Unsealed concrete is porous. It absorbs oil, chemicals, water, and contaminants — and once absorbed, those compounds are nearly impossible to fully remove. Sealing concrete protects the substrate, extends floor life, and significantly reduces ongoing maintenance costs. DTI installs concrete sealing systems for commercial and industrial facilities nationwide, specified by environment, traffic class, and performance requirement.
Not all concrete sealers work the same way. The right choice depends on what you need the floor to do.
Densifiers & Guards
Penetrating sealers absorb into the concrete matrix and react chemically with the substrate — they don't leave a film on the surface. Silicate densifiers fill the pore structure of the concrete, increasing surface hardness and reducing dusting. Silane and siloxane guards repel water and chloride intrusion without changing the floor's appearance or texture.
Best for:
Warehouses, distribution centers, parking structures, exterior flatwork, and any environment where a surface film would be a traction or maintenance liability.
Coatings & Films
Topical sealers sit on the surface of the concrete and form a protective film. They provide a visible finish — from matte to high gloss — and offer stronger protection against surface staining and chemical exposure than penetrating sealers. Epoxies, polyaspartics, and polyurethanes all function as topical sealers when applied at thin-film thicknesses.
Best for:
Retail environments, showrooms, food service support areas, and light industrial spaces where appearance matters alongside protection.
Sealing is appropriate when the concrete substrate is structurally sound and the performance requirement is protection and dust control. Coating — a heavier epoxy or resinous system — is appropriate when the floor faces chemical exposure, heavy impact, forklift traffic, or compliance requirements that a sealer alone can't meet.
DTI will tell you which one your floor actually needs. If a sealer is the right answer, we'll spec a sealer. If you need a full coating system, we'll say so before any work starts.
Sealer performance is almost entirely determined by surface prep. A sealer applied to a contaminated, uneven, or structurally compromised slab will fail prematurely — regardless of product quality.
DTI's standard process for sealed concrete:
Substrate assessment
Evaluate concrete condition, existing coatings, contamination, and moisture vapor emission.
Mechanical preparation
Shot blasting or diamond grinding to open the concrete pore structure and achieve the correct surface profile.
Crack and joint repair
Fill active cracks and deteriorated joints before sealing. Learn about our repair systems →
Sealer application
Product selected to match substrate condition, environment, and performance spec.
Return to service
Most systems are ready for foot traffic within 2–4 hours, vehicle traffic within 24 hours.
High-bay concrete floors seal well with penetrating densifiers — no film to peel or delaminate under forklift traffic, and the densified surface resists dusting that contaminates inventory and HVAC systems.
Polished and sealed concrete is a standard finish in retail environments. DTI seals polished concrete floors with penetrating guards that protect the surface without adding sheen variation or a plastic appearance.
Chloride intrusion from de-icing salts is the primary cause of long-term concrete deterioration in parking structures. Silane/siloxane penetrating sealers significantly reduce chloride penetration without affecting the surface texture required for vehicle traction.
Concrete in kitchen environments requires a sealer that can withstand daily chemical cleaning and thermal cycling. DTI specifies topical sealers and thin-film polyaspartic coatings for food service support areas where a full urethane cement system isn't required.
Driveways, plazas, loading docks, and exterior slabs benefit from penetrating sealers that repel water and prevent freeze-thaw damage without creating a slip hazard.