, parking decks and bridges to prevent cracking, staining and to protect the concrete from wear.
A concrete sealer will help protect and extend the lifespan of the concrete; for a specific product check out our Best Concrete Sealer Recommendations
How long do concrete sealers last? In order to effectively answer this question we first need to determine the type of concrete sealer that was used in order to determine the longevity of it. We have broken down concrete sealers into the following categories:
Decorative Concrete Sealers: decorative concrete sealers usually refer to acrylic or lacquer based products. They add color enhancement, shine, wet look and gloss finishes to concrete. They have the shortest longevity; since they sit on the surface of the concrete and do not penetrate into the concrete they are at high risk of UV degradation and wear. Decorative concrete sealers are available as solvent or water based products and can last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. Solvent based concrete sealers will last longer than water based concrete sealers. Keep in mind that if you like the decorative look you are going to have to pay to keep it up.
Durable Concrete Coatings: durable concrete coatings refer to epoxy and urethane based products. The name “durable concrete coating” is appropriate because they are able to withstand abrasions, chemicals, machinery, equipment and heavy traffic. The most important factor in regards to how long do concrete sealers last is surface preparation. If you do not properly acid etch or grind the floor prior to using this type of coating they will fail much sooner. If the concrete has been properly prepared durable concrete coatings can last upwards of ten years.
Penetrating Concrete Sealers: penetrating concrete sealers are usually silicate, silane, and siliconate based products. They penetrate into the concrete and dry clear; they do not leave any surface enhancement or sheen. Silicate based densifiers last for the life of the concrete. Once they are applied you do not need to apply them again. That being said you do not want to use a silicate based densifier without also using a penetrating water repellent or penetrating waterproofing concrete sealer. Water repellent and waterproofing silane and siliconate based products can last anywhere from 5-10 years. The longevity will depend on UV exposure, deicing salt exposure and vehicle traffic among other factors. We like penetrating concrete sealers because they protect the concrete from salts, water and stains, and they wear extremely well in comparison to decorative concrete sealers.
If you are looking for the Best Concrete Sealer for 2018 check out our review
One of the most common questions we are asked is how long do you have to wait to seal concrete.
If you would like to seal the concrete on the same day that it has been poured or sooner then the industry standard 28 days, you can use a concrete cure and seal sealer. These concrete cure and seal sealers help concrete hydrate by holding moisture in a protective film. There are two types of cure and seals, penetrating cure and seals and dissipating cure and seals. The dissipating cure and seals that help concrete to cure, are typically of an acrylic chemistry and will wear away in the first six months or so. At this point you are then free to apply a penetrating concrete sealer or a decorative concrete sealer if you desire a wet look or high gloss finish.
In order to avoid this two step process, you can use a penetrating concrete cure and seal which will help to fully hydrate the slab in a protective film without wearing away. Since there is usually some sort of silane in a penetrating cure and seal, the concrete will be protected from deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles. You do not need to worry about removing the cure and seal in order to apply a penetrating concrete sealer nor do you need to wait for it to dissipate. These products are all-in-one solutions that need to be applied by the contractor at the time the concrete is poured.
If you are not applying a concrete cure and seal, or if you have time to wait most sealers require about 28 days for the concrete to fully cure before applying a concrete sealer. Some manufacturers have products available that can be applied as soon as new concrete can withstand the weight of the installer, but typically if you are looking to apply a penetrating concrete sealer, decorative or epoxy/urethane coating you will need to wait the industry standard 28 days for concrete to fully cure before applying a concrete sealer.