Concrete floors are widely seen in garages and driveways. Though they can take a lot of beating but still if you want to make sure they look good always and remain protected from all the abuse, then don’t hesitate to invest in the best concrete sealer for garage. Not only they will make the flooring look good, but they will also make the floor look less dirty. Plus, cleaning a sealed floor is way too easy.
There are wide varieties of concrete sealer in the market and not all of them are suitable for concrete flooring. We have pulled off 5 models which are one of the best concrete sealers of the market right now. Each of them is thoroughly reviewed, so going through them will help you to invest your money on the ideal one.
5 Best Concrete Sealer for Garage Review
1. Rain Guard Water Sealers CR-0357 Micro-Seal
Use the Rain Guard CR-0357 Micro-seal on the flooring, it will make sure that weathering, dirt, salt, freezing temperature, UV rays, etc. noting damages the floor. This sealer was made from the best water repellent chemicals and the mixture of Siloxanes and Silanes was used in the formulation of this very sealer. Whether it is the architects, or engineers, or building owners, this CR-0357 Micro-seal is a choice of all of them.
This sealer has an ingredient called Micro-lok which makes sure it makes a long-lasting durable bond. It is can be used on concrete stone or masonry. It delivers a top-notch hydrophobic coating. With time this sealer doesn’t turn yellow and doesn’t sheen as well. The best part of this sealer is it penetrates into every pours and seals properly. So that no oil, grease, water, or anything else can penetrate, and you can clean off the floor pretty easily.
You can use soapy water to clean the floor, once it is cured properly water or any other liquid wouldn’t be able to penetrate inside the floor. It comes three sizes, 5 gallons, 1 gallon, and 32 oz. 5 gallons will cover 1500 square feet, 1 gallon will cover 300 square feet. And 32oz for 50 square feet. Pick the amount according to your need.
The Pros
- Seals concrete floor very well.
- Doesn’t let anything penetrate deep.
- Protects the flooring.
- Water and UV ray-resistant.
- Very easy to apply.
- Can be cleaned easily.
The Con
- Thin consistency.
2. MasonryDefender 1 Gallon Penetrating Concrete Sealer
With this MasonryDefender you will be able to give the concrete floors a long-lasting sealing. Offers a non-glossy visible coating that looks decent. It doesn’t leave any residue and nor it changes the appearance of the concrete floor. It is a waterproof sealer, if applied well, it will let nothing penetrate under the floor, whether it is oil or water. According to the manufacturer, the sealing will last up to 5-years and so far it seems it is living up to that expectation.
It is a water-based formula, mixture of Siloxane and Silane properties, that is what makes this sealer extremely water-resistant. The sealing enables the rainwater to bead which gives long-lasting protection from water. It comes in two sizes, 1 gallon, and 2.5 gallons. 1 gallon can cover up to 150 square feet, so with 2.5, you will be covering little more than 300 square feet. The sealer doesn’t let dust to accumulate much, and it is very easy to clean since no dirt or grime penetrates inside the concretes.
Before you apply this sealer, make sure you clean the surface thoroughly. Get rid of all the dust, dirt, oil, grease, etc. The cleaner it is, the stronger bond the sealer will be able to form. And after cleaning, apply the sealer, you can use low-pressure spray for that. Lastly, the manufacturer offers a 3-year warranty for the sealer.
The Pros
- Very easy to apply.
- Easy to clean.
- Makes durable bond.
- Long-lasting protection from water.
- 3-year warranty.
The Con
- Leaves black spots.
3. Olympic Stain Waterguard Waterproofing Sealant
This brand Olympic has been serving the market top-notch sealant from 1938, one of the oldest brands. And still, people love this brand for their innovation and quality. Similarly, the Olympic Stain Waterproofing sealant is being praised a lot nowadays. Concrete, brick, or wood, this sealant works pretty well all these floorings. It is a waterproofing sealant and it doesn’t it’s part nicely. Seals the floors nicely by penetrating inside the concrete pours and doesn’t let anything else penetrate.
The deep penetration of this sealer makes cleaning the floor very easy. And makes the floor waterproof. Water will bead instead of seeping in. Not only water, but this sealer is also mildew-resistant as well. It can be used on driveways, garage, decks, sidewalks, etc. According to the manufacturer, one coating is enough but if you see it is not, then so another coating, it should be fine. Having that said, this sealer isn’t that long-lasting, you wouldn’t last more than a season, so make sure to keep this in mind.
The Pros
- Waterproof concrete sealer.
- Mildew-resistant sealing.
- Easy to apply.
- Penetrates deep and seals.
- Suitable for masonry, brick, and concrete.
The Con
- Doesn’t last long.
4. ToughCrete Concrete Sealer
If you are looking for a long-lasting concrete sealer to save the concrete from deterioration, take a look at this ToughCrete Concrete sealer. It penetrates deep inside the concrete pours and seals. It creates an extremely durable bond and can withstand all the abuse for a long time. According to the manufacturer, it can last up to 10-years. They are so confident about this that even they announced a 10-year satisfaction warranty. If it doesn’t work well, they will give a full refund.
