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.
There are many different types of sealers for concrete and masonry surfaces. Concrete sealers come in both water based and solvent based formulas. They come in generic formulas for all surfaces or formulas that are specific to the surface you are applying to. For example, you would want a Brick Paver Sealer for a Paver Patio and a Chimney Sealant for your Chimney but you could use MasonrySaver All Purpose Water Repellent for both.
So why seal your concrete or brick? The main reasons to seal and waterproof your concrete are:
1. Preventing hairline cracks due to water expansion during freeze/that cycles.
2. Prevent water penetration and seepage of water through walls and foundations.
3. Enhance the appearance by adding a gloss or darkening the overall color.
4. Prevent damage from deicing salts during winter months.
5. Provide protection from “Pitting” or “Spalling” or deterioration of the concrete causing chunks of the concrete to separate from the concrete structure.
Once we understand the surface we are treating and what the reasons we are treating the surface for, then we can narrow down what would be the best concrete sealer to use.
Here is an example of concrete surface in Florida (answers in Red):
1. What State do you live in? Florida
2. Interior or Exterior concrete surface? Exterior
3. Vertical or Horizontal application? Horizontal
4. Change or enhance appearance (gloss or wet look) or no change of appearance? Wet Look/Gloss
5. Type of surface examples: Driveway, Paver Patio, Brick Wall, etc. Paver Driveway
Based on the answers you would want a sealer that is specific to brick pavers, gives excellent UV resistance since it is in Florida while adding a shiny enhanced look. Based on these questions you would want to look at:
- SuperSeal25
- SuperSeal30
- MasonrySaver Paver Sealer.
Feel free to answer these questions for help choosing the “the best concrete sealers for me”. Just post a comment below and based on your answers, we will suggest a couple of different options of what sealant or water repellent you should use:
Please include any additional information that would be useful!
Make Sure to Include Answers to the 5 Questions in Comment Area Below!
Average Article Ratings Score
Live in PA
Interior
Warehouse floor
Horizontal
High gloss
You would want more of a clear coat high gloss epoxy for this warehouse floor.
Illinois
Exterior
Horizontal
No change
New concrete driveway and garage floor
Diane, try Super Seal-M water repellent.
Michigan, exterior, horizontal on a sidewalk. No change in appearance. Thank you
Masonry Saver Heavy Duty or Super Seal-M water repellents.
Masonry Saver Heavy Duty or Super Seal-M water repellents.
1. State: Maryland
2. Exterior. 3500 concrete poured 3 months ago. Broomed finish patio
3. Horizontal application.
4. Wet Look finish. Non slip.
5. Exterior patio.
Look at Surebond SB-6000.
Thank you!
1) Northwest Arkansas
2) Exterior
3) Horizontal
4) Wet look/gloss
5) Stamped Concrete Patio
Additional information: They used Super Diamond Clear Sealer initially when we bought the house, but I'm looking for something better.
Try the Super Seal 30. Hopefully, the Diamond Clear has not turned milky white. If it has, you will need to strip it off.
1) Live in PA
2) Exterior concrete five years old. Never sealed.
3) Horizontal application
4) Wet look, non slip
5) Exterior driveway
Plain poured concrete or something else? Wet look sealers will not work for plain white concrete.
I have two different surfaces that I would like to use a penetrating sealer/densities on, but I'm not sure what product to go with, or whether to pick different products for each project
1)Oklahoma
2)exterior
3)horizontal drive / vertical walls
4)natural is fine since I want a penetrating sealer
5)new Poured brushed concrete drive / 50 yr old brick walls
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty or Super Seal-M.
Illinois
Exterior, 1 year old, never sealed
Horizontal
wet look
Restaurant patio, ease of cleanup, stain protection
What type of concrete surface is this?
concrete
Wet look sealers will not work well for plain concrete. Dries blotchy and uneven. Need a penetrating sealer like Super Seal-M Water Repellent.
What type of concrete surface is this?
Washington State
Exterior
Horizontal concrete deck
Going over acid stain has been nuetralized
Satin finish
Try the Super Seal Matte for this.
Minnesota
Exterior driveway
Colored and stamped
Wet look/gloss and satin recommendation
Super Seal Matte or Super Seal 30 (gloss) for this.
