How to Use Stone Sealer for Shine on Concrete

Unfinished concrete, after curing, had a dull matte finish that reflects little light from its surface, making it perfect for paving, but not as suitable for applications where a bit of gloss is desired. You can add gloss through an extensive polishing process, but a simpler way exists -- a wet-look stone sealer. Sealer over concrete has a primary role of protecting the concrete's surface. It provides a wear layer that takes minor damage instead of allowing the damage through to the concrete beneath. It also provides a water-resistant layer that keeps staining at a minimum. Another use for sealer is to create a wet, glossy look on the concrete.

Mop
PH-neutral cleaner
Wet-look concrete sealer
Wooden mixer stick
Paintbrush
Medium-nap roller with extension pole

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the concrete with a mop and a pH-neutral cleanser. Rinse the surface with water then allow it to dry overnight before sealing.
- 2
  Open the sealer and mix the material thoroughly with a wooden stir stick to gather up the solids contained in the mix that may settle on the bottom of the container. Use a water-based sealer for interior applications, and an acrylic sealer for exterior concrete surfaces.
- 3
  Pour the sealer into a paint roller pan.
- 4
  Use a paintbrush to apply a heavy layer of sealer around the edges of the concrete. Brush on a stripe around the perimeter of the concrete about 3 to 6 inches wide to ensure that the surface is covered to the absolute edges. You want the sealer to be thick enough to penetrate fully into the surface of the concrete, just short of pooling on the concrete surface.
- 5
  Switch to a medium-nap paint roller with an extension pole attached. Saturate the roller in the roller pan and then apply the sealer to the concrete surface. Work the sealer over the surface in rows, extending from the wet edges towards the center. By starting each row from an already wet section, you will prevent lap marks from forming with each row. As with the brushed on sealer, stop just short of pooling the sealer on the surface.
- 6
  Wait about 4 hours for the first coat of sealer to dry. Apply a second coat using the same application process, only apply the sealer with strokes in the opposite direction as those used with the first layer. Wait another 24 hours before allowing traffic over the concrete surface.

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