This post was most recently updated on January 30th, 2023
Shiny Paver Sealer vs Wet Look
In 2023, Concrete Sealer Review continues to remain your number one source for concrete and brick paver sealer professional tips and advice. Below is an updated article for 2023 that discusses the difference between a shiny vs wet look paver sealer. If you have questions or have used a shiny or wet look paver sealer, we want to hear your input! Feel free to leave us a comment with pictures below.
Sealing pavers is an excellent way to enhance and preserve their appearance. There are certain paver sealers that will bring out the natural colors of the pavers while locking out moisture, which will help preserve and increase their longevity. The sealer also helps to solidify the sand joints and can help with weed growth and freeze/thaw damage that may occur in colder climates.
There are several different finishes involved with paver sealers. A matte finish will not alter the appearance of the pavers at all but will still preserve the surface and keep out unwanted moisture. Typically a matte finish sealer is water-based. Besides a matte finish, you can also go for a shiny or wet look. So what is the difference between a shiny vs. wet look paver sealer? There is a slight difference in appearance and also in the formula that makes up either sealer.
A shiny or glossy finish is achieved using a sealer that contains a high percentage of the solid content of the acrylic. This type of finish darkens faded pavers as if they are wet while adding a shiny finish. A shiny sealer can enhance the natural reds and brown tones that are found in common brick pavers. The high solid content of these types of sealers will leave a high-gloss shine depending on the amount of solids. The higher the percentage of solids; the higher the gloss finish. For example, a 25% solid content sealer would be considered a semi-gloss while a 30% solid content sealer would be considered a high gloss.
Here is the difference between a shiny vs. a wet look paver sealer. Most wet look sealers are solvent-based penetrating formulas. Wet look sealers are not designed to add shine. It can be compared to how the pavers would look if they were sprayed with water. In fact, you can mist water on your pavers (as long as they do not have a sealer on them already that would repel the water) to see how they might look with a wet look sealer. They will darken up and appear wet without a shiny or glossy finish. They will continue to appear wet even after the sealer dries.
Different Types of Concrete Sealers Video
How To Apply Brick Paver Sealer Easily
As an article and comment contributor to the site, Scott has been around the pressure washing industry since attending college. In 1993 he started his first company called Oakland Pressure Wash specializing in exterior pressure washing, concrete sealing, and deck staining. That company evolved into OPW L.L.C. shortly thereafter concentrating more on exterior restoration. Scott and his restoration Michigan company have restored over 10,000 projects in the Metro Detroit area since the early years. He has become an authority in the restoration industry and has contributed to numerous restoration forums and informative sites.
All the products he suggests through this site are sold through online sites and in retail stores, allowing the consumer to choose their own means of purchase. Scott’s eCommerce sites do sell many top brands he endorses and if you appreciate any of the help he has offered then feel free to purchase from one of them.
What would work best on concrete driveway shiny wet or natural I’m having a hard time trying to decide which is best
Regular white concrete? You cannot use a gloss or wet-look sealer on regular white concrete. It will dry very blotchy. Use a water repellent like this: https://www.concretesealerreview.com/superseal-m-concrete-water-repellent-review/
Hello, I used a soy based stripper to remove 25 year old polyurethane off our indoor kitchen split brick floor. I applied the stripper, covered it with plastic sheeting to prevent it from drying too quickly, then when completely dry I used a professional grade floor buffer. Help! On several sections of the floor, I guess I got too aggressive with the buffer and now those bricks are pale in comparison to other sections. Will this error correct itself and bring back the color when I apply a sealer? I ask this because when I wipe the pale bricks with… Read more »
Sorry, but we do not work with interior floors (exterior only) like this so are expertise is not good here. We never strip indoors due to the mess and difficulty and we never apply indoor coatings to split brick floors.
Hi Scott, we recently had rice white peacock pavers installed in our outdoor kitchen. They looked beautiful! The installer just sealed them and now they are splotchy and shiny in some places – they look horrible. What happened and how do we fix it?
Post some pics. Also find out the sealer they used.
