Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior concrete sealing and protection. For info about who I am, please read my full bio here.
Best Exposed Aggregate Sealers 2025
As of 2025, I have found that the Super Seal 30 Stamped Concrete Sealer is the most popular concrete sealer for Exposed Aggregate surfaces. If you have any questions about the best type of concrete sealer for your project, please ask below in our Q&A area. I am here to help!
Sealing Exposed Aggregate patios, driveways, and walkways will enhance and protect your surface from damaging weathering and deicing salts. Sealing aggregate stone is something any homeowner can do with significant results.
Exposed Aggregate Sealer
Benefits of Sealing Exposed Aggregate
- Improves appearance
- Comes in Clear or Brown Tints
- Blocks U.V. rays that cause fading
- Reduces mold/mildew infiltration
- Increases longevity of the surface
- Stabilizes the foundation
- Minimizes damages from water and freezing
Cleaning Exposed Aggregate
Prep the surface by pressure washing dirt and grime. If needed, use a cleaner specific to any stains. For example, use a Rust Remover to remove rust or a Cleaner Degreaser to remove oil spills.
Always wear safety glasses to protect yourself. After cleaning, you need at least two days of dry weather before continuing.
Sealing Exposed Aggregate
Apply a Solvent Based Acrylic Sealer. These sealer types can be used on exposed aggregate with excellent results. Using a 1/2″ roller, start applying the sealer at the far end, making sure not to step in the sealer. The sealer should be applied at the manufacturer’s spread rate. This is typically 100-150 sq. feet per gallon. Apply sealer quickly to avoid any overlaps. Let the sealer dry for 1-4 hours. If the sealer did not dry evenly, apply a second coat to even out the appearance.
Best Sealer for Exposed Aggregate
Super Seal 30 – Best Exposed Aggregate Sealer
Super Seal 30 Concrete Sealer Review
SuperSeal30 is a Higher-Gloss Concrete Sealer that can be used on many concrete surfaces. It is very popular for Brick Paver Patios, Exposed Aggregate, and Stamped Concrete. This sealer darkens the appearance and leaves a shine.
The SuperSeal30 is a solvent-based, breathable acrylic sealer that comes in a Clear or Brown Tint for Exposed Aggregate.
Note: Not to be used for plain poured (white) concrete.
Where To Find: SuperSeal30 Concrete Sealer
Sealer Type: High Gloss Solvent-Based Styrene Acrylic in Clear or Brown Tint
Types of Substrates: Pavers, Stamped Concrete, Exposed Aggregate, Decorative Concrete, Acid Stained Concrete
Coats Required: 1-2 coats
Coverage Per Gallon: 100-125 sq. ft
Application Tools: Roller
Dry Time: 4-12 Hours
Manufacturer: Clemons Concrete Coatings
See My Review Article Here: Super Seal 30 Sealer Review
ConcreteSealerReview.com Rating (On a Scale of 1-10): 8.8
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SuperSeal30 Gloss 5 Gallon
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SuperSeal30 Gloss 1 Gallon
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Maintaining Exposed Aggregate Sealer
Depending on your exposure to the weather and traffic, the Exposed Aggregate should be sealed every 12-36 months.
Best Exposed Aggregate Sealer Video
I am unable to find a good aggregate sealer in Canada – any recommendations?
Sorry, but we do not live there so not sure what if anything is good there to buy locally.
Are Eagle brand aggregate sealers from Home Depot any good?
Average.
I have oil spots that do not show when wet will a wet look sealer hide them adequately
Yes.
I have a new home that has app 6000 sq ft of aggregate driveway. Concrete company poured it and it is “cloudy”. Will super 30 give it a wet look and make it more even looking?
Also I have 1300 sq ft of flagstone on my patio. Can you recommend a product to seal it?
TYA
If it is cloudy you may have a bad sealer on this that needs to be removed first. Can you post a picture?
A wet look sealer will not work on the flagstone. You will need a water repellent like the Super Seal-M.
I have a aggregate drive, porch and walk, have sealed it almost every year for 17 years, and can’t seem to find a sealer to last more than 1 year. Any suggestions
Picture, please. The buildup of coatings may be creating an issue for you. What have you sued before?
