Concrete and Stone needs to be maintained in order to preserve its life and to enhance its appearance.
No two sealers are alike and no sealer will last forever. Its life will depend on the type of sealer used and exposure conditions. In general, exterior concrete and stone should be sealed every one to two years in our Colorado climate while interior concrete and stone should be sealed every five to seven years. It is important to note that lower cost sealers purchased from local hardware stores usually can’t match the quality and performance of commercial professional grade sealers.
The type of sealer selected depends on desired aesthetics and performance.
| TYPE | ATTRIBUTES |
| Acrylic Sealer | Water-based or solvent-based |
| UV resistant and non-yellowing | |
| Good for exterior top coat protection | |
| Polyurethane Sealer | Water-based or solvent-based |
| Twice as thick as acrylic sealer | |
| Excellent resistance to abrasion and chemicals | |
| Note: moisture intolerant until it cures | |
| Epoxies | Hard, long-wearing abrasion resistant finish |
| Bonds well to concrete and cement based overlays | |
| Available in different colors | |
| Penetrating Sealer | Crystallizes minerals just below the surface |
| Strengthens the surface | |
| Blocks surface moisture intrusion | |
| Blocks efflorescence | |
| Invisible flat appearance | |
| Brings out the natural color in stone | |
| Note: it is not uncommon to use a topical sealer after using penetrating sealers | |
Topical sealers come in many gloss levels including no-gloss, matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. The higher the solid content in a sealer the higher the level of gloss. Solvent based sealers tend to darken or enhance the color of concrete more than the water based sealers.
Care should be taken when cleaning and prepping for sealer application as it is important that all surfaces are dry before applying the sealer.
Concrete and Stone needs to be maintained in order to preserve its life and to enhance its appearance.
No two sealers are alike and no sealer will last forever. Its life will depend on the type of sealer used and exposure conditions. In general, exterior concrete and stone should be sealed every one to two years in our Colorado climate while interior concrete and stone should be sealed every five to seven years. It is important to note that lower cost sealers purchased from local hardware stores usually can’t match the quality and performance of commercial professional grade sealers.
The type of sealer selected depends on desired aesthetics and performance.
|
TYPE |
ATTRIBUTES |
|
|
|
|
Acrylic Sealer |
Water-based or solvent-based |
|
|
UV resistant and non-yellowing |
|
|
Good for exterior top coat protection |
|
|
|
|
Polyurethane Sealer |
Water-based or solvent-based |
|
|
Twice as thick as acrylic sealer |
|
|
Excellent resistance to abrasion and chemicals |
|
|
Note: moisture intolerant until it cures |
|
|
|
|
Epoxies |
Hard, long-wearing abrasion resistant finish |
|
|
Bonds well to concrete and cement based overlays |
|
|
Available in different colors |
|
|
|
|
Penetrating Sealer |
Crystallizes minerals just below the surface |
|
|
Strengthens the surface |
|
|
Blocks surface moisture intrusion |
|
|
Blocks efflorescence |
|
|
Invisible flat appearance |
|
|
Brings out the natural color in stone |
|
|
Note: it is not uncommon to use a topical sealer after using penetrating sealers |
Topical sealers come in many gloss levels including no-gloss, matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. The higher the solid content in a sealer the higher the level of gloss. Solvent based sealers tend to darken or enhance the color of concrete more than the water based sealers.
Care should be taken when cleaning and prepping for sealer application as it is important that all surfaces are dry before applying the sealer.
