Most concrete sealers can be used to seal interior and exterior concrete, and they will perform equally as well on both applications. The environment in which you seal is very different when sealing inside however and factors such as odor become important.
The two most common indoor concrete sealers are silicate concrete sealers and silane siloxane concrete sealers. Silicate sealers and silane siloxane sealers won’t change the look or color of the concrete floor. The concrete floor will look exactly as it did before being sealed. For a wet look, low gloss, or high gloss finish, you want an acrylic sealer or a concrete coating.
Silicate Concrete Sealers
Silicate concrete sealers are chemically reactive densifiers that form a hardened crystalline barrier within the pores. Concrete sealed with a densifier is more resistant to concrete dusting and deterioration caused by surface abrasion. Silicate sealers will also help to reduce the movement of water and moisture through the pores.
Silicate concrete sealers are great to use on floors that have issues with dusting or moisture, such as a basement or warehouse floor. Silicate sealers do not repel water and therefore can’t reduce staining caused by water absorption through the surface. For that reason, floors that have issues with staining or deterioration caused by water absorption should use a silane siloxane sealer instead.
The two best silicate concrete sealers are sodium silicate concrete sealers and lithium silicate concrete sealers. Sodium silicate concrete sealers have a larger molecule and work well when applied to dense or wet concrete, while lithium silicate concrete sealers have a small molecule and work well when applied to dense or trowel finished concrete.
Silane Siloxane Concrete Sealers
Silane Siloxane sealers are water repellent sealers that chemically react below the surface to form a hydrophobic barrier within the pores. Unlike silicate sealers, silane siloxane sealers will not increase the strength of density of the concrete. Instead, they work to protect the surface by reducing the absorption of water and other liquids.
Concrete floors sealed with a Silane Siloxane concrete sealer are more resistant to staining, deterioration, and mold and mildew growth caused by water and the presence of moisture. Silane Siloxane concrete sealers are great preventative sealers. They are good to use on floors with water or moisture issues, or floors where water (such as runoff from vehicles) will come into contact with the surface.
There are several differences between silane siloxane sealers. To learn more about the differences, read Best Silane Siloxane Concrete Sealers.
Acrylic Concrete Sealers
Unlike silicate concrete sealers and silane siloxane concrete sealers, Acrylic sealers don’t work below the surface. Instead, they bond to the surface of the concrete and will leave behind a visible surface film.
Acrylic concrete sealers are available in water and solvent based solutions. Solvent based acrylic sealers will darken the surface to make it look wet, and water based acrylic sealers won’t. If you are looking to enhance dull or faded concrete, or like the look of your concrete when wet, then you want a solvent based acrylic sealer. If you are don’t want much of a change in the appearance, but want a gloss, then you want a water based acrylic sealer.
The two primary types of acrylic sealers are acrylic lacquer sealers and acrylic co-polymer sealers. Acrylic latex sealers are another type of acrylic, but they classify more as a paint and should be avoided at all costs. Acrylic lacquer sealers are for cured concrete, and acrylic co-polymers, which are more resistant to moisture, are for uncured concrete. While acrylic co-polymer sealers are designed for uncured concrete, they are great for cured concrete as well. Acrylic lacquer sealers tend to be more popular simply because they are acrylics in the purest form. They do not have any other additives to dilute the performance level of the sealer. Learn about the Best Acrylic Concrete Sealers.
Acrylic concrete sealers are very hard coatings and can withstand surface abrasion, traffic, and spills. The only thing an acrylic sealer isn’t good for is constant exposure to oil and gas, or chemicals. If you will be spilling oil, gas, or chemicals consistently, you should consider an urethane coating instead.
