Category: Stamped Concrete Sealing Tips
What is the Best Concrete Sealer?
2017 is here and time to review and apply a new concrete sealer. This article is one of our top articles related to concrete sealers and there has been over 2100 Comments and Questions. If you need advice on What is the Best concrete Sealer for you, please ask below in the comment area.
Concrete comes in many different types and substrates that can be found both for both interior and exterior applications. There are Concrete Driveways, Vertical Brick Walls, Brick Paver Patios, Basement Floors, etc. Concrete is very porous and can be prone to degradation from Water, Ultra Violet Radiation, wear, and tear, etc. By sealing or waterproofing your concrete surface you will add life and protection to your surface.
So what is the Best Concrete Sealer?
The answer to that is dependent on why you are sealing, what surface you are trying to seal, and what your final expectations are.
Best Stamped Concrete Sealer
Stamped Concrete Pitting
Update May 2017
As of 2017, we have found that the Super Seal 30, Super Seal 25, and the Masonry Saver Decorative Concrete Sealers are the most popular sealers for Stamped Concrete. If you have any questions as to the best type of concrete sealer for your project, please ask below in our Q&A area. We are here to help!
What Sealer is Best for Stamped Concrete Patios
Stamped Concrete Patios and Driveways are decorative surfaces that have become popular in the last 10 years or so. These surfaces utilize patterns and different colors to create a dramatic look to your landscaping. As with any exterior concrete surface, Stamped patios need to be maintained on a consistent basis.
Failure to maintain your Stamped Concrete will result in:
- Color loss and discoloration
- Pitting of the surface
- Hairline cracks
- Exposure to stains from spills
Concrete Surfaces and Which Sealer to Use
Different Types of Concrete Surfaces and Best Sealer to Use.
Decorative Concrete – This is any concrete surface that is not simply a means of construction but that is also altered to enhance its beauty. While still serving as an integral part of the building process such as floors, walls, driveways, or patios the concrete is also transformed into a decorative piece. The altering of concrete to enhance its beauty is accomplished through a number of procedures such as stamping, acid staining, polishing, coloring, overlaying, and more.
Sealer Type to use: Use a sealer that enhances the color tones with a wet look. Typically these are Acrylic sealers in either water or solvent based. If solvent, use a “styrene” acrylic to allow moisture to escape. These come in a Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, and No Gloss.
Best Sealer for Indoor Concrete
Surfaces such as indoor concrete can be sealed to protect against stains while offering a beautiful enhanced appearance. For an enhanced look with a little gloss the best sealer for indoor concrete that we have found is Masonry Saver Decorative Concrete Sealer. This versatile sealer can be used for indoor concrete surfaces such as stamped, decorative, brick, stone and other masonry surfaces. Masonry Saver Decorative Concrete Sealer protects concrete and masonry surfaces from color loss due to ultraviolet light. It also provides shielding against moisture, abrasions, and normal wear and tear.
Highest Gloss Paver Sealer
High Gloss Paver Sealer
What is the Highest Gloss Paver Sealer?
Sealing your exterior hard surfaces is a great way to keep them looking good while providing weather protection. Surfaces around the home that can be sealed range from brick pavers, stamped concrete, acid stained concrete, exposed aggregate, and all other types of decorative concrete.
Sealing pavers and other surfaces serves two purposes. One of course is to prolong the life of the substrate. A quality sealer will protect the surface from staining and weather damage. A penetrating sealer will block unwanted moisture, protect against salt and de-icing chemicals, acid rain, and erosion.
Sealing Different Types of Concrete Surfaces
Different Types of Concrete Surfaces that need to be sealed.
Decorative Concrete – This is any concrete surface that is not simply a means of construction but that is also altered to enhance its beauty. While still serving as an integral part of the building process such as floors, walls, driveways, or patios the concrete is also transformed into a decorative piece. The altering of concrete to enhance its beauty is accomplished through a number of procedures such as stamping, acid staining, polishing, coloring, overlaying, and more.
How to Seal Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete is simply concrete that is patterned or textured to bear a resemblance to brick, flagstone, stone, slate, tile, wood, and various other surfaces. It can be used for patios, sidewalks, driveways, and pool decks. Normally a base color is chosen to reflect the natural color of the material it resembles. An accent color is also commonly used which gives the stamped concrete some texture.
To protect the appearance of stamped concrete, it is best to seal it. The right stamped concrete sealer will keep the surface looking good for many years. Concrete sealer can also revive an existing stamped concrete surface.
How To Fix Concrete Sealer Bubbles
Concrete Sealer Bubbles
Solvent based Acrylic Concrete Sealers are designed to enhance, darken, and give a sheen to decorative concrete surfaces. Unfortunately when applied incorrectly or over applied you may have issues with “bubbles” forming in the sealer. This typically happens to Stamped Concrete or smooth decorative concrete surfaces.
When a solvent-based acrylic sealer is applied, some of the sealer penetrates into the porous concrete. If the application is too thick, or if too many coatings are applied, the solvent is not able to evaporate before the sealer dries. When that happens, the solvent gets trapped and eventually creates enough pressure that it forces its way out, creating the bubbles.
Concrete Sealers and Water Repellents
Concrete Sealers are used to protect and enhance all types of Interior and Exterior concrete surfaces. They can provide water repellency for driveways and brick walls or enhancement for decorative concrete surfaces such as Stamped Patios or Pavers.
In this article, we will look at the many different types of Concrete Sealers, Coatings, and Water Repellents.
Concrete Sealers and Water Repellents
Concrete sealants and water repellents are the most popular of the concrete coatings. These sealers are designed to penetrate deep into the surface without filming on top. They typically do not change the appearance of the surface. These sealers are composed mainly of different types of silicones. Silane, siloxane and silox are the most common forms used. These particles penetrate deep into the concrete, reacting with the alkali. This creates an internal bond that seals out water, dirt, grime, and common spills. These sealers work exceptionally well and do come in different solids amounts ranging from 8-24%. Higher solids are typically for very porous block while lower solids are for smoother concrete surfaces.
Available in both water based and solvent based formulas.
Pros: Very easy to apply. Typically last 4-6 years for most applications.
Cons: None
Concrete and Brick Paver Sealer Manufacturers
See below for a full list of manufacturer websites for concrete sealers, paver sealers, concrete cleaners, sealer removers and other masonry water repellents: