The two best types of exposed aggregate sealers are Silane-Siloxane water repellent sealers and acrylic sealers. Which sealer is best for your exposed aggregate will depend primarily on what you want the exposed aggregate to look like once sealed, and your reason for sealing the aggregate.
| Water Repellent Concrete Sealers | Acrylic Concrete Sealers |
| Won’t change the look of the concrete | Enhances with a wet look or gloss |
| Works entirely below the surface | Leaves a visible surface film |
| Lasts 7-10 years | Lasts 1-5 years |
| Repels surface water | Protects surface against staining |
| Reduces staining and deterioration | Stops dusting, staining, deterioration |
| Can be used on cured and uncured concrete | Can be used on cured and uncured concrete |
Penetrating Exposed Aggregate Sealers
If you want to maintain the natural, unsealed look of the exposed aggregate then you want a Silane-Siloxane water repellent sealer. Silane-Siloxane sealers penetrate into the surface of the concrete where they chemically react below the surface to form a hydrophobic barrier within the pores that causes water and other liquids to bead off the surface. Exposed aggregate sealed with a Silane-Siloxane sealer is more resistant to damage and deterioration caused by water absoprtion such as cracking, spalling, pitting, freeze-thaw and salt damage, mold and mildew, and efflorescence.
- Armor SX5000 Concrete Sealer Review (average 4.8 star review)
- Siloxane PD Concrete Sealer Review (average 4.5 star review)
Siliconate water repellent sealers and silicate densifiers are also types of penetrating sealers, but they aren’t the best type of sealers to use on exposed aggregate. Siliconate water repellents can leave behind a semi-permanent white haze and silicate sealers can leave permanent white crystals on the surface. If you are considering using either of these types of sealers you should contact the manufacturer first and then apply it to a test area to verify that the aggregate won’t get permanently stained.
Tinted and Gloss Exposed Aggregate Sealers
If you want a brown-tint, low/satin gloss, or high gloss finish then you want an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealers leave behind a visible surface film that is designed to both enhance and protect exposed aggregate surfaces.
- Brown Tinted: Brown-tinted sealers will leave behind a translucent brown tint to enhance the stones. Brown tinted acrylic sealers aren’t as strong as pure acrylic lacquer, but they are commonly used to seal exposed aggregate concrete. Top rated brown-tinted sealers are the AG Brown Seal and Brown Eagle Seal.
- Wet Look: If you like what your exposed aggregate concrete looks like when wet then you want a solvent based acrylic lacquer sealer. Acrylic lacquer sealers will darken the aggregate to make it look wet, then protect the surface with a low to high gloss finish.
- 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)
- High Gloss: If you want a high gloss finish you can use a water based or a solvent based acrylic sealer. Water based acrylic sealers will enhance without darkening the surface, and solvent based acrylic sealers will enhance and darken the surface. For the best type of acrylic sealer see Acrylic Sealer Reviews.
