Water Based

Water Based Sealer Australia: Low-VOC, Low-Odour Concrete Sealers

A water-based concrete sealer uses water instead of solvent to carry the sealing resin. It's low-VOC, low-odour and easy to clean up, while still protecting concrete, pavers and decorative surfaces across Australia. Finishes range from natural  high-gloss to a "wet-look," making it a solid choice when odour, indoor use or easy application matter.

This guide covers how water-based sealers work, how they compare to solvent-based options, how to choose your finish, and our water-based range, including tinting and colour-enhancement options.

What is a water-based concrete sealer?

"Water-based" refers to the carrier, the liquid that delivers the resin into or onto the concrete. Because that carrier is water rather than solvent, these sealers have very little odour, release fewer VOCs, and clean up with water while still wet.

They also cause less colour change than solvent products, let the surface breathe, and many are UV-stable. That makes them well suited to interior floors, coloured and decorative concrete, and jobs where low odour is essential.

(Wondering whether you actually need a below-the-surface product? Our penetrating sealers page explains how invisible, non-film-forming protection works.)

Water-based vs solvent-based, which should you choose?

This is the core decision for most buyers, and it comes down to the carrier:

• Water-based: low odour, low-VOC, easy water clean-up, gentler on existing colour, and comfortable to use indoors or in enclosed spaces.
• Solvent-based: tends to drive deeper into dense or older concrete and delivers a glossier, richer "wet-look", which many people prefer outdoors, but it carries a stronger odour and needs good ventilation.

If a rich, high-gloss finish outdoors is the priority, compare our solvent-based sealers. If low odour and easy handling win the day, stay here.

Choose your finish, natural/matte or wet-look and high-gloss

Water-based doesn't mean one look. The finish is a separate choice from the carrier: a natural/matte finish keeps the concrete looking close to bare, while a wet-look or high-gloss finish deepens the colour and adds sheen. Decide the finish by the effect you want, then match it to the surface and traffic.

Tinting and colour enhancement

Alongside our clear sealers, we stock a Water Based Sealer Tinter and colour-base products, such as our I-Chem High Gloss colour base, that let you add tone or enhance the concrete's natural colour as you seal it. It's a genuinely useful option most suppliers don't offer off the shelf, and a simple way to lift tired concrete or unify a decorative finish without a separate coating step. Ask our team which tint suits your surface and the finish you're after.

Where to use water-based sealers

Water-based sealers suit a wide spread of surfaces, including:

• Driveways, paths and patios
• Exposed aggregate
• Garage and factory floors
• Coloured and decorative concrete
• Slate and limestone pavers
• Interior floors where low odour matters

For porous stone and pavers in particular, they're an easy, low-fuss way to add protection.

Our water-based sealer range

Our range includes the I-Chem Water Based Sealer Wet Look, the I-Chem High Gloss colour base, and the Water Based Sealer Tinter for colour enhancement. Rather than list every size and variant here, browse the live water-based sealer range for current products, pack sizes and pricing, or call us for a recommendation for your surface.

Coverage, application and drying

As a guide, many water-based sealers cover around 4-6 m² per litre per coat. Always confirm the exact spread rate on the product's Technical Data Sheet, since it changes with porosity and finish.

Most jobs take two thin, even coats, applied by sprayer, roller or brush, with a drying window between coats. New concrete should be left to cure, around 28 days, before you seal it.

How long does a water-based sealer last?

Water-based acrylic sealers typically last a few years before they need attention, depending on traffic, exposure and the finish you chose. The good news is that re-coating is straightforward - a clean surface and a fresh coat restores the protection. Your product's data sheet gives the recommended re-coat interval.

Technical Data Sheets and SDS

Every product we supply has a Technical Data Sheet (coverage, coats, drying) and a Safety Data Sheet, ask our team or find them with the product so you can plan the job properly.

About Australian Slate-Crete Supplies

Customers rate our service 4.8 out of 5 across 54 reviews, and it's the guidance behind that rating that keeps people coming back. We've been a family-owned Australian supplier since 1994, growing to over 200,000 orders without losing the counter conversation, so if you're unsure about a colour, a finish or how many litres you need, just ask.

You'll find the full range at our Epping showroom, open Monday to Saturday.

Buy online or visit our Epping showroom

Prefer low odour and easy clean-up? Browse the water-based sealer range and its tinting options, then order for delivery anywhere in Australia or collect in Epping. Questions about colour or finish? Our trade team is on 03 9408 7722. For invisible, no-film protection instead, see our water-based penetrating sealers.