What is the best concrete sealer?
Before we answer that question, first let us introduce you to a concrete myth: “Concrete countertops are stain prone and high maintenance.” While in the past this may have been have been true, sealers have come a long way from the simple wax and acrylic sealers once used. (Although the myth of wax still persists.)
With the right sealer you can create a countertop that fulfills many of the essential functions one wants in a kitchen:
- stain-resistant
- heat-resistant
- scratch-resistant
- food safe
- easy to clean
- easy to maintain
- perfectly smooth
Do you need to seal concrete countertops?
Before we get into the details of how to determine the best concrete countertop sealer for your project, let’s back up. Do you even need to seal concrete countertops?
The emphatic answer is YES.
Bare concrete is porous and vulnerable to staining and chemical attack. Liquids will tend to soak into the surface, carrying stains into the concrete itself. Acidic substances like vinegar and lemon juice will dissolve the cement paste, etching the surface.
For concrete to be a practical countertop material, it must be sealed to protect it from stains and etching.
This is definitely NOT what you want:
This concrete was actually sealed, but it still etched and stained (from Tabasco sauce). Not all concrete sealers are created equal!
What type of concrete sealer is best?
Define “best”. Where are you putting the sealer, and what do you need the sealer to do?
For example:
- If you’re sealing a concrete countertop in a kitchen, you need food safety, stain resistance, acid resistance, scratch resistance and heat resistance.
- If you’re sealing an outdoor bartop, you need UV resistance.
- If you’re sealing a fireplace surround, you need heat resistance.
- If you’re sealing concrete tiles, you need abrasion resistance.
For all of these applications, the ideal sealer would be inexpensive, easy to apply, and low or no maintenance.
Note that concrete floor sealers are not necessarily good concrete countertop sealers. Select a concrete sealer that has been specifically developed for concrete countertops.
What kind of finish do you put on a concrete countertop?
There are many kinds of concrete finishes with widely varying chemistries. To list just a few:
Penetrating Treatments:
- Densifiers/Hardeners
- Repellants
Topical Sealers:
- Wax
- Acrylics
- Epoxies
- Urethanes
- Polyurea/Polyaspartic
- Reactive Hybrid
A full discussion of all of these chemistries is beyond the scope of this article, but you can get a detailed explanation here. For a video seminar about this topic, click here.
Consider also the sheen of the finish you are using. Some sealers come in a variety of sheens, such as matte, satin and gloss. For example, the following photo compares Omega Concrete Countertop Sealer, which is matte, with the two sheens available for Ovation Concrete Countertop sealer, Satin and Gloss.
What is the best sealant for kitchen countertops?
Kitchen countertops are the most challenging application for concrete sealers. There are many criteria that are important both to consumers and those making the countertops.
Criteria that are important to clients (end users of the countertop):
- Enhance the appearance of the concrete without degrading the look or feel (i.e. not look like plastic)
- Non-porous
- Completely resist stains from food, oil and other common household substances
- Resist any etching from acidic substances like lemon juice and vinegar
- Resist heat from hot pots and pans taken directly from the oven or stove top at a wide range of temperatures
- Not degrade or yellow in UV sunlight
- Scratch-proof
- Food safe (non-toxic)
- Easily cleaned using common household cleaning products
- Provide long term protection without the need for frequent maintenance or reapplication
- Not peel, flake, chip or bubble
- Easy to repair if needed
Criteria that are important to the concrete countertop maker:
- Inexpensive
- Quick and easy to apply
- Strong client appeal
Omega Concrete Countertop Sealer
The Ideal Sealer that meets every single one of the criteria listed above… does not exist.
However, one comes close, for professional use: Omega Concrete Countertop Sealer. CCI developed this sealer in 2017 after many, many years of frustration and compromises with other commercially available sealers.
Omega is much faster and easier to apply than other professional-grade high-performance urethane sealers. It is a highly durable solution that provides superior stain, heat, and UV resistance while preserving the natural beauty of concrete, all backed by extensive testing and over 6,000 satisfied users. Click here to learn more.
Ovation Concrete Countertop Sealer
For DIY sealing, cost and ease of use become more important factors to consider when choosing a sealer. That’s why in 2020 CCI developed Ovation Concrete Countertop Sealer, the first single component, food safe and water based sealer that also offers excellent performance.
