It is stain resistant to most household chemicals and culinary items, and is heat resistant to 300F (149C). We source all our materials and give some tips on concrete counters! Can take up to 15 minutes to fully saturate. Mix 2 parts B and 3 parts A continuously for 3 minutes to ensure complete catalyzation. Good forExterior and Interiorapplication. If you fail to backroll enough, and have small spots in the finish you will need to wait for the sealer to dry and sand the sealer off and then start again, so make sure you backroll until perfect! Some of our testers found that if you prefer stain protection the 8500s counterpart, the Siloxa-Tek 8505 (water based), or the Siloxa-Tek 8510 (solvent based) is resistant to staining. ft. For the 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th coats of 'finish' coats, 1 oz mixed sealer + 2 oz water (or water based stain) will cover around 8 sq. Because durable concrete coatings may yellow with exposure to UV radiation they are limited to interior use. As long as you can follow the mixing instructions, and then apply the sealer to an area you can work in a few minutes (about 10 sq. A note on penetrating concrete sealers. Our expert technical advisors are available to answer any questions about your upcoming project. From prepping, applying and sealing concrete countertops! Acrylic concrete sealers generally wear faster than penetrating sealers and usually require reapplication much sooner, typically every year if exposed to deicing salts. For prime coat, add 7 parts water to 1 part catalyzed product and mechanically mix for 3 minutes. For applications where a more natural appearance is desired, TK6 NanoCoat is a single component coating with great resistances as well, just not quite as robust as the StoneLok System, but at a fraction of the price. Water-based, has almost no smell and cures quickly. (This 100 sq. This concrete sealer comes with the option to purchase online or in some retail store outlets. Decorative coatings: Decorative concrete coatings are typically of an acrylic chemistry available in both solvent and water based formulations. Looking for the best concrete countertop sealer? Available in a range of sheen levels they typically leave a satin or gloss finish changing the look, feel and texture of the concrete. Finally we asked testers to check for mold, mildew growth and efflorescence deposits. For the best resistances available, the Stonelok E3/2K2 System is a two-part epoxy coating followed by a two-part urethane coating. It is not available concentrated, but it has a nice price point for a 40% formula. It's super durable, looks great, and covers A LOT of area per kit. The secret is to keep rolling the sealer onto the surface over and over, lightly blotting your roller dry with a paper towel. Chemical Resistance for XS-327 after 24 hours MEK no effect Xylene no effect Tap Water no effect Mineral Spirits no effect 100% Ethanol no effect 10% Acetic Acid no effect 5% Sodium Hydroxide no effect 50% Sodium Hydroxide no effect 85% Lactic Acid no effect 50% Sulfuric Acid no effect 38% Hydrochloric Acid no effect 10% Sodium Chloride Solution no effect 28% Ammonia no effect Coffee no effect Cola no effect Grape Juice no effect Ketchup no effect Mustard- Transient Staining Clorox Bleach 5-10% no effect Test Data for XS-327 CounterCoating Appearance (cured) Clear matte or gloss (semi-gloss sheen) Water Resistance Excellent, beadswater Mechanical Stability Excellent Light Stability Excellent Appearance (wet) Milky Odor Sweet Application Temperature 60 90degrees Fahrenheit Gardener direct/reverse impact >160 inch pounds TaberAbrasion 40-60 mg loss QUV A 5.0 > @ 2,000 hours Gloss retention >95%@ 2,000 hours. Be sure to look at the concentration of ingredients on the Spec sheet so that you dont end up just buying water. Were confident this will remain an effective and viable option for sealing concrete for years to come. Ultimately you want a concrete sealer that provides water repellency to keep out any salts, mold/mildew, efflorescence and dirt, and will have a long life span. 14 Cool VHS Covers for Modern Movies and TV Shows, This Realistic Water Painting Took More Than 2 Years to Complete, How Insulated Glass Changed Architecture as We Know It, Betty Whites Hilariously Unscripted Great Herring War Improv on Golden Girls, Artist Gets Revenge on a Cheapskate Who Wasted Their Time, Sculptural Guns Made from Typewriters Because Words are Mightier, What Each Character Would Look Like in a Cartoon Version of The Office, Guy Turns Stainless Steel Bolt Into Amazing Miniature Hunting Knife, This Short Clip Shows Theres Beauty and Creativity Everywhere, Removing Countertop Stains & Concrete Countertop Sealer, The Ultimate Concrete Countertop Sealer for Your Countertops, CHENG Food-Safe Concrete Countertop Sealer, How to Choose the Best Concrete Countertop Sealers, Sealing The Deal (And Our Concrete Counters, My Experience Installing Ardex Concrete Countertops, Industrial Floor | Retail Floor | Shop Floor | Commercial Countertops, How To Make White Concrete Countertops {Everything you need to know}, One Room Challenge (Week 6): Industrial Farmhouse Bathroom Refresh on a Budget, Concrete Countertop Sealer Performance Levels For Staining & Etching, Comparison Between Omega and