Patio, garage, sidewalk, or driveway, you can use this very sealer on all of these. Not only those, but it can also be used on outdoor concrete structures such as cinder blocks, chimney, fireplaces, etc. It is an eco-friendly sealer and it enhances the look of the concrete, brightens it. With 1-gallon of this sealer, you can cover up to 600 square feet. And it is DOT (Department of Transportation) certified.
The Pros
- Very easy to apply.
- Cleaning is easy.
- Extremely long-lasting sealing.
- Eco-friendly sealer.
- 10-year warranty.
The Con
- Water doesn’t bead.
5. MasonryDefender All-Purpose Concrete, Brick & Stone Sealer
And we are at the last sealer of the list, the MasonryDefender all-purpose sealer. As the name suggests, it works on brick, concrete, and stone which makes it versatile. Gives great water repellent protection to all masonry, concrete, and stone surfaces, including limestone, cultures stone, natural stone, etc. It is a waterproof sealer, it seals the floor by penetrating deep under the concrete, brick, and stone. And that gives solid sealing and prevents water to go inside and damage the floor.
It is very easy to clean because there wouldn’t be any trapped dirt or grime, thanks to the top-notch sealing. You can use soapy water since it is waterproof. This sealer is crack-resistant and can withstand heavy abuse. When applied on vertical masonry and concrete surfaces, the sealing lasts more than 5-years. And the manufacturer offers a 5-years warranty for that. If anything goes wrong you will get a full refund. However, one drawback of this sealer is, it requires 3-4 coatings.
The Pros
- Affordable price.
- Easy to apply and clean.
- Best for masonry, concrete, stone, and brick.
- Long-lasting sealer.
- Waterproof sealer.
- 5-year warranty.
The Con
- Requires a couple of coatings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best concrete sealer for the garage floor?
All of these 5 models we have reviewed are doing great according to the users. But to give you a name we would say go with the Rain Guard Water Sealers CR-0357 Micro-Seal. It gives long-lasting sealing and doesn’t let water get inside as well. Others are also good.
Should concrete garage floors be sealed?
Obviously, they need to be sealed! Otherwise, the floor will deteriorate. Dirt, grime gets trapped onto unsealed concrete floors which makes it look extremely dirty. And you cannot clean them easily, even if you do power washing, there will be still some dirt left. Sealing the floor won’t let any dirt, dust, grime, moisture accumulate. Plus, will save the floor from daily abuse as well.
How do you prepare concrete for sealing?
There is nothing much. You will have to make sure the floor is completely clean. Do a couple of rounds of power washing, and then let the floor for drying. Once the floor is dried properly, then use the sealer. Make sure to pick a suitable sealer. And for applying you can use spray, which will be convenient.
Benefits of Using Concrete Sealer for Garage
There are a lot of benefits of using a concrete sealer on the garage floor. Most people think it is only the look sealers enhance. Apart from the look, there are a lot of things that sealers do. However, not all sealers will serve you well, you have to pick the sealer that is compatible with the flooring. We have a buying guide designed for you in the later section, make sure to go through. For now, take a look below to see what benefits you can achieve using a concrete sealer on the garage.
- A sealed floor will accumulate less dust than other surfaces. Garages are mostly filled with oils, grease, water, etc. These can easily penetrate into the concrete pores and look the entire flooring look dirty. When you use a good quality sealer, it will penetrate deep into the pores and will seal completely, so that nothing will be able to penetrate deep. And that makes cleaning very easy.
- Sealers offer different kinds of finishes, from satin to glossy, choose one that you like. But all sealers adds a sheen to the floor which looks pretty good. Not only that, but it also enhances the concretes color intensity that makes the floor look very natural and good.
- Floorings need something that will protect them from daily wear and abrasions. Sealers are that thing, apply the suitable one, it will increase the floor lifespan.
Apart from these, there are other benefits as well such as water-resistant sealing, smooth surface, etc. However, we are saying again, you can only enjoy all the benefits when you have picked the right sealer for the job. So do not make any mistake in the purchasing phrase, take your time, and get your hands on the suitable one.
What are the Differences Between Concrete Sealer and Epoxy?
Acrylic Sealers are developed for concrete floors so they are called Concrete sealers as well, don’t get confused. Well, there are similarities between these two and sealers, and dissimilarities as well. Both serve different and comes with their own group of pros and cons. Take a look at this comparison all confusion regarding these two sealers will be wiped off.
Concrete Sealer
Concrete sealers are mostly solvent-based or water-based. They offer different finishes like glossy, matte, or clear finish. Acrylic sealers are not highly durable, they wear off soon and that is why they are required to be applied very often. You will need to apply two coats of acrylic sealers if you want to have a good finish. This sealer gives a good look to the floor no doubt on that because they enhance the concrete color. And since applying is pretty easy, you can apply it once in every 10 to 15-days.
Since it is not that durable, so never choose this sealer for flooring that gets a lot of traffic, it wouldn’t be able to withstand that much abuse. It dries very fast and cures in 24-hours. And lastly, it is UV-resistant which makes it suitable for outdoor use as well.
