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How to Choose the Right Sealer

Material | Protection | Appearance

How to Choose the Right Sealer

Material | Protection | Appearance

w to Choose the Right Sealer

Choosing the right sealer can make a significant difference to the appearance, protection and ongoing maintenance of your surface. But with so many different products available, how do you know which sealer is right for your project?

Start with three questions:

1. What material am I sealing?  Concrete, natural stone, pavers, render or another substrate?

2. What protection do I need?  Water repellency, stain resistance, easier maintenance or a combination?

3. What do I want it to look like? Natural, colour-enhanced or glossy?

Once you know those three things, selecting the right sealer becomes much easier.

At WA Sealers, we supply a range of professional sealing products for concrete, natural stone, paving, render and other porous building materials. This guide explains how to choose a sealer and the key differences between penetrating, natural-look and enhancing sealers.

How to Choose the Right Sealer

Choosing the right sealer can make a significant difference to the appearance, protection and ongoing maintenance of your surface. But with so many different products available, how do you know which sealer is right for your project?

Start with three questions:

​1. What material am I sealing?  Concrete, natural stone, pavers, render or another substrate?

​2. What protection do I need?  Water repellency, stain resistance, easier maintenance or a combination?

​3. What do I want it to look like? Natural, colour-enhanced or glossy?

Once you know those three things, selecting the right sealer becomes much easier.

At WA Sealers, we supply a range of professional sealing products for concrete, natural stone, paving, render and other porous building materials. This guide explains how to choose a sealer and the key differences between penetrating, natural-look and enhancing sealers.

1. What Material Am I Sealing?

The first step in choosing the right sealer is identifying the material you are treating. Different surfaces vary considerably in porosity, density and how they respond to sealers, so a product that works well on one substrate may not be the best choice for another.

Natural Stone

  • Natural stone can vary significantly in porosity and sensitivity. Sandstone, limestone, travertine, granite and other stones all absorb liquids differently and may require different types        of protection.
  • ​When choosing a sealer for natural stone, consider how porous the stone is, whether it is indoors or outdoors and the types of staining or moisture it is likely to encounter.
  • ​For many natural stone applications, a penetrating sealer is preferred because it can provide protection from within the pores while retaining the texture and character of the stone.

​Concrete

  • ​Concrete is naturally porous and can absorb water, oils, grease and other contaminants.
  • ​The best concrete sealer will depend on where the concrete is located and how it is used. A residential driveway, warehouse floor, polished concrete surface and outdoor entertaining    area can all have very different requirements.
  • ​Consider the level of traffic, exposure to water or staining, and whether you want to maintain the natural appearance of the concrete or create a more noticeable finish.

​Pavers

  • ​Pavers are frequently exposed to rain, dirt, organic growth, food, drinks, oils and other contaminants.
  • ​When choosing a paver sealer, consider what the pavers are made from as well as their location. You may want a penetrating treatment that leaves the paving looking natural or a sealer that enhances its colour.

Render, Plaster & Walls

  • Render, plaster, masonry and other vertical surfaces often require a different approach from floors and paving.
  • ​Breathability can be particularly important for some mineral surfaces. A suitable sealer can help reduce water penetration while still allowing necessary moisture or vapour movement  through the substrate.

The key: Don't choose a sealer based solely on the fact that it says "stone sealer" or "concrete sealer". Start with the exact substrate and its particular requirements.

1. What Material Am I Sealing?

The first step in choosing the right sealer is identifying the material you are treating. Different surfaces vary considerably in porosity, density and how they respond to sealers, so a product that works well on one substrate may not be the best choice for another.

​Natural Stone

    • Natural stone can vary significantly in porosity and sensitivity. Sandstone, limestone, travertine, granite and other stones all absorb liquids differently and may require different types        of protection.
    • ​When choosing a sealer for natural stone, consider how porous the stone is, whether it is indoors or outdoors and the types of staining or moisture it is likely to encounter.
    • ​For many natural stone applications, a penetrating sealer is preferred because it can provide protection from within the pores while retaining the texture and character of the stone.

​Concrete

    • ​Concrete is naturally porous and can absorb water, oils, grease and other contaminants.
    • ​The best concrete sealer will depend on where the concrete is located and how it is used. A residential driveway, warehouse floor, polished concrete surface and outdoor entertaining    area can all have very different requirements.
    • ​Consider the level of traffic, exposure to water or staining, and whether you want to maintain the natural appearance of the concrete or create a more noticeable finish.

​Pavers

    • ​Pavers are frequently exposed to rain, dirt, organic growth, food, drinks, oils and other contaminants.
    • ​When choosing a paver sealer, consider what the pavers are made from as well as their location. You may want a penetrating treatment that leaves the paving looking natural or a      sealer that enhances its colour.