Ovation Concrete Countertop Sealer, DIY Concrete Countertops | Simply Beautiful By Angela, Concrete Countertop Sealer - Water Based Hybrid Polyurethane, Surecrete XS-327, Concrete Countertop Sealers are Critical to Success. ft. is counting on doing a prime coat and 2 finish coats- so this kit of sealer does a LOT of coverage area!) Frequently Asked Questions About XS-327: Question: Is XS-327 counter toppingfood safe?Answer: After full cure is achieved in 7 days, sealed surface is completely foodsafe. The American Concrete Institute provided us with resources about terminology and the industry, and we gained insight from magazines such as Concrete Decor, Concrete Construction and For Construction Pros as to which products were popular among contractors. A thorough step-by-step tutorial with useful tips and advice on what not to do when installing DIY feather finish concrete countertops. Learn how the two concrete countertop sealers available from The Concrete Countertop Institute compare in terms of performance & appearance. BECAUSE there is water mixed in with this sealer, the water will try to pull together into 'spots' so you must just keep rolling it out so the spots(dots) don't stay and become permanent. Induction time: Let catalyzed product sit for 10 minutes. If youre purchasing a concrete sealer for the first time or youre due to reapply, its helpful to know the meaning behind some basic terms including penetrating sealer, decorative coating and durable coating to ensure you get the appropriate product. Sealing The Deal (And Our Concrete Counters) | Young House Love. We prioritized finding a high quality concrete sealer that was both durable and had a high solids content at a reasonable price. Decorative concrete sealers can be beautiful to look at but theyre also more likely to fade over time. We detected these minor imperfections when the Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sesaler was applied to a garage floor. If sealing a concrete piece in a shop, you can also wet the concrete floor of the shop as the sealer is applied and during curing, so there is moisture introduced to the environment. To review your commercial project with a Technical Advisor, order commercial products, or receive detailed specifications and price quotations, please contact: PHASE II (Repellent Enhancer and Hardener/Densifier), Industra-Seal 117 PLS (Professional Strength Lithium Silicate), Industra-Coat Epoxy & Urethane Complete Kit - Gloss, Industra-Coat Epoxy & Urethane Complete Kit - Satin/Matte, Industra-Coat 3321 (Urethane Topcoat, High Gloss), Industra-Coat 3322 (Low VOC Urethane Topcoat, High Gloss), Industra-Coat 3520 (Water Based, Low Gloss, Urethane Topcoat), Industra-Coat 3521 (Water Based, Gloss, Urethane Topcoat), ATG CounterTek CTS Pro - for Concrete, Terazzo, & Stone, V-SCRUB HD (Heavy Duty Concentrated Alkaline Cleaner), V-SCRUB ETCH (Acidic Cleaner for Reacted Stains & Etching), Super Color (UV Stable Semi-Transparent Concrete Stain), Super Dye (Acetone Dye Concentrate for Interior Concrete), V-Seal Concrete Sealers & Specialty Coating, Columbus OH. These concrete sealers simply harden the concrete but offer no water and stain repellency. To determine the longevity of sealers we relied heavily on customer reviews from Home Depot, Lowes and Amazon. V-SEAL offers sealers that are hydrophobic and oleophobic. For this guide we also talked to a number of experts about what they look for when sealing any concrete application. Ideally we wanted concrete sealers that were not only conveniently available but offered excellent performance. We searched for concrete sealers that are available online which allows the consumer freedom to order and have them shipped to a home or business versus having to shop around and find a distributor that carries the product in stock. Straight-upapplication is never suggested. A penetrating concrete sealer has a long lifespan and typically requires reapplication after five plus years of service life. After over 30 hours of researching more than 60 concrete sealers and testing and evaluating seven of them, our results for the Best Concrete Sealers for 2022 are found below. The difference between penetrating sealers, decorative coating and durable coatings. Though plenty of penetrating concrete sealers are available our research showed that homeowners often regret purchasing a penetrating concrete sealer that did not offer any sort of water repellency, such as a penetrating silicate densifier. Penetrating concrete sealers: Penetrating concrete sealers penetrate into the concrete to form a chemical barrier that protects against water, moisture and deicing salts. Cheng Food-Safe Concrete Countertop Sealer is a water-based, non-toxic concrete sealer for use on kitchen and bath concrete countertops. Concrete sealers that offered additional oil and stain repellency were viewed as a nice bonus, but were not a required factor in our selection. XS-327 is distinctive in its ability to be touched up or repaired. Any surface that is about to be sealed needs to be completely cured, clean and free of all contaminants, and fully profiled and etched. Concrete Sealer Reviews. We were able to rule out any sealers that were too watered down or did not have enough active ingredients. Also, being a water-based