Should I put two coats on aggregate driveway
Depends on the brand and what they suggest. More is not always better.
Have an aggregate cement exposed porch to seal but want to avoid a slippery surface. What finish/product should I use?
Try Supreme Shield SB-600.
Hello! We had an exposed aggregate patio poured three days ago. When we power washed off the Top Cast surface retardant it was a gorgeous unveiling! The La Paz stone we had seeded it with looked beautiful and the concrete had a nice dark gray color. Then it dried…and it looks so white and the stone just looks like spots with little color. I want to seal it but my husband is concerned about it looking glossy and artificial. Also, we are both concerned about how it will wear with a sealer. We don’t want something that will look awful… Read more »
Use Supreme Shield SB-600 wet look sealer. Does not have a gloss and penetrates.
I have an aggregate patio and driveway, both 14 years old. There are a few stains on both, candle wax, antifreeze and oil. I power washed them and nothing came off. Can I get a tinted sealer the eliminate the appearance of the stains?
Maybe a wet look sealer will blend the stains. Does it look even when wet with water?
Yes. When it’s wet, the stains go away. Thanks. Can I seal a flagstone patio, that has stone dust between stones?
Try Super Seal 25 or the Supreme Shield SB-600 for the exposed aggregate. You cannot use the same sealer for flagstone though. You would need a concrete water repellent like SuperSeal-M.
We had an exposed aggregate patio installed in January. There were a few stains from fertilizer that happened accidently. We managed to clean most of it up with Goof Off Rust remover but there was some discoloration remaining. We hired a concrete restoration company and he used some muractic acid and power washed the patio. As the patio was drying the area with the problem stayed dark looking. He came back about 5 hours later because we were concerned. He said he could not explain why this happened. He thought maybe sealing it would fix the problem since it would… Read more »
Sounds like it was not dry or neutralize. Strip off the sealer and then pressure wash and neutralize the entire area. Make sure it is even before resealing.
What’s the best Exposed Aggregate Sealer?
Try Super Seal 30.
i just moved into a 14 year old home and wanted to seal the aggregate driveway before freezing weather sets in. we had about 4 beautiful days with temp around 65. so my wife and I started the job and finished about 4 hours before rain hit. it was not a real hard rain and the rain and it pooled on the surface. the day after the rain it got cold again, lows 25 – 30. I checked the driveway and it was dry except where small cavity's had formed. This is where the sealer is still gummy after 3… Read more »
Hard to say as all brands are different in how they cure. I would suggest calling the manufacturer of the sealer you used for some advice on this one.
After sealing driveway, when can you pull car into garage?
Depends on the sealer brand you used and what they say.
We used the Super Seal 30 for a wet look on our patio with the Sure Grip added to it. The weather forecast was wrong and 10% rain ended up being rain all day. Now we have white spots that are kind of milky looking and the additive to make it non slip doesn't look great either. We were told to mix it right into the Super Sealer and we mixed it very well. How can I fix this? Both the milky look and the grainey additive?
Not sure on the additive but the milky white spots can be fixed by applying a solvent. A-1 Solvent or xylene should work. Spray on to a clean and dry surface. Let dry and it will look like new.
So the white spots disappeared but the super grip to make it non slip is blotchy and inconsistent. Would xylene help to remove the granules that are grouped together an can we then put sealer over it if we could remove them.
Never tried to spot fix something like this where the grip was applied inconsistently. I doubt it would work but worth a shot as the alternative is to strip it all off.
To resolve the issue with the clumps of grains from the Super Grip I ended up using my electric sander and gently sanded them down. I had to do this to the entire patio. After, we added another coat of the Sealer and it looks great!
Thanks for the tip!
I just sealed a new exposed aggregate patio. It looks blotchy in areas how long do I have to wait to put on a second coat ?
Depends on the brand of sealer you used and what they suggest.
I have a 22 year old exposed aggregate driveway and sidewalk
Euclid chemicals super diamond clear was applied by the concrete finisher on the new concrete it had a gorgeous shine that lasted about 2 years
I have since applied the same thing every year since then
The shine only lasts a few months then it dulls
Is there a better glossy sealer that I could use?
