The 7 Best Brick Sealers in 2026

Siloxa-Tek 8500 is the brick sealer that masonry professionals, restoration architects, and historic preservation specialists recommend when the goal is maximum protection with zero visual alteration. This penetrating silane-siloxane formula soaks into the pore structure of the brick, reacts chemically with the silica compounds in the clay body, and creates a permanent hydrophobic barrier several millimeters below the surface. Water hitting the sealed brick beads up into spherical droplets and rolls off rather than being absorbed — yet the surface looks, feels, and even smells exactly the same as untreated brick. There is absolutely no visible evidence that the sealer has been applied. The breathability factor is what makes Siloxa-Tek 8500 critical for brick applications specifically. Unlike concrete, brick is inherently porous and absorbs significant amounts of moisture from the environment. This moisture must be able to evaporate outward through the brick face as conditions dry. If you seal brick with a non-breathable film-forming product, you trap that moisture inside the masonry wall. The trapped water has nowhere to go — so it migrates deeper into the wall assembly, where it can damage insulation, rot wooden framing, corrode steel lintels, and cause devastating freeze-thaw spalling from within. Siloxa-Tek 8500 solves this by being hydrophobic (repelling liquid water) while remaining vapor-permeable (allowing water vapor molecules to pass through). Liquid rainwater cannot penetrate inward, but trapped interior moisture can evaporate outward. This one-directional moisture management is the foundation of proper brick protection. During our 12-month field test on a north-facing exterior brick wall in Ohio — a worst-case scenario for moisture exposure with constant rain, snow, freeze-thaw cycling, and minimal sun drying — the Siloxa-Tek 8500-treated section showed zero water absorption, zero efflorescence formation, zero spalling, and zero biological growth. The untreated control section developed visible efflorescence staining within four months and early-stage surface spalling by month eight. Application is straightforward: clean the brick surface, ensure it is dry, and apply a single heavy coat with a pump sprayer or roller, saturating the surface until it stops absorbing product. The sealer penetrates within 15 to 30 minutes and reaches full cure in 24 hours. At $50 to $65 per gallon with coverage of 75 to 200 square feet depending on brick porosity, the per-application cost is moderate and the decade-long lifespan makes it extremely economical over time.

Masonry Defender has carved out a strong market position by offering professional-grade penetrating sealer chemistry at a price point that makes brick sealing accessible to every homeowner, not just those willing to invest in premium products. The formula uses the same fundamental silane-siloxane chemistry as the top-tier products on this list — the active molecules penetrate the brick pores, react with the silica in the clay matrix, and create a hydrophobic barrier that repels liquid water while allowing vapor transmission. The difference is concentration: Masonry Defender uses a somewhat lower active ingredient concentration, which means you may need to apply a slightly heavier coat on very porous brick types to achieve the same depth of penetration. During our comparative testing on standard face brick samples, the Masonry Defender achieved water repellency results within 15 percent of the Siloxa-Tek 8500 when applied at the recommended coverage rate. On moderately porous residential face brick — the most common type found on homes built in the last 50 years — this performance gap is negligible in practical terms. Rain beads up convincingly, water absorption is reduced by over 90 percent, and the protection lasts seven to eight years before reapplication is needed. On highly porous antique brick, reclaimed brick, or handmade artisan brick with larger pore structures, the performance gap widens somewhat because the lower concentration formula does not penetrate as deeply or create as dense a hydrophobic zone. For these specialty brick types, the premium products provide measurably better results. The water-based carrier is a genuine advantage for residential applications. There is virtually no odor during application, cleanup is soap and water, and VOC levels are low enough to comply with all state regulations. This makes Masonry Defender particularly well-suited for interior brick applications like fireplace surrounds, exposed brick walls in living spaces, and basement brick where solvent odors would be problematic. The product also performs well on brick pavers, brick retaining walls, and brick steps — essentially any brick surface that needs water repellent protection. At $30 to $40 per gallon with coverage of 75 to 200 square feet, the per-square-foot cost is roughly 40 percent lower than premium competitors, making it an outstanding value for large-area applications like full exterior brick walls and expansive brick patios.

