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Decorative Concrete Sealer

The last step of any decorative concrete project is a coat (or two) of decorative concrete sealer. Whether it's stamped, stained, exposed aggregate, or an overlay, it should be sealed with a high quality, non-yellowing concrete sealer.

Not only does sealer enhance and beautify decorative concrete, but it protects it from traffic, weather, and chemicals. It also prevents stains and makes your surface much easier to keep clean.

Exterior

Sealer used for exterior decorative concrete needs to be an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealers allow the concrete to breathe which is necessary for outdoor concrete. Solvent based acrylic sealers are best but may pose problem in places with environmental restrictions. If that's the case then water based acrylic sealers may be your only choice. Unfortunately they don't last as long. But all that means is that you would need to reseal more frequently.

Whichever type you use, eventually you will need to reseal exterior decorative concrete. If foot and vehicle traffic doesn't wear the sealer away, then the weather will. Resealing shouldn't be a big deal. Just rinse off the concrete, let it dry, and roll it on. But if you wait too long to reseal, then it can be a big deal to get it clean and ready.

Interior

I recommend a different approach when it comes to interior decorative concrete sealer. Interior concrete, unless there's a moisture problem in the slab, doesn't require a breatheable sealer. So the objective is usually finding a sealer that you only apply once and never have to reseal again. Epoxy and urethane sealers are the most commonly used because of their strength and durability. For residential floors either type would work. The disadvantage of epoxy is that it's a two part system that requires mixing the two parts together. Once it's mixed you only have a small window of time to apply it before it begins to harden. Urethane, on the other hand, is just one part so there's no mixing and you can put the lid on it and come back to it later. However, urethane does not bond well with bare concrete so you must first apply a coat of acrylic sealer. Urethane is also more toxic with stronger odors. You must have ventilation, cover all your skin and eyes, and wear a respirator when using it.

Read all manufacturers instructions and precautions when applying any kind of sealer. And don't shortcut this step in your project. The wrong type of sealer or improper application can cause major headaches if you have to redo it.