What Type Of Sealer Is Best?
Acrylic, Urethane, Silane, Siloxane, Epoxy, Silicone, ...
Logically, it really should not matter to you.
When people ask about a formula, it is usually because somebody has recommended a particular formula type. Buy why did they do that?
It is always because of one or more of the following reasons:
- They have had good experience with a certain type sealer
(or at least few bad experiences)
- They have had a bad experience* with a certain type sealer
- Their store sells a certain one
- They get an extra commission selling a certain one
over another.
- They really have no idea, but feel they need to recommend something.
*Note: If they had a bad experience with a sealer, it is typically not related to the formula type, but because of a misdiagnosis of the conditions. A situation you are preventing right now at our web site.
The end result is confusion because you will receive conflicting advise from everybody you ask, especially the "experts". Print and web magazine articles, and general purpose construction web sites, are perfect examples.
For instance, an industry association might say a certain sealer type is preferred - let's say a "silane" type. This comes about because the sealer manufacturer has a strong relationship with that association. However, a silane formulation is a good "waterproofer" on buildings, but is not resistant to petroleum based staining liquids or spray paints. Therefore, you only heard part of the story. Waterproofing is only one part of what a sealer can do for you.
If you choose properly per the Aldon program, you can achieve far beyond just waterproofing. Other goals that are available to you are:
- Color enhancement
- efflorescence blocking
- densification" of weaker surfacing
- improved clean ability
- breath ability ( allows the escape of subsurface moisture while blocking surface moisture. All Aldon sealers do this.)
What if the manufacturer of your surfacing says to use only one type of sealer?
An interesting thing with surfacing manufacturers is that you will run into two situations:
- The manufacturer says no sealer is needed. Many times this is because they are afraid a sealer failure will become their problem. Consider this: If the surfacing will darken underneath a water drop before it dries, it means the water has penetrated into the surface. If so, a staining liquid will penetrate and therefore, the surfacing needs to be sealed for protection.
- The manufacturer says that only a certain formula type should be used on their product. This can be because it is one they happen to sell and they have a profit motive, or it is the same situation as described above and they don't have any real basis for that opinion.
As with all recommendations, including to use a particular Aldon sealer, get samples
and test for yourself. Surfacing can vary from batch to batch, and well meaning recommendations might not recognize something unique about your installation.
Should you really care what formula type you use?
Not really! What you really care about is: problem prevention characteristics - longevity - final appearance, and the other things a sealer can do for you described above.
Aldon makes many types of sealer formulations to fit the criteria of any job situation. They all perform as described and one is not "better" than another. They only do different things or create a different look. See Surface Types to see the differences and the effects achieved from each. Note: there are a few formula types not made by Aldon because they do not perform as well as the formula types we do make, and/or they do not accomplish anything that cannot be done more safely with our existing formulations.
There is
only one right way to know what to use and not gamble - get samples and confirm.
Note:
Sometimes, despite your diligent research and the best of intentions of your suppliers salesperson, you might have been given the wrong information. Therefore, no matter how confident you are, whether first time user or seasoned professional, it just makes good sense to patch test a small area and evaluate the results in a few hours before doing a large area.
Most Aldon sealers have more than one area they can be used in any project. Check sealer information on the web site.
|