A penetrating concrete sealer is a sealer that penetrates into the concrete where it chemically reacts in order to perform or bond. The three primary types of penetrating concrete sealers are concrete densifiers, water repellent concrete sealers, and acrylic concrete sealers. Which sealer is the best concrete sealer for your application will depend on several factors.

Which penetrating sealer is best for your concrete will depend on what you want the concrete too look like once sealed, and how you need the sealer to perform.

Best Penetrating Silicate Concrete Sealers

Sodium silicate concrete sealers are chemically reactive densifiers that increase the strength and density of the concrete by forming a crystal-like barrier within the pores. Concrete sealed with a silicate densifier receive in increase in surface strength of up to 45%. Silicate sealers are used to decrease dusting and deterioration caused by surface abrasion, and to reduce the movement of sub-surface water and moisture through the pores.

Under the category of silicate sealers there are sodium silicate sealers and lithium silicate sealers. They both offer the same chemical reaction and product the same barrier. Sodium silicate sealers have a larger molecule size and perform well on porous or wet surfaces, and lithium silicate sealers have a smaller molecule size and perform better on dry dense surfaces.

Sodium and lithium silicate sealers are available in concentrated and pre-diluted forms. Concentrated silicates are more cost effective and allow the dilution ratios to be changed in order to allow for the best possible penetration and reaction, while pre-diluted silicates arrive already watered down and are ready to apply to the concrete.

Sodium Silicate Concrete Densifier Reviews

• Armor S2000 Concrete Sealer Review (concentrated)
• Stone Technolgies X-1 Concrete Sealer Review (pre-diluted)
• Ashford Formula Concrete Sealer Review (pre-diluted)

Lithium Silicate Concrete Densifier Reviews

• Armor L3000 Concrete Sealer Review (concentrated)
• PS103 Concrete Sealer Review (pre-diluted)
• Lion Hard Concrete Sealer Review (pre-diluted)

Best Penetrating Water Repellent Concrete Sealers

There are two types of water repellent sealers, Silane-Siloxane sealers and Siliconate sealers. Both types of sealers offer a very similar set of benefits. Where they differ is in their application. Silane-Siloxane water repellent sealers can be applied to virtually all types of concrete and masonry, while Siliconate sealers can only be applied to white or light concrete. This is because siliconate water repellent sealers can leave behind a white surface residue that can’t be seen on white or light concrete surfaces, but can be seen or dark or colored concrete.

Silane-Siloxane concrete sealer reviews:

• Armor SX5000 Concrete Sealer Review (average 4.8 star review)
• Siloxane PD Concrete Sealer Review (average 4.5 star review)
• DryWay Water Repellent Concrete Sealer Review (average 3.8 star review)

Siliconate concrete sealer reviews:

• Armor SC25 Siliconate Water Repellent (average 4.9 star review)
• PS101 Siliconate Water Repellent (average 4.7 star review)

Best Penetrating Acrylic Concrete Sealers

Acrylic sealers are designed to enhance the surface of the concrete with a wet look, low gloss, or high gloss finish. The two main categories of acrylic sealers are water based and solvent based acrylic sealers.

Solvent based acrylic sealers will darken the concrete to bring out any dull and faded coloring, and they are easier to repair and maintain. There is nothing wrong with a water based acrylic, it just requires more work when it comes time to re-coat.

The next breakdown of acrylic sealers is the type of acrylic. The two main types are acrylic lacquer sealers and acrylic co-polymers. Acrylic co-polymer sealers contain styrene and are used primarily to cure new concrete, while acrylic lacquers are pure acrylic sealers designed for concrete that is already cured.

Best acrylic concrete sealers:

• Armor AR350 Wet Look Sealer (average 4.9 star review)
• Eagle Wet Look Sealer (average 4.6 star review)
• Armor AR500 High Gloss Sealer (average 4.9 star review)
• Seal-Krete High Gloss Sealer (average 4.3 star review)

Best Penetrating Sealers

Still not sure? Think about  this: what do you want the concrete to look like once sealed? If you like the look of unsealed concrete and want to maintain a natural finish, then you want a silicate sealer or a water repellent sealer. If you want a wet look, low gloss, or high gloss finish then you want an acrylic sealer.

What do you require for performance from the sealer?

• I want to reduce dusting and increase the surface strength of my concrete. If you want to increase the strength and density of the concrete in order to reduce dusting and deterioration caused by surface abrasion, then you want a silicate concrete sealer.
• I want to keep my concrete looking cleaner, longer, and also make it easier to clean. If you want to keep your concrete looking cleaner longer, and make it easier to clean the concrete then you need a water repellent sealer.
• I want to stop mold and mildew growth, and water stains on my concrete. If you want to stop mold and mildew growth and water stains on the concrete then you want a water repellent sealer.
• I want to stop hot tire pickup. If you want to stop hot tire pickup then you need an acrylic sealer.
• I want to stop oil stains. If you want to stop oil stains then you need an acrylic sealer.
• I want to reduce moisture. If you are want to reduce basement moisture, view our article on Basement Moisture.