Dry-Lok is a company typically found in local and retail hardware stores across the country. Given the nature of the market for concrete sealer, Dry-Lok can be the only option for purchase in one of the big-box chains, like Lowes or Home Depot. However, that does not necessarily mean it is the best, or even the most cost effective, option.
The Dry-Lok Masonry Waterproofer has a lot in common with the Behr Masonry Waterproofer. It is a ready-mixed, low odor formula that protects against water while allowing moisture to pass through the concrete naturally. It is easily applied with a brush and a roller (like pretty much all concrete sealers), and it has a low VOC content.
However, the Dry-Lok Masonry Waterproofer is a latex-based paint-type of surface protection. It isn’t even as strong as Behr’s offering, which is an acrylic solution. Dry-Lok, despite its claims, could potentially flake and bubble, even leading to efflorescence. Efflorescence, which Dry-Lok cannot guarantee to prevent and remove completely, is a situation that occurs when salts within the concrete are pushed to the surface by water that leaks in through the opposite side. The condition is not functionally damaging, but it harms the visual appeal of the concrete surfaces, which bothers many homeowners.