John, is the sealer hazing and turning white in color.
My new home has exposed aggregate driveway and walkway. I recently hired someone to put stone edging around the flowerbeds and he made a mess with the mortar. He came back and I noticed he had used acid straight from the bottle to clean up the mortar. Now the walkway and driveway has horrible yellowed or rusty looking blotches all over. I tried putting baking Soda on the areas and washed it well with water and it has dried and still rusty looking on the areas he used the full strength acid. What can I do to remedy this situation… Read more »
Not sure you can fix this. Acid burns/etches concrete so it may be permanent stains.
The stains are mostly on the exposed rocks , can't figure out how to upload a picture
My sidewalk was put down in 1990.it has never had any sealer on it..I would like to find one that would help protect it plus help daily clean up like my dogs tracks on it…what would be what l needed? I live in Anderson SC..thanks Ann
Ann, try the SuperSeal-M water repellent.
Contractor applied sealer to 4 week old exposed aggregate just before raining. It looks horrible. The concrete looks white and patchy. Does not look like the wet look that I was expecting. Can this be fixed? BTW, the exposed aggregate does not look like exposed aggregate, because the pebbles were not exposed. I believe that the contractor did not apply enough of the chemical on top of the cement to expose it. It really looks horrible. 🙁 Can anything be done?
Strip off the sealer then have them properly expose the aggregate.
How can they properly expose the aggregate, it's already hard. It's six weeks old.:(
Not sure. You would have to ask them. Maybe heavy acid etching.
I was to use muriatic acid on mine.
If the concrete is too heavy then you may have to sandblast the top layer off to expose the rock then apply a 1 gallon muratic acid / 3 gallon water solution to eat any residual concrete off. After that dries then apply sealer. If you apply sealer to damp exposed aggregate then it will turn milky.
Hi, I appreciate this site. I've learned a bunch. I am in Oregon and have and exposed aggregate patio and front steps. It's mostly horizontal, but some vertical (step risers). It's about 500 square feet. The house is 21 years old, and the patio was only sealed once with an epoxy product. It has yellowed and flaked off for the most part, but there are some remaining patches. I think the SuperSeal 30 would be the best product for my needs, but I have 2 questions: 1. How concerned should I be about the old epoxy? 2. We get a… Read more »
1. Yes you need to strip and remove the yellowed epoxy first before applying anything.
2. Doubt it but you can always add a \”grip\” into the sealer. They sell one.
I am having an exposed aggregate pool deck installed in a few weeks. The contractor said you do not have to seal exposed aggregate. That does not seem correct after reading all of the posts below. We are either going to go with a tan adobe color or a grey Oklahoma rainbow type. I don't believe either one had glass in it. Could someone recommend if and when it should be sealed and what would be the best product? It is a pool deck so I do not want it to be too slippery. Also, if anyone has either type… Read more »
Seal with the Masonry Saver Decorative Concrete Sealer. Sealing does help the longevity while making it look better.
Thanks,
If it is a new exposed aggregate pool deck is there a period of time I should wait before sealing or is it ok to do now? Also, is pressure washing enough or should I use a cleaner?
Thanks
Just pressure wash with water. You should be okay to seal now.
Can the sealer for exposed aggregate be applied by way of a pump sprayer? The area I want to seal is only about 10 ft x 6 ft. Thanks
Much easier to roll on for such a small area.
Agree. Just did an entrance sidewalk with the roller (1/2 inch nap) and it worked fine. Edged and power-washed first.
sealing concrete pit. I have an old concrete pit that was a septic tank many many years ago. We have removed all the dirt and it is 4 x 4 x 6' deep. I want to make it a water holding tank to water the plants in that area and could even recirculate the water in a little waterfall I have that is now dry. What can I use to seal the concrete before attaching concrete siding to reinforce the sides & bottom?
Sealers will not work for this scenario. They are not 100% hydrophobic.
