The best wet look concrete sealer for your concrete will depend on what you define a “wet look” as. There are two main categories of wet look sealers. There are wet look sealers that make the surface of the concrete look wet, and there are wet look sealers that provide a gloss to the concrete, giving it a shimmery appearance. There are also concrete sealers that offer both, a color enhancement and a gloss. Here is are the different types of wet look sealers you can apply to your concrete:
- Matte wet look sealer: A matte wet look sealer, like the WL550, is designed to slightly enhance the coloring the concrete, giving it a similar appearance to being wet. This type of wet look sealer will not leave behind a surface film, and won’t give the concrete a gloss. If you are looking for a slight enhancement without the gloss, a sealer like the WL550 is great.
- Low gloss wet look sealer: A low gloss wet look sealer, like the AR350, is designed to dramatically enhance the coloring of the concrete, and enhance the surface of the concrete with a low gloss. This is a great option if you are looking for a true wet look sealer as it is designed to being out the color in dull and faded concrete.
- High gloss wet look sealer: A high gloss wet look sealer, like the AR500, is designed to dramatically enhance the color of the concrete, and enhance the surface of the concrete with a high gloss. Like the AR350, the AR500 is a great option if you want a true wet look sealer.
- Low to high gloss sealer without the color enhancement: If you want your concrete to have a gloss, but want little to no color enhancement, water based acrylic sealers like the WB15 (low gloss) and WB25 are great options. They are designed to enhance the concrete by adding gloss, but won’t dramatically change the color of the concrete.
Once you know what you want your concrete to look like once sealed, you can choose the best wet look sealer for your concrete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wet Look Sealers
- Are wet look sealers slippery when wet? Penetrating wet look sealers, like the WL550, do not leave behind a slippery surface film because they work entirely below the surface. Acrylic wet look sealers leave behind a surface film that can be slippery when wet. To help increase surface traction and reduce slipperiness, non-slip additives can be added into the sealer.
- How long do wet look sealers last? Penetrating wet look sealers can last for up to 5 years, while acrylic wet look sealers need to be resealed every 1-3 years.
- How do you apply a wet look sealer? Wet look sealers can easily be applied with a roller or pump sprayer.
- What can you apply a wet look sealer to? Penetrating wet look sealers, like the WL550, can be applied to concrete, brick, pavers, stone, and masonry. Acrylic wet look sealers can be applied to concrete and concrete pavers.