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Polyaspartic Sealers for Countertops

Sealers have been a weak point for concrete countertops from the start. Although many types of sealers have been tried none have satisfied all of the concerns. Penetrating sealers (like silicates or siliconates) don't scratch and are heat resistant, but they don't prevent stains or protect the concrete surface. Urethanes and acrylics protect against stains, but are easily damaged by hot pots and create an unnatural shiny surface. Epoxies work well but can be a little difficult to apply.

"Sealers are evolving but it's slow," said Phil Lampe, Lampe Concrete Studios. "I can't tell you how many I've tried and they don't always live up to the claims or they live up to the claims and have another flaw you hadn't thought of. It's not there yet but they are improving."

Polyaspartics could be the answer, since they resist heat so well and are impervious to strong staining agents like lemon juice or red wine. enCounter introduced enSpartic at the 2008 World of Concrete. "The cured product can take 350°F and it doesn't support bacterial growth," said Doug Bannister. "So it's a good sealer for countertops—we are offering it in high gloss, satin, or matte finishes."

Jeff Girard at the Concrete Countertops Institute has experimented with polyaspartic sealers but has not yet found one that he's completely satisfied with. "For countertops everything has to be put in context," he says. "The very fast setting characteristic is an advantage in some cases but moot in others. If it doesn't sit around being sticky for a long time dirt and other junk is less likely to fall into it, so that's an advantage. And if you are only putting two coats on and can do it in one day that's an advantage."

But Girard stresses that the appearance of a countertop is much more important than that of a floor. Customers' expectations are much higher. They want a natural concrete appearance rather than a thick shiny coating but also a surface that won't stain and is heat-resistant. "So far, I haven't seen anything that tells me polyaspartics are superior. I've run some tests and a polyaspartic did very well, although not as good as the V-Seal system* from a stain perspective. Appearance wise it is very different and that can make or break a countertop."

* The V-Seal system that Girard recommends is made by the Richard James Specialty Chemical Co. as the StoneLok line. Girard uses a three-step system that includes water-based urethane, water-based epoxy, and water-based surface conditioner. "That is what we recommend to those who are looking for very good stain resistant and also low VOCs," he said.

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