I recently sealed my aggregate patio with Eagle High Gloss Clear Aggregate Sealer I purchased extra for a second coat but it does not appear that it is needed. How would this product react to regular concrete on my driveway or walk? Thanks!
Gloss sealers do not look very good on regular concrete.
I have an aggregate pool deck that is in great condition but needs to be "revitalized." Pressure washing does not remove the "calcium-like" buildup on the aggregate that prevents the true color of the rocks. I doubt it has ever been sealed. What can be used to clean the surface?
Try a acid based cleaner for prep. Masonry Saver Safer Brick Cleaner. Seal with a sealer like the SuperSeal 25 or the Super Seal 30.
ON the Super Seal 30 the website says" Not recommended for use on brick, wood, granite or marble, pool decks or areas adjacent to pools. Dries in 2-4 hours and covers 100 sq. ft./ gal." Is it slippery are hard to clean up
We use it around pools with no issues. Might want to call Clemons for their opinion.
Had new exposed ag drive poured two weeks ago. The contractor wants to seal it, but I am worried about how sick it may be, because the drive goes up a relatively steep grade. Don't want it too slick when winter comes. Do you recommend sealing or not? Thanks for any help.
I would seal. You can always add a grip int to the sealer if needed.
Bill, sorry but not sure if it will or how to fix.
Sealing aggregate driveways with a product called spectrum from CONSPEC after winter I had no sheen left and it didn't look very good, we did have a bad winter though. I pay about $100.00 for 5 gal. and that was enough to do a rather large driveway. Coverage is 200- 400 sq ft per gallon. Is there a better product out there that I can get in Missouri that is around the same cost and has a high coverage rate?
Kevin, never seen that high of a coverage rate. Probably why it did not last.
I have a 20 year old exposed aggregate patio that has never been sealed/cleaned since it was poured. I am planning on having it cleaned and sealed soon. The patio surface is much rougher on our feet than most other aggregate patios we have walked on, will the cleaning and sealing soften this up at all? Do you recommend any particular products? Thank you
Sam, sealer will not soften up the stone. Look at the SuperSeal 30 for this.
Anthony, adding another coat should even on the look. Not sure why he wants to wait but it might be what the directions say for the brand he is using. They dry in a day but can take a week or two to cure.
We have white paint ono ur aggregated sidwalk. Any ideas on how to remove?
Janelle, not easy to remove. Do you have a sealer/coating on the aggregate as well?
Just had my driveway done with exposed aggregate…there was a lot of rain and the process had to be delayed thru out the process…after sealing with EUCD Diamond Clear we noticed some low spots where water was pooling…so they removed the sealer with mineral spirits, ground the area down, added more pea stone with Loctite all purpose GO2 glue (clear)…the next day we found milky white color in both areas that they had patched…the company thought it was a reaction between the glue and the sealer…so they removed the sealer again and replaced more stones with the glue and decided… Read more »
Toni, sorry no idea. I would ask Euclid about this and see what they say.
Hi, I have a patio of exposed aggregate with wood 2 by 4's between the concrete squares. Is there a sealer that I can use on the concrete and the wood? I'm in Colorado so it's a dry climate (no mildew problem) but patio is exposed to sun, rain and snow.
Thanks
Denise, not sure. Concrete sealers would probably penetrate wood but doubt they will help with uv graying. SuperSeal30 for the Aggregate.
Dave, first thank you for the site. I have been looking for a site like this for two years. Two years ago, I had a dyed, framed, and exposed aggregate driveway, walkways and steps installed. The contractor sealed the sloped driveway and steps with a high gloss sealer. The end result looked unbelievably beautiful…until it rained and snowed. The surfaces were slipperier than ice. We were unable to walk or drive on the surfaces when they were wet or snow covered. After 5 or 10 efforts to remove the sealer, he walked away saying sue me. So the issue is… Read more »
Bob in Pitt, do a search online for \”Paver and Concrete Sealer Stripper\”. You will find a couple. You should remove the old sealer. If you use a high gloss sealer you will run the risk of it being slippery. There are additives though that will reduce this. We use one by Clemons called Super Grip.
