"Boutique" - Concrete sealers for your concrete countertops
So what choices do I have for concrete sealers for my countertops, and why do I even have to think about it? Because concrete is naturally porous, it'll darken when it gets wet. Anything liquid will be sucked right into it unless sealer blocks it. Water isn't so much of a problem; when it dries, the concrete reverts to its original state. The problem is when other liquids like vinegar, lime juice, or mustard are spilled on an unsealed surface. These can actually "etch" the surface of the concrete, and damage it. Sealing the concrete can help to prevent this problem, depending on what type of sealer you choose.
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Concrete sealers normally used for countertops can be broken down into two camps: water based and solvent based. They're pretty easy to tell apart just from appearance and smell. Water based sealers tend to be milky white and have a low odor. Solvent based concrete sealers are almost always transparent or have a slight yellowish tint and have a strong odor. To make things even more confusing, each type (water and solvent based) can be also broken into topical and penetrating. Topical sealers form a "skin" over the concrete, sealing it from liquids, while penetrating sealers are absorbed into the concrete and try to do the same by not allowing other liquids in. From experience we've found that topical concrete sealers are the best bet when it comes to providing stain protection, so we'll focus on these.
Water based sealers are the way to go when you want to maintain the concrete's natural and unsealed look. It only slightly deepens the color and leaves it with an elegant matte look. However, water based is the least effective sealer to prevent food stains. After a time a concrete countertop with a water based sealer will develop a "patina" from coming in contact with foods, oils, and other materials. Water based concrete sealers offer some stain protection, especially when combined with a wax coating. Now, if you want a sealer that's more effective at preventing food stains, solvent based ones are a better option; but even these aren't "bulletproof". We'll go over these in our next project. FYI, no countertop made of granite, marble, Corian, Silestone, or Formica is 100% stain proof.
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