sealer, XS-327 cementcountertop coatingputs out little to no odor, making it an ideal coating for use in residential applications. So 1 oz mixed sealer + 7 oz water = 8 oz total, and will cover around 64 sq. V-SEAL offers the worlds largest sealer selection including many products beyond the scope of this website. Even the most beautiful concrete countertop in the world can be marred by not successfully applying concrete countertop sealers. After mixing another batch to full catalyzation, dilute catalyzed product at a rate of 2 parts water to 1 part sealer (low humidity environment? We have worked in the construction industry for more than 20 years. Specificationsand Properties of XS-327 CountertopCoating: VOC Rating 25g/L (before dilution) Solids Content 64% (before dilution) Shelf Life1 year in original unopened container Mixing Ratio 3 parts A to 2 parts B Pot Life 30 minutes Ready forre-coatdry to the touch Re-coatwindow after 12 hours, sanding is required Light Duty Use 24 hours Food Safe when cured 7 days Water-based. ft at a time), lightly rolling until it looks perfect and then moving down and sealing the next section then this sealer will work for you! Like some other sealers, XS-327 countertop protection becomes food safe upon curing. A Concrete Decor article titled, Use of Penetrating Sealers is on the Rise published in January of 2017 states, Thedecorative industry grew up on the one size fits all high-gloss sealer which was the go-to coating for decades. Soper Low VOCs (25 g/L before adding water, less with water!) Look no further! Form a membrane layer over the substrate surface adding protection from moisture stains, chemicals, grease, gas, oils, and adding decorative elements such as high shine or color. Can be pigmented using Eco Stain water-based stains (use Eco Stain in place of water) SureCretes XS-327 concrete countertop sealer protectionis a specially formulated two component, moisture-cure, high solids hybrid water based polyurethane coating designed for application over completed concrete counter tops and surfaces. Apply countertop sealer in similar fashion to first coat with an even coating and again back rolling to prevent roller marks. VSEAL pioneered the development of modern high performance concrete countertop sealers and offers the #1 topical sealer system, and the #1 penetrating sealer system used by countertop professionals to create beautiful, food safe surfaces. Weve reviewed countless sealer products with our conclusions posted throughout this site. Get the answers to every question you can imagine about Omega Concrete Countertop Sealer, including performance and troubleshooting. XS-327 Water-Based CementCountertop topping is simply put, the best countertop sealer on the market today. After considering over 60 concrete sealing products, we evaluated and tested seven. What is the Best Concrete Driveway Sealer I Can Buy? Dries quick. VSEAL Concrete Countertop Systems are simply the best in the business, offering you years of beautiful, natural, maintenance-free concrete countertops. This sealer is sold through Home Depot Lowes and Amazon, and Ghostshield is a brand thats been around for years. The only drawback to the Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer is that it does not repel stains such as oil and grease. Best Concrete Water Oil and Stain Repellent Sealer with Saltguard. All of these systems have been used and endorsed by the Concrete Countertop Institute (CCI) and have been demonstrated in classes and seminars around the world. Its made of high quality silanes and siloxanes with a 40 percent solids content, so its active ingredients are stronger, less watered down and approved by the Department of Transportation. but yet still super tough. Mix in small amounts, a little goes a long way: 1 ounce of mixed sealer (3 teaspoons of part A + 2 teaspoons of part B = just under 1 oz of mixed sealer), is then mixed with water (or water-based stain to add color). Did we beat this dead horse enough yet? Though we havent tested the product for a full five to ten years like the manufacturer claims it will work for, we havent experienced any major issues ourselves but well continue to long-term test to see if any problems arise. It's something anyone can apply their first try, and have good results. At the very minimum we felt each concrete sealer should be composed of a 20% silane/siloxane chemistry. According to our experts, the best penetrating concrete sealers are resistant to water, chloride absorption and staining but clear enough to not change the look or feel of the concrete. We found that the Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer is best for most people. XS-327 concrete countertop sealer is ideally suited for both commercial and residential settings applied upon concrete countertops, fireplace surrounds, shower panels, floor tiles, and wall panels. It's easy enough for DIY projects, and high performance enough for pro projects. For this reason we limited our search to products with a natural finish that do not need to be reapplied as frequently. Once first coat is dry to the touch, surface is ready for second and final coat of sealer. Backrolling is easy!! With such a low VOC rating at only 25 g/L, XS-327 is an amazing eco-friendly sealers concrete