Silane Siloxane sealers are the most popular type of penetrating concrete sealer for sealing interior and exterior concrete surfaces. They penetrate into the concrete where they chemically react in the pores to form a water repellent barrier that can’t be seen from the surface. Concrete sealed with a Silane Siloxane sealer will maintain a natural, unsealed look because Silane Siloxane sealers don’t darken the concrete and they don’t leave behind a slippery surface film.

There are many benefits to using a Silane Siloxane concrete sealer:

• Silane-Siloxane sealers reduce deterioration caused by water absorption such as cracking, spalling, pitting, staining, freeze-thaw damage, and salt damage.
• Silane-Siloxane sealers reduce the growth of mold and mildew, and the formation of efflorescence.
• Silane-Siloxane sealers help to reduce staining caused by water absorption from irrigation systems and pools.
• Silane-Siloxane sealers are breathable sealers and will allow porous substrates to breathe.

Silane Siloxane concrete sealers can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including:

• Concrete: Concrete driveways, concrete walkways, concrete patios, garage floors, basement floors
• Brick: Brick chimneys, brick homes, brick patios, brick driveways
• Pavers: Paver walkways, paver driveways, paver patios, paver pool decks
• Stone: Stone walls, stone walkways, stone structures
• Slate: Slate walkways, slate patios
• Granite: Granite stairs, granite patios, granite walkways
• Flagstone: Flagstone patios, flagstone walkways

Choosing the Best Silane Siloxane Concrete Sealer

There are dozens of Silane-Siloxane sealers on the market, but the only thing most of them have in common is the fact that they are a water repellent sealer. Other than that, they differ greatly in performance and life.

When choosing a Silane Siloxane concrete sealer you want to consider a few things:

1. Where is the product manufactured? Products are either manufactured in the U.S.A., or made from imported recycled resins. Products made from imported recycled resins often contain chemicals that were used in the recycling process. These chemicals cause the sealer to break down and interfere greatly with performance. U.S. manufactured and non recycled resin Silane Siloxane sealers will perform better and last longer.
2. What percentage of the product is active materials? Most Silane Siloxane concrete sealers fall into one of two categories: low solids solutions or high solids solutions. Low solids solutions which are available in most hardeware stores, contain 2-8% solids. This means that 2-8% of the Silane-Siloxane is actual Silane-Siloxane (active material), the rest is water or solvent. High solids solutions which are available online only, contain 20-40% solids. This means that 20-40% of the Silane Siloxane is actual Silane-Siloxane (active material), and the rest is water or solvent. You don’t want to go higher than 40% solids unless advised by a technician because staining can occur and a film can build up on the surface when not properly used.
3. Does the product have any certifications? Certifications are a great way to put a product’s claims to test. Take for example the Armor SX5000 and Armor SX5000 WB. They are approved by the Department of Transportation in several states as a water repellent sealer which means that their formula has been tested and approved for use as a water repellent on concrete.
4. Does the product have an average 4.0 star or higher? Ratings and reviews should always be considered, but they shouldn’t be the determining factor. Good reviews are always a great read, but bad reviews can sometimes be justified. Look to see if the issue had to do with choosing the wrong product, or applying the product wrong. Was it the product, or the applicator? In this industry, it is important, especially if 90% of the reviews are good and only a handful are bad. It never hurts to be informed. Also look at when the bad reviews were written. Companies are known to change their formulas and improve their products. If there aren’t any recent bad reviews, chances are the problem was solved.
5. What do the reviews say about the company? Company reviews are almost as important, if not more important than product reviews. Does the company know their stuff? Do they provide great support? Are they honest? You only deal with the product for a day, but the company you will work with from start to end.

Here is a comparison of a few popular Silane Siloxane concrete sealers:

Need need more information? Read this great article about the Best Silane Siloxane Sealers.

How a Silane Siloxane Sealer Works

Silane Siloxane sealers penetrate through the surface of the concrete where they chemically react to form a hydrophobic barrier within the pores. When water is poured onto the surface of concrete sealed with a water repellent sealer, the hydrophobic barrier in the pores will cause the water to bead up and remain on the surface. Silane Siloxane sealers will reduce water absorption on the surface by up to 95%.