​Render, Plaster & Walls

    • Render, plaster, masonry and other vertical surfaces often require a different approach from floors and paving.
    • ​Breathability can be particularly important for some mineral surfaces. A suitable sealer can help reduce water penetration while still allowing necessary moisture or vapour movement  through the substrate.

The key: Don't choose a sealer based solely on the fact that it says "stone sealer" or "concrete sealer". Start with the exact substrate and its particular requirements.

2. What Protection Do I Need?

Once you know what you're sealing, consider what you need to protect it from. Not all sealers provide the same protection. Some are primarily designed to repel water, while others provide additional resistance to oils, grease, food, drinks and other staining substances.

​Water & Moisture Protection

  • If your main concern is rain or moisture penetration, look for a water-repellent sealer suitable for your substrate.
  • This can be particularly important for exterior walls, façades, paving, natural stone, concrete and other porous surfaces exposed to the weather.

Stain Protection

  • If the surface is likely to encounter oils, grease, food, drinks or other staining substances, water repellency alone may not be enough.
  • Areas such as outdoor kitchens, entertaining areas, restaurants, driveways and commercial spaces can benefit from a sealer designed to provide water and oil repellency and improved stain resistance.

Easier Cleaning & Maintenance

  • Sealing a porous surface can also make ongoing maintenance easier by reducing the rate at which contaminants penetrate into the material.
  • ​A sealer doesn't eliminate the need for cleaning, and spills should still be dealt with promptly, but the right protection can give you more opportunity to remove contaminants before they penetrate deeply into the substrate.

​Penetrating vs Surface Sealers

  • This is also where the distinction between different types of sealers becomes important.
  • A penetrating sealer absorbs into the pores of the substrate and provides protection from within, rather than forming a visible coating over the surface.
  • Other sealers form a film or coating at the surface. These may be chosen where a particular decorative finish or surface characteristic is required.  
  • At WA Sealers, we specialise in sealers which enhance and complement the natural properties of materials, rather than fight against them.  All of our products are breathable, and most provide protection from within the substrate, providing long-lasting performance without forming a surface coating that can peel, flake or delaminate over time.

The key: Think about the actual exposure your surface will experience. Water, oil, food stains, traffic and weather can all influence which type of protection is most appropriate.

2. What Protection Do I Need?

Once you know what you're sealing, consider what you need to protect it from. Not all sealers provide the same protection. Some are primarily designed to repel water, while others provide additional resistance to oils, grease, food, drinks and other staining substances.

​Water & Moisture Protection

    • If your main concern is rain or moisture penetration, look for a water-repellent sealer suitable for your substrate.
    • This can be particularly important for exterior walls, façades, paving, natural stone, concrete and other porous surfaces exposed to the weather.

​Stain Protection

    • If the surface is likely to encounter oils, grease, food, drinks or other staining substances, water repellency alone may not be enough.
    • Areas such as outdoor kitchens, entertaining areas, restaurants, driveways and commercial spaces can benefit from a sealer designed to provide water and oil repellency and improved stain resistance.

​Easier Cleaning & Maintenance

    • Sealing a porous surface can also make ongoing maintenance easier by reducing the rate at which contaminants penetrate into the material.
    • ​A sealer doesn't eliminate the need for cleaning, and spills should still be dealt with promptly, but the right protection can give you more opportunity to remove contaminants before they penetrate deeply into the substrate.

​Penetrating vs Surface Sealers

    • This is also where the distinction between different types of sealers becomes important.
    • A penetrating sealer absorbs into the pores of the substrate and provides protection from within, rather than forming a visible coating over the surface.
    • Other sealers form a film or coating at the surface. These may be chosen where a particular decorative finish or surface characteristic is required.  
    • At WA Sealers, we specialise in sealers which enhance and complement the natural properties of materials, rather than fight against them.  All of our products are breathable, and most provide protection from within the substrate, providing long-lasting performance without forming a surface coating that can peel, flake or delaminate over time.

The key: Think about the actual exposure your surface will experience. Water, oil, food stains, traffic and weather can all influence which type of protection is most appropriate.

3. What Do I Want It to Look Like?

Finally, consider the finished appearance.

Sealing doesn't necessarily mean making a surface shiny or giving it a "wet look". Depending on the product you choose, the appearance can range from completely natural to colour-enhanced or glossy.

Natural-Look Sealers

  • A natural-look sealer is designed to protect the material while maintaining as much of its original appearance as possible.
  • This is often preferred for natural stone, architectural concrete and other surfaces where you like the existing colour and texture and don't want the sealer to become a noticeable part of the finish.
  • Choose a natural-look finish if: you like how your surface looks when it is clean and dry and want to minimise changes to its appearance.