I applied a sealer remover from a local building supply company, with little to no success. So I tried a suggestion from a neighbor and I think I have created more of a problem with my driveway. In an effort to remove old sealer, I applied a paint stripper, brushed it in and pressure washed the remains. Now I have a light "white" color in that area. The driveway is exposed aggregate with Davis powder color dye (Mocha). Do you have any suggestions on how I can restore the natural color before I use the SuperSeal 25 with Super Grip?
Bob from Pgh, either re strip or use a an acid based cleaner to wash the residue off. Hard to say without seeing a picture.
We just moved into a 9 year old home with aggregate driveway and walkway. It looks like it has never been sealed. We like the "wet look," and would like it to have a brown color. Do you have any suggestions? Something that would last more than a couple of months would be great. Also, we live in Missouri and would need suggestions on where to buy the product.
Try the SuperSeal 25 for this. Not sure about the tint but I believe you can add some. Might want to ask the manufacturer.
I have an exposed aggregate concrete floor in my home entryway. So this is a high traffic area. There is also in-floor heating. What would you use to seal it?
SuperSeal25 for the aggregate.
Got exposed concrete driveway couple of days ago. When should i seal it and which is the good sealer? Contractor said to seal it after 4 weeks…
Jack, SuperSeal30 for the exposed aggregate.
Hi, I HAVE EXPOSED AGGREATE,ON MY TOP DECK, SOME CRACKS HAVE FORMED IN THE AGGREATE, WHAT IS THE BEST SEALER AND OR PATCH I COULD USE ON THIS AS IT WILL ATTACH TO A "NEW CEDAR FACIA BOARD WHICH I WILL,HAVE TO USE SOME SORT OF PRODUCT THAT WILL SEAL THAT AS IT ATTACHEWSTO THE AGGREGREATE ~~ "IT TAKES ALL THE ELEMENTS, SUN RAIN ICE~~~THERE ARE LOTS ON THE MARKET, BUT AND NOT WANTING TO HAVE ANYTHING LEAK DOWN BELOW ON TO THE 2 X8'S AS THERE IS SOME MOLD FORMING , AND NEED TO GET IT OUT BEFORE, I… Read more »
Sorry, I forgot to link my photo previously.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13226087@N06/9399757…
Thanks again!
Link does not work for the pictures.
Hello. I had some grill grease spots on my exposed aggregate porch that I tried to remove with Pour and Restore stain remover. Unfortunately, that product resulted in larger, white chalky stains that will not wash off. I contacted the manufacturer who suggested that I use acetone to remove the chalky stains, now I have even bigger chalky looking clouds. I'm not sure what I am looking at now but I have attached a link to a photo for your reference. Could this problem now be something as simple as dissolved sealant? Can acetone do that? I'd love to just… Read more »
May I use the SB-6000 on quartizite down to the waterline? The submerged portion is already going to have the wet look come to think of it…
What a an awesome site. My concrete contractor with 25 years experience and the representative from the local company that sells sealers weren't able to give me this kind of information. Thank you!
SD Dave, I would think so but might be best to contact Surebond directly and ask. You are welcome for the site 🙂
Thank you for the reply. One more question – I have quartzite stack stone running from underside of coping into the pool, so a small portion of the quartzite will be permantley underwater. May I use this product on the quartzite on the as well? With regular maintenance of course. No salt system…
SD Dave, I do not believe you can use this sealer if submerged. Not sure what will work.
Hi great site…
I live in Southern California and had a colored concrete/exposed ag coping poured around my pool approximately 12 days ago. When I hose down the coping I get the true color of the concrete (davis flagstone brown) but when it dries it turns a dull reddish pink.
I would like to use a sealer that returns the color without providing an unnatural gloss. It appears that there are several options – can you help me nail it down? Thank you!
SD Dave, the Surebond SB-6000 should work for you.
I just had new cap and steps done yesterday and today they acid/water -washed it and the older drive in front. Sounds like this was way too soon–that there should have been a drying out of at least two days! What is going to happen to it? Do I need to get them to do something else? And I just checked the weather radar and it might rain now! Help!
judy40206, it is probably fine. I am sure they know what they are doing.