Ovation is extremely easy to use, and it costs just $69.99 for enough to seal a typical kitchen. It has excellent stain and acid resistance that offers professional level performance. Click here to learn more.
More Information
Following are the answers to more commonly asked questions about concrete countertop sealers. You can also find further information in our extensive Free Training about Concrete Countertop Sealers.
How to clean a concrete countertop before sealing?
As with painting a wall, surface preparation is important. The concrete surface must be perfectly clean and dry before applying most sealers. In addition, the surface should be smooth, but NOT by using dry grinding.
For extensive, detailed information about surface preparation for concrete countertop sealers, click here.
What is the downside of sealing concrete?
For concrete countertops and other aesthetic elements, none. Bare concrete will not perform well for kitchen, bathroom, furniture, tile, firepit or any other aesthetic usage. Sealing is essential.
Is it better to roll or spray concrete sealer?
This depends on which sealer you are using. Almost all concrete countertop sealers are rolled on, or perhaps sprayed with a small, handheld spray bottle and then rolled. Only outdoor concrete sealers for applications like patios may be sprayed. Always follow the manufacturer’s application instructions.
Which is better, oil-based or water-based concrete sealer?
There are almost no oil-based concrete countertop sealers, with good reason.
Saturating concrete counter tops with any kind of oil will not seal or protect them. They will continue to stain no matter how much oil you soak them in. Oil does repel water, but many foods that contain oils won’t be repelled by the oil and will then stain the countertop. And acids will still etch the concrete. In addition, most oils would be considered natural to some extent, but natural oils can increase the microbial growth on the counters and thus be considered unsanitary.
A better question would be “Which is better, solvent-based or water-based concrete sealer”? This is relevant because in the past, all high performance concrete countertop coatings were solvent-based, and water-based finishes had issues with peeling or delamination. This is no longer the case, and has not been for decades. All of the best concrete countertop sealers, including Omega and Ovation, are water based.
How do you make concrete countertops look new again? Can you seal concrete over old sealer?
You can definitely make concrete countertops look new again, but you should almost never just seal concrete counterops over old sealer. There may be some types of “sealers”, such as wax, that would benefit from adding more after a period of time has passed. However, in general, most concrete countertop sealers should be applied to bare concrete or to properly prepared concrete surfaces.
For more information, see this article about how to reseal concrete countertops.
What time of year is best to seal concrete?
This question is probably geared towards decorative concrete applications such as patios, but it does point to an important consideration: temperature. Most sealers will undergo some kind of chemical reaction during their curing process. Temperature affects the speed and efficacy of chemical reactions. Some sealers cannot be applied if the temperature is too low or too high. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Can you put too much sealer on concrete?
Yes. Almost any kind of concrete sealer will build up to some extent, and building up too much can change the appearance. It can also affect the adhesion of the sealer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how many coats to apply. More is not always better.
How often should you seal concrete countertops?
How often do you need to paint your car? Modern, high quality concrete countertop sealers, such as Omega and Ovation, do not require reapplication. They should not stain, scratch, peel or etch under normal use.
Other “sealers”, such as wax, may need to reapplied frequently. The Concrete Countertop Institute does not recommend such sealers.
Can I apply a second coat of concrete sealer the next day?
With Omega, you can apply a second coat of concrete sealer the next hour. This is one of the biggest improvements that Omega brought to the market. Older urethane concrete countertop sealers require waiting until the next day to apply another coat.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the timing between coats. Applying another coat too soon can result in problems such as bubbling or roller marks.
Omega was specifically designed to be faster and easier to apply than older urethane sealers.
How much does it cost to seal concrete countertops?
This depends on how much the sealer costs and how many coats are needed. It also may depend on the density of your concrete – more porous concrete may soak up more sealer. Omega and Ovation both specify how much they cost per square foot at various numbers of coats on typical, high quality concrete.
That said, the cost of concrete countertop sealer is generally very low compared to the retail price of concrete countertops. For example, a sealer might cost $1 per square foot, whereas the concrete countertop sells for $100 per square foot.
Sealer is not something to skimp on. It defines almost every desirable end user quality of a concrete countertop: sheen, stain/acid resistance, heat resistance, etc. The best concrete in the world sealed with a poor sealer will be a poor concrete countertop.