Penetrating Brick Sealer Reviews
The best brick sealer to use on brick is a penetrating water repellent sealer. 
Water repellent sealers chemically react in the pores of the brick to form a water repellent barrier that can’t be seen or felt from the surface. They reduce water absorption on the surface, therefore reducing deterioration caused by water absorption such as cracking, spalling, pitting, staining, freeze-thaw and salt damage, mold and mildew growth, and efflorescence formation.
Under the category of water repellent sealers there are Silane sealers, siloxane sealers, silane-siloxane hybrid sealers and siliconate sealers. Siliconate sealers are rarely used on brick because they tend to leave behind a white surface residue on dark surfaces. Silane sealers work better below the surface, Siloxane sealers work better on the surface, and silane-siloxane hybrid sealers provide equal protection above and below the surface. Silane-Siloxane sealers are the best type of brick sealer to use on brick.
Silane-Siloxane Sealer Reviews:
- Armor SX5000 Concrete Sealer Review (average 4.8 star review)
- Siloxane PD Concrete Sealer Review (average 4.5 star review)
What about a silicate sealer? Silicate sealers are great to use on weak and deteriorating brick, but when over applied they will leave behind permanent white crystals on the surface. If you choose to use a silicate sealer, apply very diluted, thin coats. Once the silicate has had a chance to react, consider sealing with a water repellent sealer as well so that the brick is protected against deterioration caused by water absorption.
Wet Look & High Gloss Brick Sealer Reviews
The best brick sealer to achieve a wet look, low gloss, or high gloss finish is an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealers will enhance and protect the surface of the brick with a visible surface film. Acrylic sealers are great to use on dull and faded bricks, or on bricks where a gloss is desired, but if you choose to apply an acrylic sealer on brick, you should apply it to a test area first.
Concrete bricks don’t really have any issues, but red clay bricks are very porous. They allow for large amounts of sub-surface water and moisture to move up through the brick. Acrylic sealers are sensitive to moisture so when the water and moisture reach the top of the brick they can cause the acrylic sealer to delaminate (turn white). Most acrylic sealers are breathable, but they are less breathable then penetrating brick sealers and when moisture does build up below the surface, even if in a small amount, the acrylic will fail.
If you want to use an acrylic sealer on red clay brick, apply to a test area first.
- 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)
