A slate sealer is a solvent-based or water-based solution. It is a protective layer between external dirt, stain, liquid, and the slate’s surface.
These resins and polymers work by penetrating the surface of these slates and forming barriers against all contaminants.
The water-based or solid-based solvent that transports the resins from the sealer to the surface allows for easy usage and maximum surface penetration to its cores. These solvents evaporate over time, and only the resin is left behind.
You must use a slate sealer because of the plentiful benefits and zero regrets you will get from it. If you use natural slates like marble and travertine or an encaustic slate that is not sealed, getting a sealer is essential.
It will help protect the surface’s finishes and prevent stains from affecting it.
This ensures easy maintenance and a longer lifespan, plus worthwhile durability. Also, the color of your surface in enhanced and more hygienic wet areas is assured.
If you are confused about which slate sealant would be best, I’ve some top-rated suggestions below.
Related Guide: Top 10 Best Quartzite Sealers in 2022
Quick Comparison: Best Slate Sealers
Top 10 Best Slate Sealer Reviews:
1. Foundation Armor Matte Wet Look Slate Sealer
Highlighted Features:
- Manufactured by Foundation Armor brand
- It comes in 5 gallons
- Solvent-based
This sealer for slate is a matte wet look enhancer and is compatible with concrete, slate, brick, stone, and pavers. It is also a water repellant color enhancer.
This water-repellant feature helps it to decrease any damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles and absorption of water.
Armor WL550 slate tile sealer lasts up to a period of three to five years before you can start thinking of another reseal. For places with low traffic, it can be more than five years.
This matte finish slate sealer works by penetrating deep into the substrate. Once it reaches the substrate, it reacts chemically, forming a hydrophobic barrier inside the pores.
This action helps lessen the water absorption on the surface to improve all faded and dull colors.
Avoid using a roller in applying this product. Instead, use an acetone/solvent-resistant HVLP sprayer pump. This enables you to achieve the best result.
This slate tiled sealer is solvent-based and can pass for an excellent outdoor slate sealer. If your pavers are dull and faded, Armor slate tile Sealers will transform them by bringing out the natural characteristics of your pavers.
This is done without leaving a slippery surface behind. This sealer is also a good sealer for the slate patio. It works by giving a “darkening” color enhancement, making the slate look wet.
Pros:
- This outdoor sealer is water repellent
- Induces the future growth of moss and mold
- No surface film
- Highly breathability of this outdoor sealer
- UV resistant
Cons:
- It cannot be applied with a roller
- It can be applied only around early evening (5 pm or later)
2. DOMINATOR Color Enhancing Acrylic Sealer for Slate Floor
Highlighted Features:
- Made up of Acrylic material
- Milky white liquid in color
- 1-gallon size
- Dimensions of 10.83 x 7.48 x 4.53 inches
- Item weight of 8.56 pounds
Dominator slate sealer helps your slate surface achieve a clean, satin finish and wet look. This high gloss sealer is highly compatible with materials like travertine, outdoor stones, faux stones, and clay pavers.
It does not only work to enhance the finish looks of your concrete slate also helps to improve and increase the longevity of your slate.
This high gloss sealer performs a color enhancement and UV protection feature. It is water-based and stain-resistant as well.
Dominator slate tile sealer works best as both indoor and outdoor sealer. It gives a satin finish and dries up fast: this makes it highly user-friendly.
If you search for a breathable exterior slate sealer that can effectively protect your slate surface from spills and other oil stains, a Dominator slate stone sealer is your best bet.
It doesn’t only protect against contaminants. It also lows a slip feature and a weather protection feature.
The excellent coverage rate and the value you get compared to the amount you invest in this product make it a top-notch product.
Pros:
- The high breathability of the slate stone sealer
- This high gloss sealer has a Low V.O.C(Volatile Organic Compound)
- No harsh odor of this outdoor sealer
- The product comes with “how-to videos” and a quick start guide
- Water-resistant
Cons:
- Not suitable temperature below 50°c 48 hours before and after application
- It is a film-forming sealer
3. Miracle Sealants 511 Porous Plus Slate Sealer
Highlighted Features:
- One quart in size
- Clear color
- Miracle sale brand
- Dimensions of 5.2 x 5.2 x 2.3 inches
511 porous plus Slate flooring sealant is compatible with surfaces like sandstone, sanded grout, limestone, flagstone, terra cotta, and limestone.