Washington State (Seattle)
Exterior
Horizontal
No change
Patio (exposed aggregate)
Super Seal-M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
Thank you very much!!!
Super Seal-M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
ohio
external
horizontal
gloss/wet look
3 foot area around in ground pool (recently painted/stained a chocolate brown. unfortunately, repaired cracks stand out even after being painted. would a certain type of seal uniform the color?
That is Super Seal 25 in the picture.
We have a combination 2×2 concrete block with brick paver walkway in Michigan with polymeric joints. What is the best sealer for us?
Try a brick paver sealer like the Super Seal 25.
Tennessee
exterior driveway
vertical
wet look no gloss
circular aggregate driveway.
We have some smaller hairline cracking and are also considering perma-seal as a possible sealer.
Try Super Seal 30 sealer for this.
1. What State do you live in? Alabama
2. Interior or Exterior concrete surface? Exterior
3. Vertical or Horizontal application? Horizontal
4. Change or enhance appearance (gloss or wet look) or no change of appearance? No change
5. Type of surface examples: Concrete Driveway
Try Super Seal-M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellents.
Live in TN, prevent brick stairs into house from cracking, horizontal, no change in appearance…you suggest…
Try the Masonry Saver Brick Water Repellent.
Try the Masonry Saver Brick Water Repellent.
I live in park city, Ut.. I have a stamped concrete driveway. I would like to seal it. It was sealed 4 years ago but I believe the sealer has completely worn off. Can I spray a sealer on it or do I have to roller it. Spraying seems morlogical since it would more evenly get into the stamped indentations. What sealer would you recommend?
Try the Masonry Saver Decorative Concrete Sealer. It can be rolled or sprayed on.
Seattle, WA. Pre-fab, sand set square concrete pavers. Customer wanted a 'wet' look. I'd prefer to use a water based product as I'm applying it.
Thanks much!
Surebond SB-6000 or Masonry Saver Paver Sealer.
Surebond SB-6000 or Masonry Saver Paver Sealer.
South Carolina
Exterior
Horizontal
Protect
Patio
Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
Any brand you recommend?
Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent
Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent
Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
I live in Michigan and have a new garage floor & driveway. I would like a natural finish sealer that would resist staining such as oils.
Super Seal-M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellents.
Super Seal-M or Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellents.
Washington State; unusual duration (and volume) of snow this past year (2016). Exterior, horizontal small-pebble (approx. 1/2 by 1/8") concrete walkway and back patio (10' X 20'). Require a MATTE FINISH, w/ the usual darkening of the typicall concrete color.
Look at the Supreme Shield SB-600.
Look at the Supreme Shield SB-600.
1. What State do you live in? Michigan
2. Interior or Exterior concrete surface? Exterior
3. Vertical or Horizontal application? Horizontal
4. Change or enhance appearance (gloss or wet look) or no change of appearance? No change or low gloss.
5. Type of surface: Dock walkways
I want a commercial-quality product, because I want this concrete to last as long as possible.
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
Ohio exterior horizontal matte finish broom finish concrete
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent or Super Seal-M.
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent or Super Seal-M.
Kentucky, exterior, horizontal, no change of appearance, flat slab serves as a roof over a garage. Built in 50's. Does not appear to have ever been sealed. Numerous cracks, many were sealed with a caulk 10 or more years ago. Slab is 2 layers, base is about 5" thick, second layer on top is about 2 1/2". There is a crack underneath (in the garage) running the length of the garage, which leaks with rain, small stalactites have formed over the years. No crack directly above this crack. Suspect water is running down a crack, then moving horizontally between the slabs, to the lower crack, then leaking into the garage.
Need to know the best way to seal the cracks, then seal the entire surface (about 330 sq ft). This is used lightly as a patio, mostly by my dog.
You should fill the cracks with an epoxy type crack filler for concrete. Seal after with Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent or the Super Seal-M.
I need a sealer for a temporary Kennel in our garage, as our new Kennel is being built. so the home is 13 years old and I want to protect the concrete from urine stains.
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
Georgia
Interior
Vertical
No change
Concrete wall
Thank you.
Try Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent.
Washington
Exterior
Horizontal
Covered Patio
Wet Look gloss
Concrete covered patio that gets some water spray sprinklers/hot tub
What type of concrete surface is this? Wet look and gloss sealers will not work for plain poured white concrete. Dries blotchy.