Gator Seal Wet Look is the Alliance solvent based acrylic sealer for people who want their patio to look freshly rained on, permanently. Alliance says it deepens and enhances colors with a high shine, and it stabilizes the polymeric sand in the joints while it seals. It is built for dry cast concrete pavers that have never been sealed before.
That last condition is the one to plan around: Alliance states Wet Look cannot be used as a resealer. This guide covers what the sealer does, the conditions Alliance sets before you start, the prep and application sequence, and coverage, using figures from the Alliance Gator Seal Wet Look technical data sheet as summarized on our product page.
Quick answer
- Gator Seal Wet Look is a solvent based acrylic, film forming, joint stabilizing sealer with a wet look finish and vibrant color enhancement, in 1 and 5 gallon sizes.
- Coverage is 175 sq ft per gallon, one coat only. Apply between 60°F and 85°F.
- Rain safe in 90 minutes and back in use in 24 hours.
- For previously unsealed dry cast pavers only, at least 60 days after installation, with pavers and joints 100 percent dry.
What Gator Seal Wet Look is
Alliance Gator Seal Wet Look sits at the high color end of the Gator Seal line. Here is how it compares with its closest relatives, per our product pages:
| Feature | Gator Seal Wet Look | Gator Seal Satin Look | Gator Seal Resealer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Wet look, clear high shine, vibrant color enhancement | Color lift with far less shine | For refreshing a surface already sealed |
| Base | Solvent based acrylic | Same chemistry as Wet Look | Solvent based acrylic |
| Use on previously sealed pavers | No, unsealed only | No, unsealed only | Yes, that is its job |
Alliance lists these protective traits for Wet Look: it is a film former that puts a protective layer across the paver surface, it acts as a joint stabilizer that locks the polymeric sand down as it seals, and it guards against oil and dirt stains, deicing salt corrosion and UV. Alliance puts the finish life of its solvent sealers at 3 to 5 years, with longer gloss retention than its water based sealers.
Gator Seal Wet Look specifications
| Specification | Per the data sheet |
|---|---|
| Finish | Wet look with vibrant color enhancement |
| Base | Solvent based acrylic polymers |
| VOC | Under 400 g/L |
| Coverage | 175 sq ft per gallon, per coat |
| Coats | One coat only |
| Application temperature | 60°F to 85°F (16°C to 29°C) |
| Rain safe | 90 minutes |
| Back in use | 24 hours |
| Surfaces | Dry cast concrete pavers, previously unsealed |
| Cleanup | Acetone |
| Expected finish life | 3 to 5 years per Alliance |
| Sizes | 1 gallon and 5 gallon |
Where to use it (and where not to)
Alliance rates Gator Seal Wet Look for dry cast concrete pavers, on previously unsealed surfaces only. The conditions, straight from the manufacturer:
- Unsealed pavers only. Alliance states Wet Look cannot be used as a resealer. If the surface has been sealed before, use Gator Seal Resealer instead.
- Wait 60 days after installation. Sealing too early traps efflorescence under the film.
- Everything 100 percent dry. Pavers and jointing sand both, with 48 hours of dry weather beforehand and the surface cool to the touch.
- Temperature window. Apply between 60°F and 85°F only.
- No thinning, one coat. Do not thin or dilute, and apply one coat only.
On slip resistance, our product page is plain about it: a gloss film on a wet surface is always more slippery than bare concrete. Around a pool, consider Gator Seal Signature Series Natural Look, which is non film forming, and do not over apply it, since Alliance warns excess can make the surface slippery when wet. If you want the color lift without the shine, Gator Seal Satin Look is the same chemistry with far less gloss, and Gator Hybrid Seal Low Gloss Plus Color Enhancer is a water based option that pairs vibrant color enhancement with a low gloss finish. Our article on wet look vs natural look paver sealer covers the choice in more depth.
How to apply Gator Seal Wet Look
This is the Alliance sequence. Follow the full data sheet at the time you seal.
- Test first. Seal roughly 4 sq ft in a hidden area. Alliance limits the warranty to that area if you skip the test. An 8 oz Wet Look sealer sample is enough for a test patch.
- Remove stains. Use Gator Clean products, and strip any unknown existing coating with Gator Sealer Stripper.
- Replace contaminated joint sand. Use Gator polymeric sand, then wait 48 hours above 60°F with no rain for it to harden. See how to replace polymeric sand.
- Clean the whole surface. Use Gator Efflorescence Cleaner, then wait another 48 hours for it to dry. Our guide to cleaning pavers before sealing walks through this step.
- Apply one coat. Spray in 60 sq ft sections, back rolling the excess with a solvent resistant foam roller so nothing puddles.
The surface is rain safe at 90 minutes and back in service at 24 hours. Clean tools with acetone; water will not touch a solvent based acrylic. For more on timing, see how long to wait after sealing pavers and our full paver sealing guide.
What to expect: a wet look sealer does not tint the paver, it saturates it. Colors get noticeably deeper, especially on tumbled and textured pavers, with a clear high shine. Any efflorescence left on the surface gets locked in, which is exactly why Alliance requires the efflorescence clean and the 48 hour dry first.
How much Gator Seal Wet Look you need
Alliance rates coverage at 175 sq ft per gallon, and it is a one coat product, so the math is simple: divide your square footage by 175 and round up.
| Size | One coat coverage |
|---|---|
| 1 gallon | About 175 sq ft |
| 5 gallon | About 875 sq ft |
Run your numbers through the paver sealer coverage calculator. Gator Seal Wet Look ships same day from our New Jersey warehouse on weekday orders placed before 2 PM Eastern. Local? Call (856) 418-4895 first and pick up at our Williamstown, NJ warehouse (1287 Glassboro Road). It is a warehouse, not a walk in store. See local pickup.
Safety and storage
Wet Look is solvent based, with VOC under 400 g/L, and tools clean up with acetone. Our product page does not list protective equipment or storage temperatures, so read the label and the Alliance data sheet before you open the pail. The data sheet is in our TDS and SDS library.
Watch the manufacturer's video
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Gator Seal Wet Look over an existing sealer?
No. Alliance rates Wet Look for unsealed pavers only. To refresh a surface that was already sealed, use Gator Seal Resealer.
How soon can it rain after sealing?
Alliance says 90 minutes. Do not start if rain is forecast inside that window.
When can I use the patio again?
24 hours after application.
How many coats of Gator Seal Wet Look should I apply?
One. Alliance is explicit that a second coat is not part of the specification.
How long do I wait after installing new pavers?
60 days. Sealing too early traps efflorescence under the film.
Want that deep, rain soaked color on a new patio? Order Gator Seal Wet Look, browse the full Alliance Gator range, or compare all paver and stone sealers. Call us 24/7 at (856) 418-4895 with coverage questions.