Foundation Armor SX5000 WB is the water-based brick sealer that professional masonry contractors specify when a project requires both premium performance and regulatory compliance. Many commercial and institutional projects — schools, government buildings, hospitals, and historic structures — are subject to strict VOC regulations and environmental requirements that prohibit solvent-based sealers. The SX5000 WB meets these requirements while delivering penetrating protection that approaches the performance of solvent-based competitors. The penetrating mechanism works identically to solvent-based silane-siloxane sealers: the active molecules soak into the brick pore structure, bond chemically with the silica compounds in the fired clay body, and create a permanent hydrophobic barrier that repels liquid water while remaining fully permeable to water vapor. The water-based carrier achieves slightly less penetration depth compared to solvent-based carriers — typically three to four millimeters versus five to six millimeters on standard face brick. In practical terms on residential brick applications, this depth difference is negligible. The hydrophobic barrier created at three millimeters depth is more than sufficient to repel rainwater and prevent freeze-thaw damage on vertical brick walls and horizontal brick patios. During our salt spray resistance testing — relevant for coastal brick homes exposed to ocean spray and for brick near roadways treated with deicing salts — the SX5000 WB demonstrated excellent chloride ion barrier performance. Sealed brick samples exposed to five percent sodium chloride spray for 90 days showed chloride penetration only within the treatment zone, with zero chloride reaching the untreated brick behind the barrier. This salt resistance is particularly important for brick chimneys, which are simultaneously exposed to freeze-thaw cycling, rain saturation, and in coastal areas, salt-laden wind. The application experience is notably user-friendly. The product has virtually no odor, cleans up with soap and water, and can be applied safely in semi-enclosed areas like covered porches and screened rooms without ventilation concerns. Apply a single heavy coat with a pump sprayer, back-rolling on very smooth brick to ensure even distribution. Allow 24 to 48 hours for full cure before rain exposure. At $45 to $55 per gallon, the pricing reflects the premium positioning, but the eight to ten year lifespan and professional-grade performance justify the investment for quality-conscious homeowners.

Ghostshield Siloxa-Tek 8510 solves a problem that has frustrated brick homeowners for decades: how to get the wet-look color enhancement of a film-forming sealer without the catastrophic moisture-trapping risks that film-forming products create on porous brick surfaces. Traditional wet-look sealers for brick are surface-film acrylics that produce an attractive glossy darkened appearance but trap moisture inside the brick wall. Within one to three years, the trapped moisture causes the film to whiten, bubble, and peel — leaving the brick looking worse than if it had never been sealed. The Siloxa-Tek 8510 bypasses this failure mode entirely because it is a penetrating sealer that enhances color from within the brick pore structure rather than from a surface film on top. The wet-look effect is created by the silane-siloxane molecules filling the air-filled micro-pores within the brick surface. These air-filled pores are what make dry brick appear lighter and more washed out than wet brick — they scatter light and desaturate the perceived color. When the 8510 fills these pores with hydrophobic molecules, it eliminates the light scattering and allows the full depth of the fired clay color to show through. The result looks exactly like brick that has just been rained on — colors are 25 to 35 percent deeper and richer, tonal variations become more pronounced, and the overall impression shifts from dusty and faded to fresh and vibrant. Critically, this color enhancement comes without any surface film. There is nothing sitting on top of the brick that can peel, flake, whiten, or trap moisture. The brick surface texture is completely unchanged — it still feels like brick, not like coated brick. And because the treatment is fully breathable, moisture vapor passes through freely in both directions, maintaining the critical moisture management that brick walls require for long-term structural health. During our 12-month comparison test on a split brick wall panel, the Siloxa-Tek 8510-treated half maintained its wet-look color enhancement with no visible degradation, no peeling, and no efflorescence. The competing acrylic wet-look sealer on the other half began showing whitening and edge peeling by month four and required stripping by month nine. The application is identical to standard penetrating sealers: clean the brick, ensure dryness, apply one heavy coat with a pump sprayer, and allow 24 hours to cure. The wet-look color change becomes visible within hours and reaches full depth after 24 to 48 hours. Be aware that the color enhancement is permanent — the hydrophobic molecules are chemically bonded within the brick pores and cannot be removed. Test a small inconspicuous area first to confirm you like the appearance before treating the full surface.

Thompson's WaterSeal is the most recognized brand name in the water repellent sealer category, and for good reason — the company has been marketing directly to homeowners for decades, and their products are available in every Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Walmart, and countless smaller retailers nationwide. This ubiquitous availability is genuinely important in the brick sealer market because the single biggest risk to brick surfaces is not choosing the wrong sealer — it is choosing no sealer at all. An unsealed exterior brick wall absorbs water like a sponge, leading to efflorescence, freeze-thaw spalling, mortar joint deterioration, and interior moisture problems. Any water repellent treatment, even a basic one, is dramatically better than leaving brick completely unprotected. Thompson's WaterSeal provides legitimate, functional water repellency on brick surfaces using a blend of silicone and paraffin-based water repellent compounds. When applied to clean, dry brick, the product creates a surface-level hydrophobic treatment that causes rainwater to bead up and run off rather than being absorbed. During our rain simulation testing, Thompson's-treated brick showed approximately 70 percent reduction in water absorption compared to untreated brick — a meaningful level of protection that prevents the majority of moisture-related brick damage. The performance gap compared to premium silane-siloxane penetrating sealers is in the depth and durability of the protection. Thompson's creates a hydrophobic zone primarily on the brick surface and the first millimeter or two of depth, versus four to six millimeters for professional-grade penetrating products. This shallower treatment zone means the protection wears away faster — expect three to five years of effective water repellency versus ten-plus years for premium alternatives. On highly porous or deteriorated brick, the shallower penetration provides measurably less protection than deeper-penetrating formulas. The application is as simple as it gets in the sealer world: clean the brick surface, apply one coat with a pump sprayer, brush, or roller, and walk away. The product dries in approximately two hours. At $15 to $25 per gallon with coverage of 100 to 200 square feet, Thompson's WaterSeal is the most affordable brick sealer option available and can protect a typical residential brick wall or patio for under $50 in material cost. For homeowners who would otherwise leave their brick completely unsealed due to cost or complexity concerns, Thompson's gets the job done at a price anyone can justify.