This slate stone sealer helps to protect all these surfaces against slippage, water, and stains. Just like most other concrete sealers, it is a good choice as both indoor and exterior slate sealers.
Stones, bricks, and tiles are porous. This implies that they have tiny ridges and holes present on their surfaces. The presence of these ridges is responsible for the tendency of these surfaces to retain moisture.
This moisture retaining capacity leads to the surface’s damage and the difficulty In removing stains.
Using a slate flooring sealant helps to seal off these pores and form a protective barrier as well.
It is cost-effective and offers slip-resistant features. It is vital that you thoroughly clean the concrete surface before introducing the 511 porous sealers and enhancers.
Also, ensure that the surface is very dry before applying this slate sealer. After using the topnotch product, the surfaces become less slippery and more challenging.
Pros:
- This outdoor sealer is Straightforward to use
- Topnotch longevity
- Water-resistant
- Does not turn yellow
- Safe to be used in places of food preparation
Cons:
- Based on verified purchase, turns white marble to light grey
- Better suited for only porous surfaces
4. Aqua Mix 32 Ounce Sealer for Slate
Highlighted Features:
- Clear color
- Item weight of 2 pounds
- Dimensions of 5.5 x 2.5 x 7.8 inches
- No Sheen
This no-sheen, penetrating, and natural look sealer for slate tiles consists of water-based formulas. One unique feature of this product is, it can be used as a pre-grouting sealer.
It is highly compatible with masonry, granite, cent, limestone, saltillo, marble, porcelain, travertine, and slate surfaces.
Aqua mix sealer for slate tile preserves acting as a stain protectant while maintaining the natural stone. This excellent product is from the Aqua Mix brand, and its principal constituent is water.
It is a world bestseller, and once purchased, you can be sure that you get the value for your money.
This sealer offers moisture vapor transmission. This makes it suitable for use as a grout sealer and pre-sealer.
According to the manufacturers, Aqua mix slate sealer for shower and other tile products can last up to fifteen years if well taken care of.
This sealer does not require any other products to work with. So you do not have to make any other extra purchases.
Pros:
- Suitable for use in food prep areas
- Topnotch longevity
- This outdoor slate sealer is easy to use
- Suitable as both interior and exterior sealer
- No darkening effect of this sealer
Cons:
- Strictly suitable for porous surfaces only
- Based on a verified purchase, blotchy white spot residue was left after usage on grout
5. Miracle Sealants 511GAL4 Impregnator Sealer for Slate
Highlighted Features:
- Item dimensions of 4.25 x 7 x 11.5 inches
- Clear color
- Item weight of 0.95 Pounds
This slate sealer and enhancer are from the Miracle Sealant brand. It is an excellent interior and exterior sealer.
511 impregnate sealer is highly compatible with various surfaces like terrazzo, sanded grout, granite, ceramic tile, slate, porcelain, marble, glazed tile, travertine, and stucco surfaces.
They work by protecting these surfaces against contaminants, stains, slippage, and water.
This top-notch sealer for showers and other residential locations has an oil formula resistant to water. Its water resistance feature results from the invisible barrier protection formed by the slate sealer and enhancer.
With each gallon of the 511 impregnating sealers, you can cover up to four thousand square feet per gallon.
Compared to oil formulated sealer for slate patio, it has superior UV resistant coverage. This ensures the maximum protection of the sealer for outdoor space tile against contaminants and stains.
They can be used everywhere, including food preparation areas. Durability and longevity are assured when you buy this product.
Pros:
- Water Resistant, slip-resistant and weather-resistant
- This sealer for the shower is UV transparent
- Cost-effective
- Doesn’t turn yellowish
- Easy application
Cons:
- Flammability
- Better suited for porous surfaces
6. StoneTech 3.785L High Gloss Finishing Slate Sealer for Natural Stone
Highlighted Features:
- High shinning effect of the slate stone sealer
- Clear in color
- Water-based formula
- Interior use
- Item weight of 9.13 pounds
The two-in-one formulas possessed by this high gloss slate sealed make it have a high sheen and maximally protect stains as well. Its water-based formulas make it great for indoor use.
Stone tech high gloss slate sealer not only protects your slate; it also leaves behind a brilliant shine and a more profound color effect.
The high coverage rate is another reason this indoor and outdoor slate tile is highly demanded. It can cover up to 300 Square feet per gallon.