Epoxy
On the contrary, for industrial floorings epoxy sealer would be the best choice since it can withstand heavy abuse. Even in high-traffic areas, epoxy sealers will survive pretty easily. They are water-resistant and chemical-resistant which makes it more suitable for industrial use. Offers glossy finish. There two versions of epoxy sealer, colored and clear. The clear one is transparent, it will show the flooring. Compared to the acrylic sealer, epoxy sealers are way too thicker and extremely durable. However, they are non-porous so moister and water can get stuck under the flooring. It isn’t suitable for outdoor use, sunlight will turn the color to yellow.
How to Choose the Best Concrete Sealer?
Picking the best concrete sealer and picking the ideal concrete sealer, these are two different things. The sealer worked best on my concrete garage might not work the same at yours. So picking the ideal concrete sealer would be the best for you.
In order to choose the suitable one for your concrete garage floor, you will have to know your flooring and a few factors that need to be considered right before making a purchase decision. Only then you can expect to end up the right concrete sealer for yourself. Below we have explained each of those factors, take a look.
Types
There are different types of concrete sealers and they serve a different purpose. And comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you want to end up picking the right sealer, knowing all of them is mandatory for you. There is 3 kind of sealers which are extremely popular, here are they.
- Penetrating Sealers
- Acrylic Sealers.
- Polyurethane sealers.
Penetrating sealers
They are for deep penetration. When the sealer penetrates into the pores staying unchanged, it sits better. It sticks to the surface strongly regardless of how much abuse going over it. Most of the time penetrate sealers are chemical, mineral, UV rays, and water-resistant. And they are usually made of Silicones, Silicates, Siloxane, or Silane. If you don’t want to change the cement appearance of the floor and want to the sealer to withstand environment abuse, then penetrating sealers will be the best for you. Plus, they are environment friendly as well.
Acrylic Sealer
It is a mixture of acrylic properties and water or solvent. You will find these sealers in both clear and colored version so that you will be able to choose the one that suits your floor. They come in different sheens. This sealer works best for sunlit patios. You will get a good aesthetic with this sealer. And it gives good protection to the surface. On top of that, using is very simple, dries quick, and comes at an inexpensive price range. If you are looking for a concrete sealer, acrylic sealers perform outstandingly on that.
Polyurethane sealers
For indoor floor application Polyurethane sealers work great. It is water or solvent-based formula and best for those who are looking for a suitable sealer for home floorings. These sealers come at an inexpensive price and give a natural finish that looks good. They are widely used in workspaces and garages as well.
Epoxy & Urethane
People use these sealers as well, due to their expensive price they are not widely used.
Sealer amount
As we said, know your flooring. First, make sure you know the size of your garage floor. And then determine how much sealer you will need.
Apart from the garage floor if you have the intention to apply on other concrete floorings, include that size as well. Find the square feet of the floor. 1-gallon of sealer will cover up to 250 square feet. If your garage is 900 square feet then pick a 4-gallon sealer. You can store remaining sealers but some sealers come with very short storage life, you cannot store those so be careful how much you are picking.
Compatibility
Some people have decorative treatment on flooring which might not be compatible with the sealer you will be applying. If the seller isn’t compatible, then it might show side effects that will make the entire floor look extremely bad which no one wants. Your flooring might start bleeding color, blistering, or bubbling, etc.
In order to ensure compatibility, you have to check the manufacturer’s recommendation. Most of the time it is labeled on the sealer container with which components it is not compatible. If you don’t see anything like that, make sure to ask. The best decision would be to purchase the sealer from the same manufacturer from where you picked the surface treatment. They will be compatible.
VOC level
Sealers contain harmful chemicals, not only sealers, primers, adhesives, etc. contains some harsh compound which is not an issue unless they come in contact with your sensitive body parts such as eyes. However, some sealers contain VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) above the acceptable level and you shouldn’t pick those in any way. The sealer container should tell you the amount of VOCs it contains, makes sure the sealer meets the local and federal standard.
Environment
Whether is paint, primer, or sealer, the environment plays a big role in the life span of these. In the case of sealer, you have to determine what will be the traffic condition on the floor. A lot of people walking over the floor means the sealer needs to be extremely durable and long-lasting, otherwise, it will wear off very easily. Not only the sealer, but the overlay also needs to be top-quality as well.
Ensure the sealer you are picking is water, abrasion, and chemical resistance. And there are separate sealers for indoor and outdoor. You can use outdoor sealers indoor but cannot use an indoor sealer. For outdoor application solvent or water-based sealer would be great.
Finish
When you are done applying the sealer and it is dried completely, it should give a nice finish to the floor because of look matters. Sealers offer a medium to high gloss finish which would be great if want to give the floor a wet look. There are other finish options as well, will be labeled on the container or the manufacturer website, check and pick the suitable one for you.
Conclusion
Going through the list will surely get you the best concrete sealer for the garage. Even if you get no product recommendation, the buying guide will help you a lot. Once you know which things make a sealer ideal then you don’t need any recommendation, you can do that on your own. Anyways, hope this helps.
