Monday, April 4, 2011
How to Seal Pavers Using a Water-Based Sealer
We have just submitted an article to ezinearticles.com that goes over the step by steps of paver sealing with water-based sealers, check it out here http://bit.ly/Howtosealpavers
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
How to seal so that your surface isn't slippery when wet
If sealing makes surfaces slippery or not is dependent upon many factors including sealant product, amount of sealant, age of surface, and type of paver or stone. From our experience, pavers and travertine alike have plenty of grip when our standard amount of SealN'lock is used as opposed to oil based. Oil based sealers have a high solid content. This prevents the sealer from being able to penetrate the paver which explains its slipperiness, brighter sheen, and tendency to wear away quicker, especially in highly weathered or trafficked areas.
Older Pavers are more porous and abrasive as opposed to freshly installed. Therefore they tend to require more sealant. However, over applying any sealant can cause a surface to become more slippery when wet. It is important to check for absorbancy before over flooding the pavers. If it stays wet with sealant for more than ~30 minutes, depending on weather, then your probably over treating. On the other hand, if the sealant you apply is almost instantly absorbed into the pavers then you may need to increase application or perhaps decrease water mixture depending on weather. Look for the sealant to stay on the surface about 15 minutes before being dry to the touch. This is a general guide for all sealants and surfaces. Variation in choices may require more or less application. We would, of course, recommend our method using SealN'Lock. Look for future posts for more information and instruction on this method. Or just shoot us an email with any questions, sealingspecialists@gmail.com
Older Pavers are more porous and abrasive as opposed to freshly installed. Therefore they tend to require more sealant. However, over applying any sealant can cause a surface to become more slippery when wet. It is important to check for absorbancy before over flooding the pavers. If it stays wet with sealant for more than ~30 minutes, depending on weather, then your probably over treating. On the other hand, if the sealant you apply is almost instantly absorbed into the pavers then you may need to increase application or perhaps decrease water mixture depending on weather. Look for the sealant to stay on the surface about 15 minutes before being dry to the touch. This is a general guide for all sealants and surfaces. Variation in choices may require more or less application. We would, of course, recommend our method using SealN'Lock. Look for future posts for more information and instruction on this method. Or just shoot us an email with any questions, sealingspecialists@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
SealnLock Vs. Traditional Solvent Based
I have been sealing pavers, concrete, and other stone in Central Florida for over 5 years using solvent (oil) based products. I was initially skeptical when I became aware of an innovative new water-based product on the market that claimed to possess the advantages of both water and solvent based sealants and none of the disadvantages. Though it sounded too good to be true I took a chance and decided to give it a try. It is now my belief that Sealnlock is undoubtedly the most revolutionary product to ever hit the sealing market.
Lets start with almost all solvent based concrete sealers on the market are designed as just that, concrete sealers. NOT paver sealers. Most pavers commonly found in residential homes are concrete pavers so a concrete sealer can be used, but it is quite far from the best sealer for your pavers. Sealnlock was designed for PAVER sealing, with joint stabilization and moisture compatibility as some of the criteria from the start. Solvent based sealers require a completely dry surface before application to ensure full penetration of the pavers. This is because oil and water do not mix. Sealnlock is a polyurethane sealer with water as a base for easy and even spreading. Sealnlock is mixed with water prior to application. With water as the base, it allows the entire surface to be damp when the sealant is applied; this permits the entire job to be completed in only one day. The benefits don’t end there. Water based also means that the sealant is flooded over the surface, deeply penetrating the entire paver and all sand in the joints as it dries. Sealnlock also lasts longer than oil based products because of its revolutionary polyurethane mix which guarantees that water will bead on the surface for 2 years after application. Personally, I’ve done many solvent based jobs where I have returned after as little as 3 months to see that water gets soaked into the paver, resulting in color change, a sure sign the sealant has already started to degrade.
Solvent based products have also been considered superior due to their resistance to clouding. Clouding is when the bond between the sealant and the paver is weakened and the sealant turns into a filmy white coat over the paver. Here in Florida there is another factor besides sealant that can lead to clouding. The intense Florida sun heats up sealed surfaces and the perhaps more intense Florida humidity penetrates the heated, tacky sealant, causing it to turn cloudy because of its oil based nature. Sealnlock’s revolutionary formula guarantees no clouding, ever!
Another misnomer of solvent based superiority is the opinion that it helps to prevent against the appearance of efflorescence, or natural salts such as calcium, rust, mold, mildew, and algae. These surface destroying elements often come from underneath the surface where the paver, bedding, and ground beneath often harbor them. Because of the subpar protected joints these elements can come through the joint sand and leak over the surface ruining the sealant and the surface. Sealnlock penetrates all pavers and joints completely; virtually eliminating the appearance of paver destroying elements.