Stone tech high gloss sealer is highly recommended for surfaces like flagstone, slate, sandstone, textured limestone, bluestone, textured travertine, bluestone, and saltillo stone. This globally renowned high gloss slate sealer protects against both oil-based and water-based stains.
If you are high on getting a high shine surface finish for your interior space, this is your medicine right here.
The manufacturers of stone tech high gloss slate speakers recommend doing a patch test on a small insignificant area first. This is to check which application method will be the best before using it all over your interior surface.
This is also to ensure that you get your desired result and ultimate satisfaction. Also, ensure that you keep kids and pets away from the treated area until the surface is dry enough to accommodate them.
Pros:
- This slate stone sealer has a Two in one formula
- This sealer for the shower has a Great coverage
- Easy to use
- High sheen and an aesthetically pleasing finish
- Cost-effective
Cons:
- Temperature and weather dependent
- It is not a penetration sealer
7. Black Diamond Natural Stone Penetrating Sealer for Slate Floors
Highlighted Features:
- Manufactured by Black Diamond Stoneworks
- Item weight of 32 ounces
- Dimensions of 4.5 x 2.5 x 9 inches
- Size of 1 quart
One fantastic feature to note about this sealer for outdoor slate tile is its superior coverage capacity. You can cover up to a thousand square feet per quart.
Nex-Gen flooring sealant was specially formulated and manufactured for porous surfaces, and it functions by penetrating these surfaces.
Surface recommendations for this product include floors and tiles, and they are highly compatible with concrete, marble, and stone.
This product is non-toxic and water-based. It protects your surface against germs, oil, ink, coffee, grease, wine, and food. It is water repellent easy to clean, use and remove.
You do not have to worry about getting a slippery surface film because this sealer for the slate patio works entirely below the surface.
Another great feature of this slate flooring sealant is that it doesn’t allow the growth of microorganisms.
When the sealer for the slate patio is being introduced on any surface, it reduces and induces future moss and mold growth. The growth of molds and moss works to reduce the lifespan and durability of the sealer for slate tile.
Pros:
- This sealer for outdoor slate tile has a Low odor
- This slate sealer for the shower is Non-toxic
- Non-corrosive impregnator
- Suitable for interior and exterior uses
- Safe to be used around food prep areas
Cons:
- This sealer lasts for a year only
- It needs more coats of sealer for visible results
8. Glaze ‘N Seal 773 Clear Slate Sealer
Highlighted Features:
- Item weight of 8.2 pounds
- Dimensions of 11.6 x 5.8 x 5.8 inches
- This sealer for outdoor slate tile is made of Acrylic Materials
- Waterbase
This Glaze ‘N slate Sealer helps you to beautify and protect your surfaces. The surfaces it is compatible with include organic stains like beverages, cooking, and grease.
It is highly suitable for indoor, outdoor, residential and commercial buildings. Glaze N Seal has a low amount of Volatile Organic Compounds, and they are best suited for bricks and denser stones.
To properly introduce your sealer, It would help if you had an applicator and a clean surface while applying your sealer and enhancer.
It would also be best to have a sponge pad, a soft hatred paintbrush, or a mini paint roller. For natural slates, the paint roller is the best option for a slate sealer applicator.
Finally, use a spotless paper towel or cotton rag that also is used to wipe away all excess solutions that wouldn’t be absorbed into your slates.
If you do not want a high sheen or too glossy a finish, this product is the best recommendation for you.
Pros:
- This sealer for outdoor slate tile is UV resistant
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
- This sealer for the shower has Low VOC formulas
- An easy to apply a sealer for floors
- Protects against organic stains
Cons:
- Film-forming
- High cost based on verified purchase
9. Amy Howard Home Clean Slate Sealer for Refinishing & Restoration
Highlighted Features:
- This sealer for slate floors is in the form of wipes
- 1.0 unit Count
- Item weight of 2 pounds
- The product dimension of 9 x 4 x 9 inches
If you want to achieve a sealing task, but time is not on your side, this product is your best bet. It is a compulsory DIY tool that can take your surface project from zero to a hundred.
It helps to restore the surface of your slate sealer and enhancer into a more aesthetically pleasing slate. With no stress and a little time spent, you have your slate tile looking as good as ever.
One exciting feature of these slate floor tiles is that you do not have to sand or use a chemical stripe-like most sealing projects.