I just had a full colored bluestone patio installed. I am looking for advice for the best product to use to achieve a more rich wet look…looking for suggested enhancing sealer….
Thanks
Wet-look sealers will not work very well for natural stone. Dries blotchy and uneven.
I want to seal the patio… if not a ‘wet look” is there anything you suggest that will bring out more of the color? I don’t mind if it is more of a flat finish or satin
No, wet look = color enhancement and it does not work well for natural stone.
We’ve just laid concrete pavers in our backyard. I’d like the enhance the colour of them, like the “wet look” does, but I don’t want to make them slippery in the winter. What’s the best type of sealer to use?
Just because something says it’s a matte finish, does that mean it’s a penetrating sealer that doesn’t leave a film on top of the pavers?
Try Supreme Shield SB-600 or Surebond SB-6000 for a penetrating wet look sealer. No film.
New installation 3 months ago. There’s a spa inside an enclosed lanai. Sand was used between the pavers. I’m not sure I want wet satin or a high gloss. The photo shows a damp area. I would like to stabilize the sand joints to prevent mold if possible also.
Try Super Seal 25 or Super Seal 30.
Stamped red and black colored concrete. Seal yearly does not last. Concrete looks dull and is slippery when wet.
What do you recommend for a glossy look, non slip and longer lasting?
Thank you!
Please reply back with pictures of the concrete and what sealer were you using prior.
Ever clear is product used
Need pictures.
Photo sent
Thank you
You are having an issue with your current sealer turning white. You have to strip this to fix this first: https://www.concretesealerreview.com/how-to-strip-a-stamped-concrete-sealer/
Once removed, you should try the Super Seal 30 Sealer.
Already sealed bricks about a month ago now I want wet look can I apply over what is on the bricks?
Probably not as the sealer will prevent the new coating from adhering.
What is best outdoor sealer to give bluestone a gloss look?
Gloss sealers do not work well for natural stone. Dries blotchy and uneven.
When I use this product Valspar Protective Sealer on my tile kitchen floor (tile is not sealed) what do I use to wash the floor each week?
You would have to ask them directly as we do not use their products due to numerous issues.
I recently installed concrete pavers. Various shades of gray. We are constantly visited by ducks that often leave behind their poop. Will sealing help prevent stains? I prefer a matte finish to glossy. Does that make a difference?
Nothing can prevent stains but sealing will make it easier to clean off. Try Super Seal 30 for a glossy shine and wet look or Super Seal Matter for a wet look with a matte shine.
For concrete pavers, like unilock hollandstone, what’s the best sealer for a very glossy, and specially very color enhancing look?
Super Seal 30.
Hi My name is Juan I need to apply sealer after cleaning and refill up sand but I don’t to know what kind I need to use I want restoration colors bricks only patio thank you.
Try the Super Seal 25 brick paver sealer.
Hello – our backyard has an inground pool, surrounded by concrete “deck” around the pool and then about 1,500 sq. ft. of pavers. All on the same level. These have been here for 30+ years. In the past few years the pavers and concrete have been getting very dirty over winter, so we’ve had to power wash. But we have to do this every year now. Can we power wash, add polymeric sand and then seal so everything looks fresh and new again? Want the pavers to have enhanced colour and shine. But don’t want slippery. Don’t want to do… Read more »
No idea where you can buy in Ontario but you can buy online. Try Super Seal 25.
Hello, My paver done 6 year ago and now on my patio have some spot oils. Now I want re sealer. How can I clean oils before seal? And I want wet look and shine? What kind of seal I need ? Please help me.
Thanks
Do the oil spots show when wet with water? If not, no need to clean. Use SuperSeal 30 Paver Sealer.
Hello, I just sealed my pavers with SRW low gloss sealer but am unhappy with the lack of color change. Can I apply the SRW high gloss sealer over this? Will it help me achieve my deeper color change? Thank you.
No, you probably need to strip it off first and go with a better brand of sealer.
Ugh. Thanks for your quick response.
Good Afternoon!
What do you recommend to clean Techo Bloc Blu concrete pavers?
What do you recommend for a semi gloss sealer?
How long after cleaning before you can apply the sealer?
