Tips and Advice for Top Concrete Sealers

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a concrete restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior concrete sealing and protection. I am here to help and offer any tips. If you have any questions, please ask me below any articles or product pages in the Comment Area.

For more information about me, please read my full bio here.

My Top Concrete Sealer Ratings for 2024

Ratings and Reviews for Concrete Sealers, Paver Sealers, Brick Coatings, Masonry Sealants and Concrete Water Repellents. Please post a comment below about your experience with any of these products:

• Super Seal-M Top Water Repellent
• SuperSeal 25 Best Semi-Gloss
• Super Seal 30 Highest Gloss Sealer
• Masonry Saver Paver Sealer
• Surebond SB-1300 with Joint Sand Sealer
• Surebond SB-7700
• Masonry Saver Heavy Duty Water Repellent

Best Benefits of Concrete Sealers

Concrete is widely used today for many different applications. Around the home, concrete is poured for everything from driveways and sidewalks to porches and patios. As long as it is maintained and kept in good condition, concrete can increase the value of your home. They should be sealed to help protect and preserve concrete surfaces around the home. Sealing concrete with a good sealer will provide years of protection and ensure a long life span.

Beading Water on Concrete

Seal Concrete for Protection

A concrete sealer will protect the surface from many spills and stains. Although it won’t stop 100% penetration, it will stop deep penetration from water rust, dirt, grime, oil spills, and so on, making clean-up in the future much more manageable.

Quality concrete sealers will also lock out moisture, especially in cold climates. As water can penetrate concrete, it can freeze and cause expensive damage. Sealing the concrete will stop moisture and water from penetrating the surface. A good concrete sealer will also protect the surface from winter salts, which can cause erosion and pitting.

Concrete spalling is caused by exposure to high temperatures. Spalling itself is actually the deterioration of the concrete, causing chunks of the concrete to separate from the concrete structure. Using a sealer can help prevent this.

Seal Concrete for Enhancement

Some concrete sealers can enhance the look of the concrete if that is what you are looking for. Though concrete coatings are available in a matte finish that will not alter the look of the concrete, some sealers will give the surface a “wet” finish, bringing out the natural tones.

Colored concrete is becoming increasingly popular, but it can fade over time due to weather and excessive traffic. Sealing the concrete will help protect the original color and keep the surface from becoming dull and faded.

Sealing all your concrete surfaces with a quality concrete sealer is one of the best ways to protect your investment and maintain your home’s value. It’s a great way to enhance and preserve your concrete for many years.

Concrete Sealer Uses

Concrete has long been used for many surfaces, such as house foundations, driveways, porches, patios, sidewalks, retaining walls, and landscape edging. It is a very adaptable and durable product. Today, they can add different textures and colors to concrete to create a beautiful design that lasts for years. Learning why and how to seal concrete can be vital to its longevity. When concrete is maintained correctly, it will last anywhere from twice as long, if not longer, than neglected concrete surfaces.

There are a host of reasons to maintain concrete. Moisture, water, mold, mildew, and freeze/thaw damage harm a concrete surface. This is why concrete should be cleaned and sealed every few years. This will ensure a waterproof surface that repels moisture, reducing the chance of damage. Now that you understand why you should seal concrete, let’s discuss how to seal it.

How To Apply a Sealer to Concrete

Concrete should be cleaned every couple of years. This is most commonly accomplished using a pressure washer and a quality concrete cleaner. Before sealing your concrete, contaminants such as mold, mildew, grime, dirt, and tannin stains must be removed. Once these contaminants are removed, allow the concrete surface to air dry for several days before sealer application. You can begin sealing after the concrete has dried and the weather allows. We recommend researching to find the proper concrete sealer that fits your needs.

Use plastic to cover areas of your house or landscaping that you do not want to get concrete sealer on. You can begin applying concrete sealer using a large brush or paint roller. You can also use a pump-up garden sprayer or any combination of tools for application. Use whatever works best for your situation. Work in small areas at a time. According to your concrete sealer’s instructions, you may have to apply multiple coats. Do not over-apply the sealer, which may result in an inconsistent appearance. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper weather during application, required coats, and coverage rates.

My 10 Best Tips for Concrete Sealing

My tips apply to all concrete, brick, and masonry types. Examples include driveways, garage floors, brick chimneys, patios, and block walls.

1. Ensure you understand the different types of sealers available for concrete, bricks, and masonry surfaces. There are water-based and solvent-based sealers. Some will enhance the color while leaving a shine. Others will water repel the surface or internally seal.

2. Clean the concrete with water to remove dirt and grime. Pressure Washing would be the easiest. If you have stains, it is best to use a cleaner that is specific to the stain. Examples: Use a degreaser for oil spills, a rust remover for rust removal, etc.

3. After cleaning, let the concrete dry before sealing. How long depends on the sealer being used. Typically, 24 hours is adequate. Watch out for rain and sprinklers!

4. Prior to sealing, sweeping or blowing off the concrete with a leaf blower would be advisable.

5. Apply the concrete sealer per the manufacturer’s directions. Many can be sprayed on with a pump-up sprayer, but some are too thick and will require the use of a roller.

6. Avoid getting the sealer on other surfaces or vegetation. You can cause discoloration or damage to your plants.

7. When spraying a vertical surface such as chimneys, it is essential to protect roof shingles and the house siding from overspray.

8. Do not apply too much. Follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for the number of coats needed and the proper square footage for the substrate you are applying to. Apply evenly as well.

9. Let the concrete sealer dry thoroughly before foot traffic. Some sealers take longer to cure and dry before vehicles or heavy furniture can be used.

10. Concrete sealers should be reapplied every so often. The frequency depends on the type of sealer used and the amount of traffic. On a horizontal surface, concrete sealers typically last 18-36 months, sometimes longer. Vertical surfaces typically last twice as long as horizontal surfaces.

Scott Paul Concrete Sealer Pro Owner

Scott only carries concrete sealing and restoration products that perform best based on his experience using the products and his 30+ years of helping others. Scott has been approached about selling numerous restoration products through the years but selects only the products he has used and trusts to perform.

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