In addition, this product doesn’t only seal; it also cleans a two-in-one formula! You get a more thorough cleaning than what soap and water will do.
Dirt, oil, and other small particles on the furniture that you can’t see are what this special solvent helps you to eliminate. You do not need to purchase a degreaser again because it cannot remove wax.
To use, all you need to do is introduce the product on a lint-free rag. Once you have introduced your desired amount into this rag, then wipe down the surface until you get the result you desire. This is how easy the usage is.
Pros:
- This slate floor sealer is straightforward to use
- Time-saving
- No sanding or stripping
- No technicalities required
- Multifunctional
Cons:
- Strong smell
- Best suited for residential settings only
10. Real Milk 4oz Paint Sealer for Slate, Concrete, Granite, Countertops
Highlighted Features:
- Item weight of 4 ounces
- Made up of T-1 carnauba wax and walnut oil only
- Clear color
- Low luster finish
Real milk paint slate sealer is formulated from plant-based ingredients with no artificial fragrances.
Since it was formulated with pure ingredients of carnauba wax and walnut oil, it is safe in cases of food contact. This also makes it suitable for use on countertops and kitchen areas.
Due to the properties of walnut oil, you can get long-lasting protection from water. Walnut oil does not need to be reapplied often like mineral oil since it does and cures with oxygen.
This drying nature makes it a drying out that cannot go rancid like mineral oil and none drying other types of oils used in sealers.
This offers a protective barrier for your slate surfaces and also ensures that the color of your countertop is retained.
Another exciting feature of this sealer is that it is vegan-friendly. All manufacturing products are plant-based ingredients, making them stand out from most other slate sealer products.
Pros:
- This sealer for slate floors Acts as a sealer and wood wax
- No VOCs
- Safe for food contact
- Ideal for use in food prep areas
- Made from plant-based ingredients
Cons:
- Suitable for interior use only
- Usage of this sealer in the interior setting is streamlined to kitchen and countertops only.
Things to Consider Before Buying Slate Sealer:
1. Type of Sealer
The type of sealer to buy depends on the project you are working on. The varying property of each type is dependent on the types of material put together during its manufacturing.
Here are the four types of sealers and what they are excellent at working for:
Acrylics
Acrylics are perfect for preserving and enhancing the look of decorative slate. One significant property of acrylic sealers is that they dry faster than other slate sealers.
This makes them the perfect fit for tight deadlines of commercial projects.
Polyurethanes and Urethanes
If your project is a place that attracts high traffic, Urethanes and polyurethanes is the best option for you. They are resistant to abrasion, UV radiation, discoloration, heat, spills, and water damage.
They are best suited for commercial buildings and specific residential buildings with high traffic.
Epoxies
These sealers can also handle the heavy traffic of most commercial buildings, only limited to interior locations.
Compared to other types of sealers that can allow for use as both interior and exterior slate sealers, this is different.
Penetrating Sealers
If you desire a matte finish for your project: this is your medicine right here. Asides from desiring to achieve matte finish both interior and exterior sealer penetrating sealers are best suited for exterior projects as an exterior slate sealer.
2. Maintenance
You should check-in for the maintenance instructions of any sealer products by the manufacturers before going ahead to buy one. They might exceed conditions you might not be able to handle.
All maintenance instructions depend on the instructions from the manufacturers.
Asides from the instructions from the manufacturers, the area of exposure is also vital to determine maintenance options.
It is essential to follow these instructions, so endure you get one whose manufacturer’s instructions suit you and something possible to fulfill.
3. Compatibility
When your slate surface and sealer product are not compatible, it can give rise to the sealer’s color bleed and bubble formation caused by a lack of adhesion.
This ends up reducing the lifespan of the slate floor. If your slate space is a well-exploded place with heavy traffic and your sealer cannot accommodate such traffic, this implies that they are not compatible.
Hence, giving rise to a shorter life span. A general rule of thumb is to check or consult a commercial painter to recommend sealer products compatible with your slate floor.
4. Quality
The best way to check the quality of a sealer is by determining the price. You can also check gue constituent ingredients used to manufacture it.
5. Solvent-Based Sealers
For interior projects, water-based solvents are highly recommended. Going for solvent-based products is not advisable because they emit toxic chemicals and VOCs that can affect the health of humans.