countertops, after curing, thesealers staining is completely food safe, making it an ideal sealer for use in both residential and commercial kitchens. This concrete sealer is also a 40% silane/siloxane, penetrating sealer. The product is easy enough to use so a professional is not needed to apply it. While high gloss is still widely used, low-gloss and natural finishes in the decorative concrete industry have been gaining momentum as homeowners, architects and designers seek more ecofriendly, green and natural-looking sealing options.. Great coverage per kit. We show you how to make white concrete countertops. We applied and examined each product to check for a clear, natural finish. The S-40 has proven longevity, with one reviewer on the Home Depot site saying This product is 40% silane/siloxane and is the best deal on an active ingredient basis. Originally developed for the stone, masonry and concrete flatwork industry, penetrating sealers primarily resist water and stains, while not changing the substrates appearance. An extensive list of tips from experts how to choose the best concrete countertop sealers that are right for the job. Surfaces treated with PHASE II are more abrasion resistant and more resistant to chemicals and water than untreated concrete. After fifteen months of exposure to the elements, two freeze-thaw cycles and two winter seasons, we still highly recommend it. 2020. XS-327 TDS (Tech Data Sheet) XS-327 Part A SDS Data Sheet XS-327 Part B SDS Data Sheet Application Instructions Following these instructions, anyone can apply XS-327 sealer countertops: XS-327 is a moisture-cure sealer, meaning it cures best with humidity in the air. The concrete sealer not only uses quality silanes (isoctyltriethoxysilane) but it is a well formulated blend of silane and siloxane. This hybrid concrete sealer protects without creating a "plastic-looking" finish, letting the warm luster and beauty of your concrete shine through. For the first 'prime' coat, add 7 parts water. Though we like the Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer best, if you prefer something less expensive and a product that is available on store shelves we recommend Rustoleum Okon S-40. Also the Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer is more expensive than some of the other concrete sealers we reviewed, but the quality and longevity were unsurpassed making it a worthwhile investment. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. If allowedto sit more than 12 hours, surface will need to be sanded with 220 grit sandpaper to ensure proper adhesion. Once prime coat is dry to the touch, surface is ready for first coat. The best sealer for concrete countertops is durable, food safe, scratch resistant, heat resistant and best of all acid resistant. Understand how various sealers provide different levels of stain protection, and how to choose the best concrete countertop sealer. The Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer is also available as a concentrate which was lacking from the other sealers we tested. Question: Do I need to use multiple coats XS-327?Answer: Yes, the prime coat is essential for good penetration of the sealer and it ismuch easier to apply at dilution rates of 2:1 and 1:1. They are more frequently used in exterior applications to protect against the harsh elements. Mix one more batch of XS-327 cementcountertop sealer, then dilute catalyzed product at a rate of 2 parts water to 1 part sealer (low humidity environment? The Concrete Decor article mentioned above states, While relatively new to the decorative industry, penetrating sealers have been used successfully in other markets for decades. Durable concrete coatings are harder and last longer than decorative coatings. As a last resort, if applying the sealer in very low humidity and you cannot increase it, you will want to apply the finish coats at a 3:1 ratio (3 parts water to 1 part mixed sealer) and apply a 3rd finish coat. All rights reserved. XS-327 isthe #1 Choice for Professionals and DIYers to seal and protect concrete countertops, sinks, bathtubs, shower panels, and furniture. The type of silane, one of the chemical components, that is used in the product also gives the Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer a longer performance life, making it more stable and less volatile. 24 hours after second coat of XS-327 countertop sealer is applied, the surface is ready for light use, and is fully cured and food safe after 7 days. XS-327s scratch and abrasion resistance is also second to none, making it viable for a variety of surfaces. At 64% solids (varies upon reduction rate) and 25 g/L VOC this high performance clear top coat generates the premier balance of strength, flexibility, chemical and scratch resistance. If you do not live in a humid region, use a humidifier like this one sold on Amazon.com (there are cheaper models for $25, but the one listed has humidity settings, and filters the air as a bonus). Available in a variety of colors most durable coatings leave a gloss finish. We did not have any visible cracking, spalling or deicing salt damage on driveway applications. Because of this we prioritized finding products that were penetrating and hydrophobic impregnating concrete sealers. Industrial Farmhouse