Solvent based products also have a very high VOC (volatile organic compounds) rating, reaching as high as 600 grams per liter. This is 3 times the EPA approved level. After working with this highly toxic product for years I am especially excited to announce that Sealnlock has a VOC rating of only 50 grams per liter, that’s 8% of the toxicity of solvent base. When solvent based sealers are applied to a surface they initially penetrate the surface and essentially coat the pavers in a thin layer of plastic. As the product wears away this plastic flakes off into tiny little pieces that runoff into storm drains and pollute our lakes and rivers. Seal'NLock not only adheres to every surface better and lasts longer; it will also more readily dissolve into water making it far less harmful. You and your family can feel safe knowing that you’re not subjecting yourselves to breathing in toxic substances or contributing to pollution of the water supply.
Sealnlock is an amazing product that has already taken the sealing industry’s top marks for its superior longer-lasting paver and joint penetration, guaranteed no clouding, better protection against the appearance of efflorescence, rust, mold, mildew, and algae, and the lowest VOC rating available. Solvent based products may provide an immediate beautiful look to your surface but the long term benefits of Sealnlock are undeniable.
Lets start with almost all solvent based concrete sealers on the market are designed as just that, concrete sealers. NOT paver sealers. Most pavers commonly found in residential homes are concrete pavers so a concrete sealer can be used, but it is quite far from the best sealer for your pavers. Sealnlock was designed for PAVER sealing, with joint stabilization and moisture compatibility as some of the criteria from the start. Solvent based sealers require a completely dry surface before application to ensure full penetration of the pavers. This is because oil and water do not mix. Sealnlock is a polyurethane sealer with water as a base for easy and even spreading. Sealnlock is mixed with water prior to application. With water as the base, it allows the entire surface to be damp when the sealant is applied; this permits the entire job to be completed in only one day. The benefits don’t end there. Water based also means that the sealant is flooded over the surface, deeply penetrating the entire paver and all sand in the joints as it dries. Sealnlock also lasts longer than oil based products because of its revolutionary polyurethane mix which guarantees that water will bead on the surface for 2 years after application. Personally, I’ve done many solvent based jobs where I have returned after as little as 3 months to see that water gets soaked into the paver, resulting in color change, a sure sign the sealant has already started to degrade.
Solvent based products have also been considered superior due to their resistance to clouding. Clouding is when the bond between the sealant and the paver is weakened and the sealant turns into a filmy white coat over the paver. Here in Florida there is another factor besides sealant that can lead to clouding. The intense Florida sun heats up sealed surfaces and the perhaps more intense Florida humidity penetrates the heated, tacky sealant, causing it to turn cloudy because of its oil based nature. Sealnlock’s revolutionary formula guarantees no clouding, ever!
Another misnomer of solvent based superiority is the opinion that it helps to prevent against the appearance of efflorescence, or natural salts such as calcium, rust, mold, mildew, and algae. These surface destroying elements often come from underneath the surface where the paver, bedding, and ground beneath often harbor them. Because of the subpar protected joints these elements can come through the joint sand and leak over the surface ruining the sealant and the surface. Sealnlock penetrates all pavers and joints completely; virtually eliminating the appearance of paver destroying elements.
Solvent based products also have a very high VOC (volatile organic compounds) rating, reaching as high as 600 grams per liter. This is 3 times the EPA approved level. After working with this highly toxic product for years I am especially excited to announce that Sealnlock has a VOC rating of only 50 grams per liter, that’s 8% of the toxicity of solvent base. When solvent based sealers are applied to a surface they initially penetrate the surface and essentially coat the pavers in a thin layer of plastic. As the product wears away this plastic flakes off into tiny little pieces that runoff into storm drains and pollute our lakes and rivers. Seal'NLock not only adheres to every surface better and lasts longer; it will also more readily dissolve into water making it far less harmful. You and your family can feel safe knowing that you’re not subjecting yourselves to breathing in toxic substances or contributing to pollution of the water supply.
Sealnlock is an amazing product that has already taken the sealing industry’s top marks for its superior longer-lasting paver and joint penetration, guaranteed no clouding, better protection against the appearance of efflorescence, rust, mold, mildew, and algae, and the lowest VOC rating available. Solvent based products may provide an immediate beautiful look to your surface but the long term benefits of Sealnlock are undeniable.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy 2011+ Weekly Tip
I wanted to wish everyone a Happy and promising 2011! Here is our weekly tip:
When wet-sanding an area to be sealed, try laying a medium sized line of sand, whatever length you need, and soaking with water before brooming it out. The sand will fall into the joints much easier as well as being easier to broom. Coming back with the pressure washer wand and removing sand from the surface of the paver, and about 1/8th inch down from the surface edge of paver, will also be much easier if you broom most of it off and ahead of you prior to its use.
Thanks for reading!
Alex
When wet-sanding an area to be sealed, try laying a medium sized line of sand, whatever length you need, and soaking with water before brooming it out. The sand will fall into the joints much easier as well as being easier to broom. Coming back with the pressure washer wand and removing sand from the surface of the paver, and about 1/8th inch down from the surface edge of paver, will also be much easier if you broom most of it off and ahead of you prior to its use.
Thanks for reading!
Alex
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