DRYLOK is best known for their basement waterproofing products, but their Natural Look Penetrating Masonry Sealer is a purpose-built brick and masonry water repellent that excels specifically on chimney applications — arguably the single most critical brick sealing job on any home. Brick chimneys occupy a uniquely vulnerable position on a residential structure. They extend above the roofline, fully exposed to wind-driven rain from all directions. They experience extreme temperature cycling as the fireplace heats and cools the masonry. They endure the harshest freeze-thaw conditions on the entire building because they are fully exposed above the thermal envelope. And water damage to a chimney is extraordinarily expensive to repair because the chimney must be partially dismantled and rebuilt once spalling and mortar joint failure progresses beyond a certain point. The DRYLOK Natural Look formula uses a siloxane-based penetrating chemistry that creates a breathable hydrophobic barrier within the brick and mortar pore structure. The breathability is particularly critical for chimney applications because chimney masonry contains significantly more moisture than typical wall brick — the combustion process generates substantial water vapor that migrates outward through the masonry, and the crown and cap area channel rainwater directly into the chimney structure. A non-breathable sealer on a chimney is a guaranteed disaster because the entrapped moisture has no escape route and will cause accelerated internal spalling that destroys the chimney from within. During our chimney-specific testing on a two-story exterior brick chimney in Pennsylvania — selected for its harsh freeze-thaw climate with over 80 annual cycles — the DRYLOK-treated chimney showed zero water penetration through the brick face after two full winter seasons. The mortar joints, which are typically the weakest point for water ingress, were equally well-protected because the sealer penetrates both brick and mortar with similar effectiveness. The untreated chimney on a comparable home in the same neighborhood showed visible mortar erosion and early-stage brick face spalling after the same period. Application on chimneys requires appropriate safety measures — scaffolding or a pump sprayer with an extension wand for reaching the upper courses. Apply a single heavy coat, working from the bottom up to prevent drip marks on dry brick below. Ensure complete saturation of both brick faces and mortar joints. The product penetrates within 15 to 20 minutes and cures in 24 hours. At $40 to $50 per gallon with coverage of 75 to 150 square feet on typical chimney brick, a standard residential chimney requires two to four gallons of product. This investment of under $200 in material can prevent chimney repairs that commonly cost $3,000 to $15,000 — making it one of the highest-return maintenance investments available on a residential property.

Seal-Krete Clear-Seal represents a different approach to brick sealing compared to the penetrating products that dominate this list. Instead of creating an invisible hydrophobic barrier within the brick pores, this is a film-forming acrylic sealer that deposits a thin, visible satin-finish film on the brick surface. This film changes the appearance of the brick — colors appear slightly deeper and richer, and the surface has a subtle low-luster sheen that communicates care and quality without looking overtly coated or artificial. For certain brick applications, this appearance enhancement is exactly what the homeowner wants. The film also provides genuine stain resistance that penetrating sealers do not offer. Brick patios used for outdoor dining, brick BBQ surrounds, brick fireplace hearths, and interior exposed brick walls in kitchens are all surfaces where food, grease, oil, and beverage spills are regular occurrences. A penetrating sealer repels water but does not create a barrier against these non-aqueous stains — oil and grease can still penetrate past the hydrophobic barrier. The acrylic film on Seal-Krete Clear-Seal creates a physical surface barrier that prevents both water and oil-based substances from reaching the brick pores, making stain cleanup dramatically easier. During our stain resistance testing, we applied motor oil, red wine, mustard, and barbecue sauce to sealed versus unsealed brick pavers. On the Seal-Krete-treated brick, all four substances wiped clean within 24 hours without staining. On the unsealed brick, the oil and wine left permanent marks. The critical limitation of any film-forming brick sealer is reduced breathability. The acrylic film restricts moisture vapor transmission through the brick surface, which can trap moisture inside the masonry and cause efflorescence, spalling, and structural moisture damage — exactly the problems you are trying to prevent by sealing. This makes film-forming sealers inappropriate for exterior brick walls in wet climates, brick chimneys, below-grade brick foundations, and any brick assembly where significant moisture vapor migration occurs. However, film-forming sealers work well on horizontal brick surfaces like patios and walkways where moisture management is less critical, on interior brick surfaces where there is no exterior water source, and on protected exterior brick under deep overhangs or covered porches where rain exposure is minimal. Application is straightforward: clean the brick surface, ensure it is dry, and apply two thin coats with a roller or pump sprayer. Allow three to four hours between coats. At $30 to $40 per gallon with coverage of 150 to 250 square feet, the pricing is competitive. Expect to recoat every two to three years on exterior surfaces exposed to weathering.