Bathroom Makeover on a Budget. Our pick: Our testers like the ease of use and lack of maintenance of the Siloxa-Tek 8500 of all the concrete sealers we tried. We found that in penetrating concrete sealers with a silane/siloxane chemistry. Our testers were drawn to the natural finish of penetrating concrete sealers. Siloxa-Tek 8500 concrete sealer is available through Home Depot in the ready to use version or Lowes in the ready to use or concentrated version. Available in Semi-Gloss or Matte finish. Backroll the surface with a relatively dry roller using only the weight of the roller. The concentrate allows you to pay less in shipping since a one gallon of concentrate will make a five gallon pail of sealer, which wasnt a possibility with some of the other sealers we looked at. Crystallize minerals in the substrate just below the surface. The Siloxa-Tek 8505 concrete sealer is the best Best Concrete Sealers for 2018 Decorative Concrete Sealers. Decorative acrylic concrete coatings are great at first leaving the concrete looking nice but tend to wear quickly and cost more in the long run with constant reapplication. If you have concrete countertops that stain when things are left on them, use this concrete countertop sealer to protect against stains! Most of the other products out there are just watered down versions with only 5%-20% active ingredients. It is also available in both concentrations direct through the manufacturer. Also the concrete sealer is available in a ready to use or concentrate version so you have the freedom to choose if you want to pay less to do a little extra work or pay a little more for the ease of convenience. We tested for abrasions, salt exposure and water absorption and we also compared the application techniques for ease of use. Ovation is a food safe, single component DIY concrete countertop sealer that also offers excellent performance. The 8500 concrete sealer leaves a natural finish without any artificial luster or sheen leaving a natural, protected surface without ever fading. Aside from its appearance, penetrating concrete sealers offer greater durability and are less prone to water absorption and deicing salt damage than decorative coatings. Our Pick Best Concrete Sealers for 2022: Though we like Siloxa-Tek 8500, the Okon S-40 is a less expensive alternative. ft. per kit!!! Their primary functions have been salt and acid resistance, efflorescence control and water resistance., Concrete Construction noted that, When applied properly, penetrating sealers can serve as chloride screens and dampproofing to improve durability against destructive corrosion of embedded reinforcement and damage from freezing and thawing.. V-SEALs #1 sealer systems have been used and endorsed by the Concrete Countertop Institute and have been demonstrated around the world. ft. XS-327 TDS (Tech Data Sheet) XS-327 - Top quality sealer for concrete countertops, furniture, fireplaces, water features, sinks, etc. Try using dilution rate of 3 parts water to 1 part sealer instead). Read more about the most durable sealer for concrete countertops. In our research, we found that more inexpensive penetrating concrete sealers suffered in quality due to low solids content and most commercial products were exorbitantly priced. We offer the #1 Topical Sealer system used by countertop professionals around the world, as well as the #1 Penetrating Sealer system. Durable coatings: Durable concrete coatings build a protective film on the concrete surface, producing a hard, long-lasting abrasion and chemical resistant finish. If you want High Gloss, and "Color Enhancing" (sealer that deepens/darkens the concrete-like when wet) then consider using the PC12 Solvent-Based Concrete Sealer (sold here) Food Safe (FDA Approved) Countertop Sealer. It takes just a few minutes to completely back roll each area in front of you and then move down and repeat the process until the whole concrete piece is sealed and looks perfect. Apply XS-327 again in similar fashion as prime coat, this time with only an even coating, again back rolling to prevent roller marks. Try using dilution rate of 3 parts water to 1 part sealer instead). V-SEAL 101 can be top-coated with any coating system that would normally adhere to the surface with adequate preparation (including the two above), and does not provide any noticeable appearance change. Coverage:100+ sq. Easy to apply with a roller, almost no smell (water based!) Keep unused product from freezing. They are great for enhancing colors and giving concrete the much desired wet look. We arent alone in that assessment, as many of our experts agree. The StoneLok System provides rich color enhancement (wet look) and is available in three different finishes (Gloss, Low Gloss, Extra Low Gloss). Water was not absorbed by the concrete whatsoever during the water absorption test; in fact we were able to move the beaded water across the concrete and even then it was not absorbed. Flood surface with xs-327 concrete countertopsealer, and work into surface using a high density foam roller until surface is saturated. A penetrating concrete sealer is your best choice if you are looking to protect your application from deicing salts, freeze-thaw cycles and water without changing the surface appearance or feel of the concrete.