What is the difference between water based and solvent based sealers and which should I use?
Basically the solvent based sealer smells for two or three days and generally shouldn’t be used inside occupied premises. The water based sealer has much less odor for a few hours and applies in a milky white form, drying to clear. Both provide durable finishes and have easy maintenance. The solvent based is generally regarded as the tougher more durable option.
Direct Colors offers both solvent and water-based sealers suitable for any concrete project. Sealers can be applied with either an applicator or a sprayer; however, some solvent-based sealers cannot be used in all US states. US Environmental/VOC Regulations prohibits the use of certain sealers in California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Customers living in these states cannot purchase the Sprayable Satin Finish or High Gloss (AC 1315) sealers. DCI’s WR Meadows solvent-based sealer, water-based sealer and Krystal Kote sealer can be used anywhere in the US. The method used to apply sealer depends on the type of surface and the variety of sealer used. Our solvent-based non-sprayable sealers are appropriate for both indoor and outdoor applications; however, we recommend using a water-based sealer for occupied indoor applications and for basements. Water-based sealer does take longer to dry between coats, up to 24
