Top Reasons To Use A Penetrating Concrete Sealer

Whether you’re a contractor working on a commercial project for a large business or a homeowner who simply wants to protect their outdoor surfaces, any reactive penetrating sealer, acrylic topical coating, or other premium product by V-SEAL will have you covered for all kinds of projects.

What Is A Penetrating Concrete Sealer? Unlike topical concrete sealers, penetrating concrete sealers fill the pores of concrete to create a denser, longer-lasting material. This type of concrete sealer forms a permanent chemical bond with the substrate, infusing with the material so that it will never wear away until the substrate itself wears away. In addition to extending the lifespan of your concrete surfaces, penetrating concrete sealers also increase stain resistance, shield from weathering and chemical damage, and strengthens surfaces over many years without any maintenance!

Benefits of Using a Penetrating Concrete Sealer

Here are 3 of the top reasons why you may want to use a penetrating concrete sealer:

1. Protection from water or chemical damage.

Concrete surfaces are often impacted by a wide range of damaging elements, especially outdoor areas that are exposed to rain, snow, freezing/thawing etc. Concrete is porous, which means that it can absorb water, moisture, or other chemicals (i.e. oil, grease, and cleaning agents) if it is not properly sealed. Over time, these agents can cause unwanted stains, cracking or spalling, and could eventually lead to complete deterioration of the substrate. A penetrating concrete sealer proactively reduces stains from chemicals, repels water, and strengthens the concrete from harsh weather in the future.

2. Increased durability.

A penetrating concrete sealer can help to increase the durability of concrete surfaces by making them more resistant to average wear and tear. Whether applied indoors or outdoors, this sealer can handle heavy foot traffic and reduces maintenance costs while extending the life of the concrete. Add on an acrylic topical coating to enhance the appearance of your concrete surfaces by evening out any spots of discoloration and providing an eye-catching matte or glossy finish.

3. Versatile applications.

In addition to smooth or broom-finished concrete surfaces, penetrating concrete sealers work well with many other materials such as stamped concrete, stucco, mortar, exposed aggregate, or stone & brick pavers. This means these sealers are great for a variety of projects and can be applied to exterior and interior surfaces.

Types of Penetrating Concrete Sealers

V-SEAL offers high-performing concrete sealers and coatings to protect even the most unique spaces. There are four main kinds of reactive penetrating concrete sealers that offer different advantages:

– Silane: Because of its high resistance to moisture, mold damage, or cracking from freezing climates, this kind of sealer is most often used for exterior industrial purposes, such as parking decks and public highways. It’s the most expensive sealer, but also the longest lasting (10-25 years) and deepest penetrating sealer.

– Silicate: This sealer bonds with lime in the concrete, reacting to form silicate, a mineral that reinforces the concrete and improves durability. Sodium, potassium, and lithium are just a few of the elements that can be used in silicate-based concrete sealers. Their life span is about 10-25 years and best for polished concrete.

– Siloxane: With its low pH levels and water-resistant abilities, siloxane sealers are perfect for extremely porous concrete surfaces since they have larger molecules that don’t penetrate as deeply. Although it is the least penetrating sealer, siloxane-based concrete sealers can last 3-5 years and are super effective when combined with other kinds of sealers.

– Siliconate: Of all the penetrating concrete sealers, V-SEAL favors siliconate-based sealers due to their excellent hydrophobic characteristics and low volatile organic compounds (VOC). Once applied, these sealants block moisture and other debris from ruining the substrate and last about 10-25 years.

For most projects, we recommend a siliconate penetrating concrete sealer, like V-SEAL 101. This chemically reactive, deep penetrating sealer is ideal for residential driveways, sidewalks, basements, garages, and bigger industrial structures. V-SEAL 102, also known as WINTER GUARD, is another fantastic siliconate penetrating sealer ideal for curing new broom finished concrete and sealing pre-existing broom finished concrete and porous block.

From warehouses & auto shop floors to commercial parking decks and university campuses, to private backyard patios, our top-grade V-SEAL products achieve greater resilience and permanency—plus they come with the V-SEAL advantage.

Are you ready to seal? Contact our team of experts at 877-738-7325 or submit a customer service inquiry.

V-SEAL is a national distributor with over 10,000 commercial and residential clients worldwide, offering over 1,000 different sealer products from more than 65 leading U.S. manufacturers.