This is a very odd question but I am really hoping that you guys can help me out. I run a small business. This past weekend, a neighbor of a customer accused us of spilling something on their driveway. They had just sealed the driveway a week ago and they have claimed that whatever we spilled has eaten away at their sealant. We never parked in the driveway and we use zero hazardous chemicals nor do we carry any type of chemicals while working. I have no idea what type of sealer they used but I believe they did the… Read more »
The link does not work.
Just had an aggregate drive-way poured, they sealed it within 2-3 days was this too soon? Sealed yesterday
now today is raining is this ok? They sealed early a.m. which was not all that warm but did get quite hot after is this ok?
Had poured stamped concrete patio colour is suppose to be a golden beige but there is a lot of black showing in the pattern , why is this? Loretta P.S doesn`t look all that golden beige to me some pink ton to it.
It is probably fine. I have not idea on the stamped concrete. Ask your contractor.
The black you see in the pattern is most likely the release they used when stamping. Prbloy used a charcoal release , u will always get the color of the release in the pattern unless a liquid release is used instead of powder. The earlier uwwash the release off or themore u scrub it off prior to the concrete curing the more release u will be able to remove. It is great that they sealed in the morning. Always good to seal in cooler temperatures,it will takes roughly 3 hrs to dry before heavy rain would affect it
Hi, about 6 months ago I pressure washed my black.white spec exposed driveway & path & resealed using a roller. Now it looks extremely patchy in spots and other areas it looks deep & black the way it did when originally sealed. Is it possible that I have applied the sealer to heavily? How can I fix this?
Sean, it is possible. Did the sealer fade away or discolor by turning white in the patchy areas?
The original seal had started to lose the wet look appearance hence why I resealed. The previous coat definately was not changing colour or looked white/patchy. When I applied the new seal ( 1 x coat ) it looked terrific. But within the last 2-3 months it has changed too a patchy appearance. Where it is patchy you can see the seal on the concrete and does look too have a good coat. It is hard to describe but some of the driveway looks black but with areas turning more cloudy. I also had the same concrete poured out the… Read more »
Sean, can you post a picture somewhere then give us a link to see it?
Hi, I recently had approx. 500sq.ft of exposed aggregate poured and cannot get rid of a chaulky look even after acid washing and pressure washing. Will sealing with SuperSeal 25 or 30 take care of this problem ? I am looking to use this product on approx.300sq.ft.(recently poured as well) of colored stamped concrete. I want the wet look throughout.Will this product hold up to the HOT Texas sun ? Both areas are exposed about 85% to the sun….Any input will be greatly appreciated.
John, what is the chalky stuff? You should address this first before sealing. Look at a product called NMD80. Once prepped the SuperSeal products will give a wet look any typically lasts for about 2 years.
I have rust stains that 'appeared' about 6 – 12 months after poured? (no area of rust near the spots!) Where does this come from ? Looks like just came up through the concrete? What to do?
Brenda, not sure where they came from but you can use a rust cleaner to remove.
Mine was from moss remover I applied along the lawn–it left rust-colored stain on my driveway and walkway…can this stain be removed by rust remover?
if it actually rust then yes it should remove it. Do not use straight Muriatic Acid. It may etch the surface too much. Look for a product call NMD80 by Eacochem.
Hi Brenda, sometimes you can get some rocks with a lot of iron content which can rust. Also some concreters put in steel height pins to get the height to screed to. usually you hit them down once you have screeded up to them. But if the concreter fails to do this, the top of the height pin will rust.
Frank.
I've found that my lawn fertilizer that oversprays the sidewalk seems to cause rusty areas due to the iron it contains.
I just finished pressure washing our aggregate porch and walkway. There are some area where the previous sealer turned milky white and is still on the walkway. I am sure it was a solvent based sealer ( seal king). Should I try to remove the build up before I reseal with some Xylol? Is 24 hours long enough to wait after pressure washing?
Laura, xylol is not a sealer but a solvent. It is possible that it may remove the white spots. Pressure washing will not remove the white spots. You would need a sealer stripper to do that. 24 hours should be fine.