The patio is about 8 years old and has never been sealed. Will we still get good results?
Thank you!
Use water to clean with a pressure washer. Wait 48 hours to seal. Seal with Super Seal 25.
Can a solvent base wet look sealer be applied over a solvent base gloss sealer
Depends on the brands involved and the gloss will still be there when done. Meaning you cannot dull out the gloss by adding a non gloss on top.
I have flagstone in patio and around pool. It is faded and dull. I want a wet look. How can I do this?
You can’t. Wet look sealers do not work well for natural stone.
I am installing man made pavers (Techo Bloc) to my patio and pool area. I want to make it shinny, but I don’t want it to be slippery. Is there such a product that can do this?
Try Super Seal 30 paver sealer.
My husband bought a sealer that was”satin gloss”. When he sprayed some on the pavers I was not happy with the look. I want a very HIGH gloss look on my paver driveway. Since awe already have the satin gloss product, will it hurt if we go ahead and put a coat on and then use a HIGHB GLOSS sealant afterward? What would you recommend ?
That would depend if the two different sealers are compatible or not? No way to know until you look at the chemical makeup of each.
The brick coping around our pool is water stained and dull looking. I want to clean it and then put a sealer on that adds shine. Which would be the best products for cleaning and then adding shine?
A shiny sealer on a pool coping is a bad idea. The constant water and chlorine can blush the sealer, turning it white.
Any alternative suggestions?
Nothing that will enhance or improve the appearance. As far as cleaning, post some pictures for help.
Here are a couple of pictures.
Looks like it was sealed prior and the old sealer has turned white. That is why you cannot use a wet look or gloss sealer on pool copings. To fix you will have to strip but you cannot get the stripper in the pool so you will have to drain.
Can i use a semi gloss sealer on the pool coping
We would not. Gloss sealers can turn white around pool copings.
What do you recommend going with a Natural Look/Clear or a Matte Finish thanks
Natural Look/Clear like SuperSeal-M.
I have a Dark Grey concrete driveway. I live close to the ocean and the color of the concrete has faded. What is the best product to use to bring back the color and wet look to the driveway. Thanks
Plain concrete or stained/stamped? Wet look sealers will not work on plain concrete.
I have bluestone pool coping stones. I have just sealed them but am not happy with the result. I wanted a darker, wet, glossy look. Can I use something else on top to achieve this look
No, and wet looks glossy sealers will not work well on natural stone. Dries very blotchy and uneven.
This sunroom
is interior room of home need to seal as we have dogs and want to be able
to mop. What do I use to not be too shiny.
Try SuperSeal-M to seal it.
Thank you !!
Your article is very interesting and helpful. My driveway has brown pavers and we would like a wet look — like you described in the above article “A shiny or glossy finish is achieved using a sealer that contains a high percentage of the solid content of the acrylic. This type of finish darkens faded pavers as if they are wet while adding a shiny finish. A shiny sealer can enhance the natural reds and brown tones that are found in common brick pavers.” What product would you recommend to get this type of finish?
Try Super Seal 30 Paver Sealer.
I am looking for a wet look/gloss to semi gloss finish water based sealer for pavers. What would you suggest?
Solvent-based sealers will work better when it comes to a rich wet look and a higher gloss. Water-based sealers will not get as glossy. The Best we have seen is the Masonry Saver Paver Sealer for a water-based.
I added cultured stone to my outdoor pillars and love the wet look but read that I should not use a solvent based sealer but one with silane base. I only find that in matte and high gloss, not wet look. I really want the wet look instead. Is there a product you recommend or would a water based acrylic wet look work?
Use Surebond SB-600 for a wet loook sealer. It is solvent-based.
What you read is incorrect. Acrylics can be in both solvent and water-based sealers. Same with siloxanes.
hello, I have concrete paver patios which I’m looking to seal, enhance color and provide shine, BUT I DO NOT like the wet look. I don’t like the darker result. Is there a product for me?
Enhancing the color is the same as a wet look so what you are asking to do is not possible.
Will a matte finish sealer on pavers deepen the color of the paver. I don’t want a sheen but would like the color a bit brighter.
