McKinnon Materials McKinnon Concrete Sealer, Paver Sealer 5 Gallon, Penetrating Semi Gloss Wet Look, Outdoor/Indoor, Concrete, Brick, Natural Stone, Limestone, Rock, Cement, Flagstone, Stucco, Pool Decks

What this sealer is and where it shines

The McKinnon sealer is a water‑based, modified acrylic that penetrates porous masonry and lays down a thin protective film. It’s designed for a wide range of surfaces—concrete, pavers, natural stone, limestone, flagstone, brick, stucco, and pool decks—and promises a semi‑gloss, wet‑look finish that dries clear. In practice, it behaves exactly like a professional water‑based acrylic should: low odor, easy cleanup, and forgiving to apply with a pump sprayer or roller.

It’s best on porous, textured surfaces. On pavers, exposed aggregate, and flagstone, it wakes up muted color and provides a healthy, even sheen without looking plasticky. On dense or very smooth concrete, you’ll get a subtler gloss and you’ll need to be more careful with prep and application to avoid unevenness.

What I sealed and why

To get a fair read, I used it on four common scenarios:

• A sun‑baked paver patio that had gone chalky and flat
• An exposed aggregate driveway that needed color enhancement but not a slippery high gloss
• A broom‑finished concrete porch
• Light‑colored limestone coping around a pool

This range let me see how it handles different porosities and colors, plus how it behaves around water.

Application experience

Prep matters. I pressure‑washed and allowed full dry‑down (48 hours for the patio and driveway, longer for the shaded porch) and removed efflorescence where needed. The product looks like watered‑down milk in the pail—normal for water‑based acrylics—and dries clear. I mixed thoroughly with a drill paddle to re‑suspend solids and poured into an electric pump sprayer with a fan tip. For critical areas, I back‑rolled lightly with a 3/8" microfiber roller to even out the film and prevent puddling.

• Coverage: Expect roughly 200–300 sq ft per gallon per coat on porous pavers/stone and up to 300–400 on denser concrete. In a 5‑gallon pail, that’s easily a two‑coat system for a typical two‑car driveway.
• Dry time: Tack‑free within an hour in mild conditions, walkable in a few hours, and clear within about eight hours. I kept vehicles off the driveway for 24–48 hours.
• Odor/VOCs: Minimal. This is comfortable to use indoors with ventilation.
• Cleanup: Soap and water. I flushed the sprayer twice and it was good to go.

A few practical tips from the process:
- Apply in the cool part of the day; hot sun can flash the water off too quickly and leave lap marks.
- Two thin coats beat one heavy coat, especially on concrete. Heavy coats can haze.
- Back‑roll any areas that look shiny while wet—those are often the spots that dry unevenly.

Finish and appearance

• Paver patio: The standout result. Color popped nicely, joints tightened a bit, and the semi‑gloss looked clean without crossing into high‑gloss territory. It’s a “revived” look rather than a drenched one.
• Exposed aggregate driveway: Excellent. The matrix tone deepened slightly and the stones gained a uniform sheen visible from the street but not overly reflective. Two thin coats yielded a solid semi‑gloss.
• Broom‑finished concrete porch: More nuanced. After the first coat, I saw a couple of areas with a faint whitish cast at certain angles—classic moisture entrapment or over‑application on a denser slab. A second, very thin coat and a full dry cycle evened it out, but it reinforced that dense slabs demand lighter passes and extra drying time.
• Limestone pool coping: Subtle enhancement, mostly a softening of the chalky look with a light satin‑to‑semi sheen. No yellowing, no dark blotches, and it didn’t make the stone look sealed in plastic. Around water, the lower gloss is a feature—not a bug.

If you’re expecting a high‑gloss “wet-as-if-just-rained” look, this isn’t that. It’s a true semi‑gloss with a wet‑look lift that’s more noticeable on darker and more porous surfaces. On plain gray concrete, it reads as a medium sheen.

