The three best sealers to use on concrete floors are silicate sealers, water repellent sealers, and acrylic sealers.

• Silicate concrete floor sealers
• Water repellent concrete floor sealers
• Acrylic concrete floor sealers

Silicate Concrete Floor Sealers

Silicate concrete sealers are very common for use on commercial concrete floors because they are the most cost effective type of concrete sealer. They are available in concentrated forms and once applied, never need to be reapplied. Silicate sealers have pro’s and con’s:

Silicate concrete sealers penetrate into the concrete where they chemically react to form calcium silicate hydrate within the pores. The hardened barrier reduces the size of the pores and increases the strength of the concrete. Dusting and deterioration caused by surface abrasion is reduced.

Silicate sealers don’t repel water and they don’t stop stains. If oil, gas, or chemicals are spilled onto a concrete floor sealed with a silicate, the oil, gas, and chemicals will cause the floor to stain and deteriorate.

If your concrete floor has little to no issues and you are looking for a simple seal, or if your concrete floor has issues with dusting, a silicate sealer is a great, cost effective choice.

There are two primary types of silicate sealers used to seal concrete floors. The first is a sodium silicate and the second is a lithium silicate. Sodium silicate sealers have a larger pore size and are commonly used on old or porous concrete, while lithium silicate sealers have a smaller pore size and are commonly used on dense or trowel finished concrete. Both sealers will chemically react and form the same CSH structure within the pores.

• Armor S2000 Sodium Silicate Sealer
• Armor L3000 Lithium Silicate Sealer

Water Repellent Concrete Floor Sealers

Water repellent concrete sealers are another popular type of sealer for concrete floors. They penetrate into the concrete where they chemically react to form a hydrophobic barrier within the pores. By reducing the absorption of water and liquids on the surface, they reduce deterioration caused by water absorption such as cracking, spalling, pitting, staining, mold and mildew, and efflorescence. Like with all sealers, water repellent sealers have their PRO’s and CON’s:

Water repellent sealers offer many benefits, but they are still penetrating sealers. Their primary purpose is to reduce, not stop, common issues with concrete. They are a powerful floor sealer and will make it easier to keep the concrete clean, and clean it, but they won’t be able to stop stains or deterioration caused by oil, gas, or chemical spills.

If your concrete floor has on issues and you are looking for a sealer that will reduce moisture, reduce staining and deterioration, or just make the floor easier to clean, then a water repellent sealer is a great choice.

The two primary types of water repellent sealers are Silane Siloxane concrete sealers and Siliconate concrete sealers. Silane-Siloxane concrete sealers are industrial grade water repellent sealers commonly used to seal concrete roadways and bridge decks. The application is fairly simply and they can be applied to virtually all types of concrete and masonry. Siliconate water repellents are cost effective single coat sealers for light or white concrete. Siliconate water repellent sealers should not be applied to dense trowel finished concrete, or overly porous concrete because siliconates are very sensitive to application. Applying a siliconate outside of its suggested parameters could result in the formation of white crystals on the surface. For more information, read Best Water Repellent Sealers.

• Armor SX5000 Solvent Based Silane Siloxane Water Repellent
• Armor SX5000 WB Water Based Silane Siloxane Water Repellent
• Armor SC25 Siliconate Water Repellent

Acrylic Concrete Floor Sealers

Acrylic sealers are classified sealers because they penetrate through the surface in order to bond, but they are more of a coating because they leave behind a visible protective surface film.

Acrylic sealers are the only type of concrete coating that can be applied to concrete without having to first acid etch or grind the surface. They are very easy to apply and maintain, and can be applied in clear and color options. They are popular sealers for garage floors, warehouse floors, wood shop floors, and retail floors.

• Armor AR350 Wet Look Sealer
• Armor AR500 High Gloss Sealer