Q: What is the Best Sealer for Concrete Floors?
A: In order to determine “what is the best sealer for concrete floors” we need to figure out what type of concrete floor we are sealing. When we are talking about concrete sealer and concrete floors we are typically talking about interior applications such as garages, interior concrete floors and basements. The type of sealer you choose for these applications will depend on the type of protection you are looking for and the finish you are looking for.
Interior Concrete Floors: Interior concrete floors are trendy, cost-effective and resemble the look of Home Depot or Lowes floors. This is achieved by applying a concrete densifier and then polishing the concrete with a floor grinder. After concrete has been polished a concrete floor wax or a stain repellent concrete sealer can be used for added protection.
Garage Concrete Floors: In garages two types of products are typically used: penetrating concrete sealers or durable concrete coatings. Penetrating concrete sealers keep the concrete natural, they do not change the look or the appearance of a concrete floor. They provide protection from water, road salts, and light staining from oils and greases. They are easy to apply do not require a lot of surface preparation and are great for residential and DIY applications. Durable concrete coatings refer to epoxy floor coatings and are great for completely stopping dusting, oil and grease spills, abrasions and chemicals. Epoxy floor coatings are best used in conjunction with urethane top coats and are highly recommended for heavy stain protection. Remember that in order for an epoxy floor coating to work you need to properly prepare the surface by grinding the concrete floor or acid etching the concrete floor.
Basement Concrete Floors: Concrete sealers are used in basements to waterproof, reduce humidity, prevent the growth of mold and mildew, reduce hydrostatic pressure and moisture vapor transmission. A waterproofing moisture vapor barrier coating is usually the best concrete sealer to use on a concrete basement floor. It will resist moisture emission rates and protect wood flooring, carpet and tile from water damage. They can also be used before installing an epoxy floor coating or before applying a concrete floor paint. They can also be left as stand alone products if a high gloss floor finish is desired.