Water and weather performance

Once cured, water beads confidently on pavers and aggregate. On the concrete porch, it beaded but transitioned to sheeting faster, which mirrors the finish difference. After a few storm cycles and some pressure from a hose, I didn’t see whitening or lifting on the patio or driveway.

UV stability looks good so far; no ambering. The coating is breathable enough that I didn’t get trapped moisture issues on the paver field, which is usually the first place that shows trouble. As with all acrylics, longevity is tied to exposure and use:
- Low‑traffic verticals and shaded areas could see multiple years between recoat cycles.
- High‑sun, high‑traffic horizontals (driveways, pool decks) will likely want attention in the 2–3 year range, with a maintenance coat instead of a full strip.

The brand’s “won’t peel or crack” claim aligns with my experience when applied correctly and thin. Peeling with water‑based acrylics almost always traces back to moisture, incompatible previous sealers (especially solvent‑based), or heavy coats that skin over.

Traction and safety

On the pool deck and the porch, dry traction remained good. When wet, the semi‑gloss film is less slick than a high‑gloss solvent acrylic but still smoother than unsealed mineral surfaces. If you’re sealing stairs, ramps, or a pool surround, consider mixing in a fine non‑skid additive on the final coat. It blends into the film without clouding and noticeably improves grip.

Compatibility and caveats

• Previous sealers: This plays well over water‑based sealers but not over solvent‑based acrylics without stripping. If you’re not sure what’s down, do a solvent test or try a small patch.
• Concrete variability: Dense, machine‑troweled, or previously hardened slabs can accept product unevenly. Thin coats and back‑rolling are your friends here.
• Efflorescence: Remove it before sealing. Trapping salts under a clear film is a recipe for cloudiness.
• Joint stabilization: This is not a polymeric joint stabilizer. It tightens things a touch but isn’t meant to lock sand.

Maintenance

Routine cleaning with a pH‑neutral cleaner and a soft brush keeps the surface looking fresh. Avoid harsh degreasers and strong acids that will etch the film. When the sheen begins to fade or water stops beading, a light clean and a single maintenance coat revives it without buildup—one of the advantages of water‑based systems.

Value

In a 5‑gallon bucket, the cost per square foot is competitive, especially if you’re covering a driveway, patio, and walkway in one go. The low odor, water cleanup, and forgiving application reduce project time and equipment hassle. The tradeoff is that you’re getting a professional semi‑gloss, not a showroom high gloss, which for outdoor surfaces is often preferable.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners and pros wanting a breathable, easy‑to‑use sealer that enhances color and adds a durable semi‑gloss to pavers, stone, and aggregate.
• Projects where low odor and indoor‑safe application matters.
• Pool decks and entries where a high‑gloss look would be too slick or flashy.

Who should look elsewhere:
- If you want a mirror‑like high gloss or a dramatic “wet look,” you’ll want a different chemistry or a solvent‑based high‑build film (accepting the odor and slipperiness tradeoffs).
- If your surface is already sealed with a solvent acrylic and you don’t plan to strip it.

Tips to get the best result

• Clean thoroughly and allow full dry time—moisture in the substrate is the most common cause of haze.
• Mix well; the milky appearance in the pail is normal. It dries clear.
• Spray thin and back‑roll to even out absorption, especially on concrete.
• Work in shade or cooler hours to avoid hot‑surface flash.
• Test a small area first, particularly on light stones and dense concrete.

Recommendation

I recommend the McKinnon sealer for pavers, exposed aggregate, natural stone, and most broom‑finished concrete where a professional, semi‑gloss enhancement is the goal. It’s easy to apply, low odor, dries clear, and delivers a durable, clean sheen without making surfaces look like they’re shrink‑wrapped. Be realistic about the gloss level—it’s intentionally not a high‑gloss product—and be diligent with prep and thin coats, especially on dense slabs. If you’re after a subtle wet look with straightforward application and maintenance, this is a smart buy. If you want a glassy, high‑build finish, choose a different category.