Choosing the Best Concrete Sealer
21st March 2026Concrete sealer may be the final stage of your concrete flooring project, but in many ways it’s the most important. Choosing the best concrete sealer for your floor ensures your new installation has long-lasting protection. This preserves your investment and enhances its visual appeal to ensure you get the professional finish which will ‘wow’ your customers.
Note: You don’t need to be a professional to apply concrete floor sealer, but you do need to know a few tricks of the trade to make the most of the application. This is where we can help – with our customer focused mindset and 30 years experience in the trade, we can help you choose and use your concrete sealer effectively.
Concrete Installation – Why is it so popular?
Concrete is a popular type of flooring for both the inside and outside of properties. Whether paving a driveway, garage or a conservatory, concrete is a versatile choice. As well as being used in domestic environments, you’ll also find it commonly used in commercial settings too, where it might be used as the base for warehouses and workshops or stripped-back retail spaces.
It is affordable, durable and can handle excessive weight which is why it’s useful in driveways or carparks, however it can also suffer from wear and tear quickly if not protected with a coat of quality concrete sealer.
Why Use the Best Concrete Sealer?
Concrete sealant acts as a vital barrier that stops external dust, debris or fluids such as oil, paint or grease. These could all otherwise affect the integrity and quality of your concrete installation. Luckily, our products – the very best concrete sealant products on the market today, provide our customers with an incredible abrasion resistant defence suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Resiblock stocks both concrete floor sealer and concrete driveway sealer and the application process is the same for both. You can get started with your concrete sealant by following these essential steps.
1. Concrete Floor Sealer Testing
It’s usually a good idea to test out your concrete sealant application before applying it to a larger surface area. This is optional but will give you a good idea of the finished appearance of your concrete installation with the sealant layer on top. You’ll also notice how porous your concrete is, which will give you a good idea of how much concrete floor sealer you’ll need to apply.
Simply select a small area of concrete to prep, and then follow the application steps to test out the concrete sealer. You’ll notice that the sealant will look opaque before it dries, but the end result will look transparent.
2. Prepping The Area for Concrete Floor Sealer
Your new installation needs to be clean and entirely free from debris before you begin applying your concrete sealant. If any stains have appeared on the surface, wash these thoroughly before commencing. The area will need to be completely dry before you apply a layer of concrete floor sealer or concrete driveway sealer. If you need to, you can rely on a squeegee to remove any excess water. Once dry, sweep or hoover the top of your concrete to pick up any extra dust that has collected. It’s particularly important to get between your pavers to remove any jointing sand that has lodged there.
3. Using Concrete Sealant On Existing Installations
Concrete sealer can breathe fresh life into the appearance of your existing installation. If you’re looking to refresh your concrete, then it’s imperative that you put plenty of effort into the cleaning stages before you begin to seal.
4. Using Concrete Sealer For The Second Time
If you’ve previously used concrete floor sealer, then you’ll need to remove the entire coat before you apply a new coat. It’s important to get rid of all traces of the previous sealant to produce a floor that shines. If the previous coat of concrete sealant is from a different brand, then there might be compatibility issues which is why the removal step is vital here.
5. Choosing The Right Conditions For Your Concrete Driveway Sealer
Once your concrete surface is thoroughly prepared, you can begin to coat the top of your flooring. You might use a brush, roller, spray or squeegee to smooth the concrete sealer across the entire area. The joints of your paving must be saturated with the sealant to provide extra protection and to ensure that the area is coated evenly.
It’s typical for pools to form during this process, but you should make every effort to smooth these out. You may need to use a sponge or roller to remove the excess fluid. Splashes should also be dealt with quickly using a clean, damp cloth.
Resiblock concrete sealer products
Concrete Sealer FAQs
What does concrete sealer do?
Concrete sealer creates a protective barrier that stops dust, debris and fluids such as oil, paint and grease from damaging the surface, extending the life and improving the appearance of the concrete.
Concrete is affordable, durable and able to handle heavy loads, which is why it is widely used for driveways, garages, conservatories, warehouses, workshops and retail spaces. Without protection, however, it can suffer from wear and tear quickly. A quality concrete sealer provides an abrasion resistant defence suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The Concrete Centre offers independent technical guidance on concrete design, performance and durability.
Looking for the right product for your floor? Explore Resiblock Resiecco, a solvent free concrete floor sealer suitable for a wide range of installations.
When can I seal new concrete?
New concrete should be left for up to 8 weeks before preparing it for sealing, while existing concrete can be sealed as soon as the preparation steps are complete.
Fresh concrete needs time to dry out fully, and sealing too early can trap moisture and affect the finish and performance of the sealer. For existing installations, the key is thorough cleaning, as sealer can breathe fresh life into older concrete when the surface is properly prepared.
Before you begin, check the Resiblock application guidelines for full preparation advice.
How do I prepare concrete before sealing?
Clean the concrete thoroughly, remove any stains, let it dry completely and then sweep or vacuum away remaining dust before applying sealer.
A squeegee can help remove excess water so the surface dries faster. On paved areas, make sure you clear debris from between the pavers as well. Testing the sealer on a small area first is also recommended, as it shows you the finished appearance and how porous the concrete is, which helps you estimate how much product you need. The sealer looks opaque when wet but dries to a transparent finish.
Want to test before committing? Order Resiblock samples (up to four) to trial on a small area of your concrete.
Can I apply new concrete sealer over an old sealer?
No. Any previous concrete sealer should be removed completely before applying a new coat, particularly if the old sealer is from a different brand.
Leftover traces of old sealer can prevent the new coat bonding properly and may cause compatibility issues between different products, affecting the finish. Stripping the surface back fully gives the new sealer the best chance of performing well and producing an even, attractive result.
To strip the old coating, use Resiblock Paving Sealer Remover, a ready to use, water based product that works on any paving sealer.
How many coats of concrete sealer do I need?
Resiblock concrete sealers are one coat products, so a single application is usually enough, although a second coat will not cause any problems if preferred.
Apply the sealer with a brush, roller, spray or squeegee, making sure any joints are fully saturated for extra protection and an even finish. Smooth out any pools that form using a sponge or roller, and wipe up splashes quickly with a clean, damp cloth. Once the sealer is dry, the surface can be used.
For full product specifications, download the Resiblock technical data sheets before you start.
How long does concrete sealer take to dry?
Concrete sealer can dry in as little as 24 hours when applied in the right conditions, ideally between 3°C and 30°C and not in the rain.
Cold, damp or wet conditions slow drying and can affect the finish, so it is worth planning your application around a dry spell. Checking the forecast for both the day of application and the following day will help avoid rain damaging the fresh coat. The Met Office provides detailed local forecasts to help you choose the right day.
Have a question about your project? Get in touch with Resiblock on 01268 273344 and the team of specialists will be happy to help.