Concrete Slab Sealers

admin May 1, 2013 Concrete Slabs
Concrete Slab Sealers

There are a few different types of concrete sealers that can be used to seal a concrete slab. Which concrete slab sealer is best will depend on the condition of the concrete slab, the location of the concrete slab, what you want the concrete slab to look like once sealed, and your reason for sealing the slab.

Best Concrete Slab Sealers

The three main types of concrete slab sealers are concrete densifiers, concrete water repellent sealers, and acrylic sealers.

Silicate Concrete Sealers Silane Siloxane Concrete Sealers Acrylic Concrete Sealers
Won’t change the look of the concrete Won’t change the look of the concrete Enahnces with a wet look or gloss
Works entirely below the surface Works entirely below the surface Leaves a visible surface film
Lasts forever Lasts 7-10 years Lasts 1-5 years
Increase strength of concrete Repels surface water Protects surface against staining
Reduces dusting and spalling Reduces staining and deterioration Stops dusting, staining, deterioration
Can be used on interior/exterior concrete Can be used on interior/exterior concrete Can be used on interior/exterior concrete

Concrete Densifiers: Concrete densifiers chemically react below the surface of the concrete where they create a crystalline barrier within the pores that increases the strength and density of the concrete. Densifiers are commonly used to reduce dusting and deterioration caused by weak concrete and surface abrasion.

The two most common types of concrete densifiers are sodium silicate densifiers and lithium silicate densifiers. Both types of densifiers create the same chemical reaction and form the same crystalline barrier within the pores. The primary difference between them is that sodium silicate sealers have a larger molecule and work well on porous concrete while lithium silicate sealers have a smaller molecule and work well on dense concrete. Either densifier however can be used to seal an interior or exterior concrete slab.

Best Sodium Silicate Sealers:

Best Lithium Silicate Sealers:

Concrete Water Repellent Sealers: Water repellent sealers chemically react below the surface of the concrete where they create a hydrophobic barrier within the pores that caused water and other liquids to bead off the surface. Water repellent sealers are commonly used to reduce staining and deterioration caused by water absorption such as cracking, spalling, pitting, freeze thaw and salt damage, mold and mildew, and efflorescence.

The two most common types of water repellent sealers are siliconate sealers and silane-siloxane sealers. Siliconate sealers are great to use on white or light concrete (because they can leave behind a white surface residue), and silane siloxane sealers are great to use on all types of concrete.

Best Water Repellent Sealers:

Acrylic Concrete Sealers: Acrylic sealers are designed to enhance the concrete with a wet look, low gloss, high gloss, or colored coating. The coating left behind by the acrylic will protect the surface of the concrete against damage and deterioration caused by water absorption and surface abrasion. Acrylic sealers are popular coatings to use simply because they don’t require that the concrete be acid etched or ground. They can usually be applied to most concrete surfaces, as-is.

Best Acrylic Sealers:

 
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