Under the category of acrylic sealers there are water and solvent based acrylic sealers, acrylic lacquer sealers, acrylic co-polymer sealers, and acrylic latex sealers.
Water vs Solvent Based Acrylic Sealers
There are a few differences between water based acrylic sealers and solvent based acrylic sealers, and most of their differences are related to appearance and maintenance.
Water Based Acrylic Sealers | Solvent Based Acrylic Sealers |
Won’t darken the concrete | Will darken the concrete |
Repaired by screen sanding | Repaired with Xylene |
Requires screen sanding before recoat | No prep required for recoat |
Can’t add a non slip additive | Can add a non slip additive |
No VOC | Low VOC |
Water based acrylic sealers won’t darken the concrete, but solvent based acrylic sealers will darken the concrete to make it look “wet”. Another difference is that water based acrylic sealers often need to be removed when damaged, and when it comes time to recoat, need to be screen sanded. Solvent based acrylics can easily be repaired with Xylene, and new coatings can easily be applied to a clean and dry surface.
Best water-based acrylic sealers:
- Seal-Krete Clear Seal Acrylic Sealer (average 4 star review)
- Armor WB25 Acrylic Sealer (average 4.9 star review)
Best solvent-based acrylic sealers:
- Eagle High Gloss Sealer (average 4.6 star review)
- Armor AR350 Wet Look Sealer (average 4.8 star review)
- Armor AR500 High Gloss Sealer (average 4.9 star review)
- Enduraseal SB Acrylic Sealer (average 4.5 star review)
Best Types of Acrylic Concrete Sealers
The three main types of acrylic concrete sealers are acrylic lacquer sealers, acrylic co-polymer sealers, and acrylic latex sealers. Acrylic latex sealers contain latex and latex isn’t breathable. Latex also doesn’t penetrate in order to bond. Acrylic latex sealers function more like a paint and should be avoided. The two best types of acrylics are acrylic lacquer sealers and acrylic co-polymer sealers.
Acrylic co-polymer sealers contain styrene and are slightly more resistant to moisture which is why they are primarily used on uncured concrete as concrete cure and seals. Acrylic lacquer sealers are pure acrylic sealers that aggressively bond to concrete surfaces and are commonly used on fully cured concrete. Both types of acrylic sealers are great acrylic sealers to use on concrete. Learn more about the Best Acrylic Concrete Sealers.
Best Acrylic Sealers:
- Eagle High Gloss Sealer (average 4.6 star review)
- Armor AR350 Wet Look Sealer (average 4.8 star review)
- Armor AR500 High Gloss Sealer (average 4.9 star review)
- Enduraseal SB Acrylic Sealer (average 4.5 star review)