​Colour-Enhancing Sealers

  • ​An enhancing sealer is designed to deepen or enrich the colour and character of the substrate.
  • ​This can be particularly attractive on natural stone and decorative surfaces where you want to bring out variations, patterns and colours in the material.
  • ​As a simple starting point, if you prefer the richer colour your stone or surface displays when wet, you may want to investigate an enhancing sealer.
  • Choose an enhancing finish if: you want the colours and character of the surface to appear deeper or more pronounced.

Gloss & Decorative Finishes

  • If you want a noticeable sheen or gloss, you'll need a sealer specifically designed to produce that type of finish.
  • ​Gloss sealers can change the appearance of the surface considerably, so the desired aesthetic should be considered alongside practical requirements such as the substrate, location and intended use.
  • ​Choose a gloss finish if: you specifically want the sealer to contribute to the finished appearance of the surface.

One Important Distinction

The terms penetrating, natural-look and enhancing can be confusing because they don't necessarily describe three completely separate types of sealer.

  • A penetrating sealer primarily describes how the sealer works — it penetrates into the substrate rather than simply creating a surface film.
  • Natural-look and enhancing describe more about how the sealer affects the appearance.

This means a penetrating sealer can also provide a natural-looking finish, while another penetrating product may be selected specifically because it enhances the colour of the substrate.

3. What Do I Want It to Look Like?

Finally, consider the finished appearance.

Sealing doesn't necessarily mean making a surface shiny or giving it a "wet look". Depending on the product you choose, the appearance can range from completely natural to colour-enhanced or glossy.

​Natural-Look Sealers

    • A natural-look sealer is designed to protect the material while maintaining as much of its original appearance as possible.
    • This is often preferred for natural stone, architectural concrete and other surfaces where you like the existing colour and texture and don't want the sealer to become a noticeable part of the finish.
    • Choose a natural-look finish if: you like how your surface looks when it is clean and dry and want to minimise changes to its appearance.

​Colour-Enhancing Sealers

    • ​An enhancing sealer is designed to deepen or enrich the colour and character of the substrate.
    • ​This can be particularly attractive on natural stone and decorative surfaces where you want to bring out variations, patterns and colours in the material.
    • ​As a simple starting point, if you prefer the richer colour your stone or surface displays when wet, you may want to investigate an enhancing sealer.
    • Choose an enhancing finish if: you want the colours and character of the surface to appear deeper or more pronounced.

​Gloss & Decorative Finishes

    • If you want a noticeable sheen or gloss, you'll need a sealer specifically designed to produce that type of finish.
    • ​Gloss sealers can change the appearance of the surface considerably, so the desired aesthetic should be considered alongside practical requirements such as the substrate, location and intended use.
    • ​Choose a gloss finish if: you specifically want the sealer to contribute to the finished appearance of the surface.

One Important Distinction

The terms penetrating, natural-look and enhancing can be confusing because they don't necessarily describe three completely separate types of sealer.

    • A penetrating sealer primarily describes how the sealer works — it penetrates into the substrate rather than simply creating a surface film.
    • Natural-look and enhancing describe more about how the sealer affects the appearance.

This means a penetrating sealer can also provide a natural-looking finish, while another penetrating product may be selected specifically because it enhances the colour of the substrate.


Once you've answered the three questions, "what am I sealing, what protection do I need and what do I want it to look like?" you'll have a much clearer idea of the type of sealer required.

Test Patch Your Sealer

It's also important to test your chosen product on a small, inconspicuous area before treating the entire surface. The final appearance and absorption can vary depending on the substrate, its condition and any previous treatments.

Need Help Choosing the Right Sealer?

Still unsure how to choose a sealer for your project?

WA Sealers can help you narrow down the options.  Click Here to send us an email and tell us:

  1. what you're sealing
  2. where the surface is located
  3. what you need to protect it from and the finish you'd like

and we can recommend suitable products for your application.   Alternatively call 08 6496 0444 to speak to one of our experts.

Once you've answered the three questions, "what am I sealing, what protection do I need and what do I want it to look like?" you'll have a much clearer idea of the type of sealer required.

Test Patch Your Sealer

It's also important to test your chosen product on a small, inconspicuous area before treating the entire surface. The final appearance and absorption can vary depending on the substrate, its condition and any previous treatments.


Need Help Choosing the Right Sealer?

Still unsure how to choose a sealer for your project?

WA Sealers can help you narrow down the options.  Click Here to send us an email and tell us:

  1. what you're sealing
  2. where the surface is located
  3. what you need to protect it from and the finish you'd like

and we can recommend suitable products for your application.   Alternatively call 08 6496 0444 to speak to one of our experts.