Concrete Sealer Application: Tips for Getting the Best Results

It's easy to achieve great results with stains if you've acquired all the basic tools and materials you'll need and you've cleaned the surface thoroughly. But there are some basic rules of thumb you should follow to ensure a beautiful staining job. Remember that if your project is large or complex, you may be better off hiring a pro.

• When it comes to applying concrete sealers, less is more. Use multiple thin coats rather than one heavy, thick coat.
• Choose the applicator best suited for the product you are using. (See this advice from Chris Sullivan on choosing the best applicator for concrete sealers.)
• Always follow the sealer manufacturer's recommended installation procedures.
• To avoid lap lines when using a roller to apply sealer, maintain a "wet edge" by applying a new pass of sealer while the previous pass of sealer is still wet.
• When applying sealer by sprayer, maintain constant pressure and use the proper tip. A cone-shaped spray pattern is better than a fan pattern, and the more atomized the sealer the better.
• Make sure to give the sealer enough time to fully dry and cure before resuming traffic on the surface.