No, you need a wet look sealer to enhance the colors. Try Supreme Shield SB-600.
I’m not finding much on sealing brushed concrete. What would you recommend for a good sealer on an outdoor brushed concrete patio that has a water-based stain which gets a lot of sun?
Post a picture or two.
Right now it is just white brushed concrete that was poured about 3 weeks ago… I’ve decided on water-based stain but haven’t decided yet on the sealer. I want to make sure I have all my supplies on hand when I hit the 30 day cure time so I can stain then seal the next day. But I can add a pic of just the brushed white concrete if that would help.
Look as Masonry Saver Decorative Concrete Sealer.
What is the best sealer to use on integrally colored concrete to give it a wet look? It is a charcoal colored
Post a picture and has it been sealed prior?
Here is a picture. It is a garage floor and we live in eastern Iowa. It has a sealer on it and will need to be stripped.
For a garage floor and a clear coat we would suggest this for max protection: https://www.restore-a-garage.com/restore-a-garage-epoxy/restore-a-garage-clear-top-coat/flypage.tpl.html
If I put shiny sealer on my pavers if I don’t like the look, can it be removed to put on the matte finish?
Yes.
Is there a sealer finish that will not be especially slippery when wet?
This will vary based on the surface type you are applying to and the finished look you want?
My pavers is brand new I don’t like glossy color do you recommend Matt sealer is it non- yellow
Use the Supreme Shield SB-600 https://www.concretesealerreview.com/supreme-shield-sb-600-wet-look-review/
Hi!
I acid stained my concrete with three different colors, and it looks so much better when it’s wet! I bought an acrylic waterbased glossy sealer that I thought would give it that dark wet look, but it merely just adds shine to it and maybe darkens it super faintly. I’ve only tested a small area and I’m wondering if it’s just my concrete or if there’s a product I can use to give it that specific tone that it has when it’s wet.
The issue would be using something that would work over your current sealer. You may need to strip that off first.
My pavers were cleaned and before the powerwashing they were dark. Now they are light. They were never shiny. Did I probably have ‘wet-look’ sealer applied 20 years ago? Underneath a bay window the pavers are still a darker color, so I’m guessing all the old sealer didn’t get sprayed off with the washing. Sand was applied, but they weren’t sealed last week. Now I’ve got a sand mess and need to finish the job myself. I was told I didn’t need sealer if I used a specific type of sand. That was incorrect. Anyhow with Eagle wet-look, should I… Read more »
Make sure to remove all sand first of the top of the pavers. Use this product instead. two coats: https://www.concretesealerreview.com/supreme-shield-sb-600-wet-look-review/
Much better sealer.
What products would you recommend to achieve the best shinny look.
What kind of surface is this going on?
I live in Florida and my pavers get too hot to walk on. Are there any sealers that help to keep the pavers cool?
No.
can this be used around a pool area/
Yes.
We had a landscaper seal our pavers for a darker look with a nice sheen. When it was done, it looked all splotchy & streaked, not at all the way we anticipated. When we contacted the LS, he came to strip it, but when he was done & it dries it looks exactly how it did before he stripped it. Please help. Our pavers look dirty like leaves were laying on them all winter. Is there anything we could do to get the look we want or are the pavers ruined now?
Need pictures and the sealer brand/type that was used.
We have already sealed pavers on a driveway. This did not darken the pavers at all but merely sealed. We and the customer are disappointed. Is there anything we can put on top of the already sealed pavers to darken them? It’s probably too late but I need to ask
No, not once sealed with a non wet look sealer. That would have to be removed first.
It was an Ultra Wet Look Sealer
You should contact the manufacturer for help but I do not think you can do anything besides stripping and starting over.
Will gloss sealer reflect sun into your face ?
If so what would be best to seal without so much reflection?
No.
Which looks better longer , wet or matte sealant
Depends on the surface you are applying to and the brand. It is not always the same.
Can a wet look sealer be applied over a silane / siloxane sealer? if so, what is the best?
We have done this before with the Super Seal 25 and did not have any issues.