Q: How Many Square Feet Does Concrete Sealer Cover
A: Square footage is going to depending on a number of factors including what type of concrete sealer you are using, the surface profile of the concrete and how many coats of concrete sealer you are applying.
Penetrating concrete sealers do just as their name implies, they penetrate deep into the concrete providing protection from the inside out. Penetrating concrete sealers do not leave a surface film and they do not provide any enhancement. They do; however, go a long way. Penetrating concrete sealers have a watery consistency, a lot of times because their viscosity is very close to water on the centipoise scale. Penetrating concrete sealers will typically cover anywhere from 100 – 400 square feet per gallon. Two coats are usually recommended so this will cut the coverage amount in half to 50 – 200 square feet per gallon for 2 coats.
Concrete coatings, epoxy floor coatings and urethane coatings have a thicker viscosity and the coverage rate will vary based on the mils (one thousandth of an inch) thickness they are applied at. Some durable concrete coatings are applied over 20 mils in thickness and would constitute a high build system where as some durable coatings are applied at 5 mils in thickness which would constitute a thin build system. You can get anywhere from 100-600 square feet per gallon out of a durable coating. You usually apply one coat of primer and one coat of topcoat.
Decorative concrete sealers and coatings are usually applied in a single coat with the square footage per gallon varying depending on the porosity and substrate and if the concrete has been previously sealed. For example, pavers are going to be a lot more porous than hand troweled concrete and the square footage per gallon of sealer is not going to go as far. Also in most cases if concrete has never been sealed it will be extremely porous and require additional coats of sealer. Decorative concrete sealers usually cover anywhere from 100-400 square feet per gallon.