Foundation ArmorArmor AR500 High Gloss Wet Look Concrete Sealer 5 Gallon - Professional Grade Color Enhancing Solvent Based Acrylic Sealer for Exterior Concrete and Pavers - 700 VOC

I spent a lot of time researching what sealer to use on my 2008 stamped patio. I paid to have it sealed a few times in the past, only to have it fade out and get a white haze on it. I was nervous about doing it myself, but after reading tons of reviews (many were helpful), I finally purchased this sealer. I was torn between this one and the AR350, but I really wanted that "wet" look, so I purchased the AR500. My patio had not been sealed for over 2 years. It had faded and looked as dry as a clay flower pot. There were black spots where the water had sat each time it rained. I spent a lot of time prepping the patio and trimming in the grooves. The ONE BIG lesson I learned was next time, I'm going to invest in a metal canister sprayer and have my fiancé back roll it after I spray. It took WAY too much time to trim in the grooves. The roller I used was 5/8". If I'd used 1", not sure that would have made a difference. Also, the other very helpful tip someone mentioned was when you pour out of the can, to have the open part closest to your hand, instead of to the pan you're pouring into. I didn't understand that at first, but it kept any sealer from dripping on the lid. The fumes are very strong, so I recommend to close your windows while using the sealer and for a day once it's drying. I wish I'd taken a picture, but the box it arrived in, made it VERY easy for me to carry. It had a hand cut out on each side - one side toward the front, the other toward the back. I was worried about how heavy it might be, but I was able to carry it to the back yard. Supplies used - small hand brush, large push broom, 9" roller with 5/8" nap with long pole, 3 or 4" paint brush and an paint tray with disposable liners. Here are the steps I did to make it successful:1. Cleaned patio with Dawn dish soap and water. Bought a hand held brush and used a push broom with a bucket & hose. I didn't want to power wash it as I was afraid it might get damaged due to the age.2. Used a leaf blower to get rid of excess water and let it dry for a couple days. Since it was so porous, I figured the water was still down in the concrete.3. Started sealing - first trimmed the area I was doing with the paint brush - against the foundation and in between the grooves. Rolling it on only, it was not getting down in the grooves or against the foundation.4. Let it dry for a few days and returned the furniture to the patio.5. After a few weeks, it started to fade/turn white in spots. I also had some bubbles in the sealer. I was discouraged, so I messaged Foundation Armor and shared pics. They said it should be fine once I do the second coat. I probably should have used some xylene on it to remove the bubbles, but didn't.6. About 2.5 months later (due to my schedule and weather) put on a 2nd coat with roller and didn't use the paint brush as much to trim. (I did use the hose again to rinse off any pollen, etc and let dry a few days before sealing)7. Waited about another week, and saw a few spots that still looked lite due to the highs/lows of the patio. This time used the paint brush and touched up the patio by hand. Bubbles were still in the areas where I put it on probably a little thick. The 2nd coat and touch up coat, didn't really remove too many of them.8. Waited a few more days and placed patio furniture back. And I'm DONE! lolI'm very pleased with how it turned out. A stamped patio is an investment in itself, so it's important to also keep it sealed properly. I will probably put one more coat on in the Spring as I have a gallon or so left in the can. The instructions say it will keep for a year. For reference, my patio is 20' x 25' and I purchased the 5 gallon bucket.I hope this review helps anyone who might be on the fence about purchasing this sealer. I highly recommend. The only reason I gave it 4 stars for durability and ease of use, is because I'm not sure how it will look a year from now and it was a little challenging to use the product, but well worth it!!Good luck and you'll be happy when you're done! Enjoy the pics and a few of my doggie!

I researched various water based sealants and solvent based sealants for 2-year aged concrete pavers surrounding a pool enclosure. After trying several samples, I chose Foundation Armor AR500 because it provided excellent water repelling properties and also helped to restore the natural color of my concrete pavers to almost what they looked like when they were new. I started with a 1 gallon jug of Foundation Armor AR500 to gauge how to apply it and coverage, and found that a foam roller worked pretty good by dipping it into a container and rolling the product directly onto the pavers. The one gallon size is a bit spendy, but the 5 gallon size is more affordable for large areas. Overall I used two 5 gallon pails and the 1 gallon jug to cover approximately 1500 square feet with 2 coats of Foundation Armor 500. I applied the product 48 hours apart in the late afternoon as the sun was setting and no chance of rain. The first coat looked pretty good, but the second coat really made the paver color standout. The VOC is a bit strong, but I used the AR500 outdoors with a fan to direct the VOC smell away from me. Time will tell how well the product holds up, but for now I would use this product again and would recommend it to others.

Great product, rolls on easy and brings out the color in the stamped concrete. I put on three coats this time...hoping it will hold up for at least 2 years. The sun here is brutal.

Live in Colorado so we could only get the VOC-50. They’re not lying when they say “apply fast and in small sections” this stuff dries SO FAST and if you’re not careful, it turns sticky QUICK! This is the second time using the product. Used it last year and only did one coat and it didn’t last very long at all. Applied two coats this year, followed the directions to a tee! It’s been a month and it looks good so far. Will see how long it lasts.

great quality easy to apply and deep glossy look dried quickly. will use again