Will Concrete Sealer Work On Wood?

Concrete sealer is a great product for protecting concrete from the elements and extending its useful life. Wood sealer protects wood and extends its life. The question is- are these interchangeable products? They are different from each other, but could concrete sealer be used on wood to protect it? In this article, we will break down the differences between the two products and why concrete sealer is not an ideal option for wood protection.

Concrete Sealer On A Deck

Concrete sealers are designed for porous materials such as concrete and bricks. Concrete sealers work by getting into the pores on concrete and filling them to prevent water intrusion, as freezing and thawing water within the concrete can cause cracking and splintering with time. 

Wood behaves differently than concrete. Wood expands and contracts with the seasons and weather. Warm, humid weather makes wood expand, and colder, drier weather makes wood contract. 

Concrete sealer creates a hard and impermeable layer on concrete. As wood is a natural material that can expand, this sealer will likely not be effective as it is not designed to work with expansion and contraction.

Concrete, unlike wood, does not need to breathe. Wood can build up water after heavy rain or high humidity and would like to reach equilibrium with the outside environment. As the weather gets drier, the wood will lose that moisture and dry out. The concrete sealer will prevent wood from losing water that is trapped inside. If concrete sealer was applied to wood after a wet period, the sealer would trap the moisture inside of the wood and could prematurely cause wood to rot. 

Lastly, concrete sealer won’t correctly stick to a wood surface. Adhesion will be an issue as wood has a totally different composition and texture to concrete. Concrete sealer would likely not stay on the surface of wood very long.

Instead of a concrete sealer, use a wood sealer. There are plenty of types as well as colors, from natural oils, to water-based stains, from clear to solid. If you’re curious, read more about the different types of deck stains.