Concrete sealers are getting more and more popular these days. This is because many homeowners are beginning to learn that concrete, despite their tough exterior, still need some form of protection. Heat, water, dirt, grime, oil, can all be causes of damage in concrete. One way to protect concrete, is to apply concrete sealers.

Applying concrete sealers.

The process of applying concrete sealers is a simple one. The first thing to do is to clean the concrete surface. Remove all forms of contaminants from the surface. These include plants, dirt, dead insects, dead leaves, oil, grease, etc. You can buy concrete stain removers to help you with the cleaning process if you like. Otherwise, using some kind of liquid detergent will do just as well. Remember to wear protective gear if you are working with corrosive liquids.

Once the concrete surface has been sufficiently cleaned, it's time to apply concrete sealers. Concrete sealers are readily available at DIY retail stores or DIY online stores. They come in cans of 1 or 5 gallons. 1 gallon of sealer covers about 100 feet.

There are many different types of concrete sealers available in the market. These include water repellent sealers, wet look sealers, interior sealers, water-based sealers, and solvent based sealers. If you want to consider solvent based sealers, make sure that they are VOC compliant.

When applying the sealer, you could use a sprayer. Again, there are different types of sprayers you can use. It is advisable to use metal sprayers. They may cost a little more, but they are supposed to be heavy duty and more suitable for the chemicals the you will be working with. Plastic sprayers come at a fraction of the price. But you should use mild sealers/chemicals into plastic sprayers, since they erode rather easily.

Spray the sealer on the concrete surface and leave it to dry. The concrete is now protected by an additional layer of sealer. Plants, dirt, grime, etc can no longer penetrate the interiors of the concrete.

Some homeowners not only use sealers to protect the concrete, they also use sealers to enhance the look of the concrete. This is known as the "wet look". To achieve this look, special solvent or water based sealers are chosen for the concrete. You will see such sealers being labeled as Gloss, Semi-Gloss, or Matte. Of course, the type of sealer you choose depends on your own personal preference. When you choose Gloss sealers, the end result is that you can a very shiny and polished look.

When sealers have been applied, the concrete becomes easier to maintain. Any time dust or stains settles on the concrete, it is actually in contact with the protective coat of sealer. Therefore, you can easily clean them off or remove them with ordinary brushes and detergents.