When it comes to choosing a concrete sealer you are probably overwhelmed by the plethora of options and information available on the internet. Ho do you know which one to choose. Which sites are reliable sources of information. What is the difference between a concrete sealer and a concrete coating. These are the type of questions that can keep someone searching for a concrete sealer up at night. And these are questions we receive on a daily basis. There is no one size fits all concrete sealer since no two substrates are alike. The concrete sealer you would use to seal your basement is not necessarily the same product that you should use on your patio. There are of course exceptions to this rule, but that is why we have come up with a check list to help you narrow down what the best concrete sealer is going to be.

Before we continue, let us define a few key terms that will be important. Application: an application is what you are trying to seal. For example a basement, driveway or patio. Substrate: a substrate is the type of material composition. For example concrete, brick, stone, stucco, slate. Finish: the finish is the level of shine you are looking for out of the product. For example flat, satin, gloss. The finishes are similar to paint finishes. Chemistry: the chemistry is the actual chemical make up of the product. For example, acrylic, epoxy or urethane. Square footage: before you can determine how many gallons of sealer you need, you must calculate the square feet or size of the project. For horizontal applications this can be calculated by measuring the length times width of say a garage or driveway. For vertical application you would follow the same calculations but if you are measuring basement walls you will need to add the square footage of each wall together.

Steps to choosing the best concrete sealer

1. Application: narrow down your application and substrate. What are you trying to seal. Is it composed of concrete, brick, stone, slate, stucco? You cannot choose the best concrete sealer if you don’t know what you are sealing. Before continuing your research determine the substrate and the application.
2. Location: Where do you live and what type of weathering will the sealer be composed to. Are you looking to seal indoor concrete or outdoor concrete? Identifying your location will help to determine the category of chemistry especially for outdoor applications. For example you do not want to be using a water-based acrylic on a driveway exposed to road salts unless you are okay with re-sealing the concrete every few months.
3. Finish: Determine your ideal finish And we say ideal because some times the desired finish is just not practical and will need to be compromised for better longevity and performance. High gloss, wet look sealers look great but they are not going to be a one time clean it and forget it sealer. Determine if you are willing to make a sacrifice or if the final overall appearance is non-negotiable.
4. Chemistry: This next category will require a little more research. Determine what the best chemistry will be for your intended application. For example, concrete driveways in northern climates are best sealed with a silane or silane/siloxane based chemistry. Silanes and siloxanes have been proven & tested to reduce road salts and magnesium chloride damage in concrete. On the other hand epoxies are best suited for interior applications since they are not UV stable and have exceptional stain resistance when compared with penetrating sealers.
5. Quality/Longevity: Quality and longevity go hand in hand. The better quality, higher actives a product is composed of, the longer it will last. For example a 100% silane will last a lot longer than a 10% actives silane. Think about it like juice. If juice is 100% juice that means there is no added water, sugar or flavorings. Whereas a 10% juice is watered down and has all sorts of fillers and additives. When it comes to penetrating sealers 100% actives is best and will ensure the longest lifespan. But they are also going to be the most expensive. When it comes to penetrating sealers 40% actives tend to be a great alternative since they are what the Department of Transportation specifies on roadways and bridges. Lower quality sealers are often watered down or made with inferior ingredients. The saying you get what you pay for applies to concrete sealers.
6. Price: Which brings us to our next point. Just because a sealer is only $30 per gallon does not mean that it is the best investment. The only time buying a $30/gallon bottle of concrete sealer is a good idea is if you are moving and don’t care about it not lasting. It is like buying an expensive jacket. You take into account the price per wear. Even though the upfront expense is costly, you will wear it every day for ten years. It is much more economical than buying a new jacket every year. The same goes for concrete sealer. You can use a $200 sealer to seal your concrete driveway and have it last 10 years, or you can use a $40 concrete sealer that will need to be reapplied yearly. The initial sticker price may be hard to swallow but you will save time and labor in the long run.

General recommendations

You can read our in depth review here where we overview the best concrete sealers in detail.

Siloxa-Tek 8500 is an all around favorite because it can be used on virtually any substrate and will work on all applications. It is a 40% actives silane/siloxane which means it will work to prevent spalling and road salt damage. It is also an excellent waterproofing concrete sealer that you can see working with its exceptional water beading. If you are looking for staining and oil resistance its counterpart Siloxa-Tek 8510 is an even better option. It is 95% actives so it is more expensive but will last longer and make stains easy to clean.