The AR350 came through with flying colors. At the end of the testing period, we power-washed the paver, let it dry, and inspected it carefully. We also sprinkled sand on the surface and stepped on it to see if it would leave scuff marks. We then put the sealed paver outside in harsh winter weather where it was subjected to freezing weather, ice, harsh UV rays, mud, grease, and chemical ice melt for 3½ weeks. In 24 hours, it was completely dry, yet it retained a hint of sheen, giving it an attractive finish that gave depth and richness without changing the color of the concrete. It went on smoothly and self-leveled within seconds to form a uniform coating. We were sealing a small 1-foot-by-1-foot concrete paver, so we used a brush to apply AR350 evenly to the surface. Best Overallįoundation Armor AR350 solvent-based acrylic concrete sealer met and exceeded our expectations, earning the best overall spot. After curing, the sealers were exposed to a host of everyday situations that they would most likely encounter in the real world. We applied the sealers to concrete pavers and a concrete countertop in a temperature-controlled shop. Our Top PicksĪnyone ready for a concrete driveway sealer, a floor sealer, or a countertop sealer might be eager to find out how the following concrete sealers fared in our hands-on tests. We’re very confident that the sealers that withstood our testing are among the best options for protecting various indoor and outdoor concrete items. Instead, the pavers remained inside and were treated to the same types of events they would typically encounter-spills, stains, and all-purpose cleaners-and then we awarded points based on their performance. We only had 3½ weeks, so we didn’t pull any punches, exposing the sealers to extreme testing procedures to see how well they held up.Ĭoncrete sealants meant for indoor use were not tested outside. Admittedly, concrete sealers are supposed to last a year or longer, and we didn’t have that much time to test. In addition to testing resistance to staining, we noted how well each sealer’s finish held up to freezing rain, ground-in sand, de-icing salts, mud, grease, and finally, power-washing. If it remained stained even after power-washing, it received 0 points. If it resisted stains moderately well, it got 2 points. For example, if a paver we’d treated with a sealer resisted oil and stains very well, we awarded it 4 points. For our testing purposes, we used a scale from 0 to 4, with 4 being the best. We extensively tested each concrete sealer and awarded points based on its performance. Photo: Glenda Taylor How We Tested the Best Concrete Sealers
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