Learn about Concrete Sealer

A concrete sealer is used to protect your concrete from damage and can be topical or penetrating. When you use a sealant, you are adding a protective barrier to your porous concrete. In regions that experience a freeze-thaw cycle, water can absorb into your unsealed concrete and expand, destroying the surface. Sealers can be used on indoor concrete surfaces to protect against stains, dust, and abrasions while maintaining your surfaces’ attractiveness.

Topical and penetrating sealers act as the two primary options of concrete sealing.

A topical concrete sealer rests on top of the concrete and acts as a protective layer. It is often a thin layer expected to wear down over time, with regular reapplication required. Since topical sealers rest on top of the concrete, some sealers may change the concrete’s appearance.

Penetrating concrete sealer soaks deep into your concrete surface and chemically reacts within the material. These sealers last a long time and require less reapplication in comparison to the topical variant. Since they absorb deep into the concrete, they act to keep water out without changing the concrete’s appearance. Penetrating sealers are most commonly made of siloxanes and silanes, giving the concrete a clear and natural look. The problem with this economical choice is their high content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Penetrating sealers can be solvent or water-based, with the forming having a brighter sheen and the latter having a lower VOC content.

The sustainable features of concrete and the sealers come from the extension of life on the product. With a longer life-span of a product, there is reduced demand for replacement materials.

Of the concrete sealers, water-based products are more environmentally friendly, with some solvent-based products not sold in certain states.