Water-based solvents do not only have low VOCs, but they also possess an all-around, top-notch performance profile.
6. Expectations
Before buying any slate sealer, always consider the result you expect from the sealer. This is because every sealer has a unique and different purpose it serves, affecting the result.
7. Location
You must consider whether your slate will be used in an interior or exterior setting. Also, consider whether it will be used in a commercial setting or a residential setting.
8. Nature of Time Sealer
As a general rule of thumb, it is advisable to apply a wet look slate sealer on a wall slate and a natural look slate on a floor slate. This is borne from the different functionalities of each style of sealer.
9. Price
Most time, the cheapest ones aren’t always of high quality. We recommend you invest in getting a quality sealer regardless of the price.
10. VOCs
VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds that can negatively affect your project. It is therefore advisable for you to go for sealer products that contain a low level of VOCs.
How to Apply Slate Sealer?
Step 1: Thorough Cleaning and Sanitation
Before kick-starting any job, always ensure that the slates to be worked on are completely dry and free of other contaminants like dust, dirt, and debris.
It is necessary to do so because if you do not, these contaminants can be trapped under the surface of the sealant.
This leads to low standard work done and shortening the lifespan of the surface of the slate.
Step 2: Applying the Sealer
Start applying the appropriate slate cleaner and sealer on the surface using the applicator you have decided to go for. Note that you have to do this in just one direction.
Going in one direction enables you to eliminate all build-ups and smudge marks of the product.
Ensure you apply the sealer generously and cover 100% of the surface. A thin layer must be sitting on the slate surface you are working on.
Step 3: Sitting the sealant on the surface
Once done with the second step above, ensure that the sealant used sits on the slate surface for nothing less than five minutes. Look to check any error and see whether you have correctly applied it.
If it has been done in the right way, go ahead and use a neat rag to buff away any other excess sealant remaining on the slates.
Step 4: Reapplying the Sealer
If what you are sealing is a natural stone, you will have to reapply an extra coat of slate sealer before Step 3 described above. This is because it has to be reapplied before a complete penetration of the slate sealant by the surface of the slate.
After applying the second coat, you must wait for two more hours and test if water can penetrate the surface of the slate. You can confirm this by checking if the water does not soak inside the slate.
If it soaks inside the slate, you must continue reapplying more extra coats until you get your desired results.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How Often Should You Seal a Slate Floor?
A general rule of thumb is to keep reapplying a slate sealer after every three to five years or follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Nonetheless, you can do it when the need arises. It only means that you can do it every time you notice the speaker is wearing out and it needs a new coat of sealer.
2. How Long Should Slate Dry Before Sealing?
A slate cleaner and sealer needs four hours to touch dry and twenty-four hours to completely dry. It is not advisable to put everything back in place until 24 hours.
Kinds of Stuff like furniture and other heavy objects should not be moved to the location until after 24hours.
If you aim to achieve a wet glossy look, you can apply another coat of sealer after the first layer dries thoroughly.
For this type, you might need to wait for two days before putting everything back in place.
3. What to Put on Slate to Make it Shiny?
To achieve a well-polished glossy look on your slate, you will need to use a topical glossy sealer.
Topical glossy sealers come in both solvent-based and water-based forms. Apart from the visually beautiful aesthetics, a glossy finish gives, a glossy sealer helps to protect your slate from moisture and stains.
Nonetheless, you have to be extremely careful while applying this sealer. This is because mistakes and scratches will be more visible on a glistening surface
4. Does Sealing Slate Make it Slippery?
Quality Sealing plates do not make your floor slippery: this is why you need to go for quality ones.
However, topical sealers might make your slate floor slippery when wet.
To ensure that the slip resistance of your sealer is topnotch, ensure you get a fully breathable, high-quality, invisible impregnating sealer. This will save you from the hazard a slippery surface or slate can cause.
Conclusion
The above guide will make it easy for you to buy a slate sealer and get the best durability. All our 10 recommended products are top-notch.
However, the Armor WL L550 sealer is the top recommendation because of its features and benefits.
This is an excellent product that reduces the future growth of mold and mosses. It is a slate cleaner and sealer, based on its constituents. This exceptional product reduces water absorption by up to 75%.
It is also highly breathable and has a UV resistance feature. All these features come together to make it an exceptional and extraordinary product.
We hope these best slate sealers reviews above will help you make the perfect selection anytime you require one for your sealing projects.