Paving Sealer Facts

The following facts on paving sealers in general and particularly our paving sealers will help you with your product and supplier selection.

The Sealers Direct solvent free Ecoseal range is our latest high performance Acrylic (25%) sealer, utilizing cross linking resin technology and free of high VOC solvents like Xylene makes this one of the most toughest and safest sealers for the Trade and DIY.

The Sealers Direct solvent based Premium Ultra Sealer range is formulated with:

The best high performance, pure co-polymer acrylic resin solids, suspended in a unique blend of the highest quality organic solvents. (No fillers, thickeners or extenders)

Minimum 25% high solids pure resin content.
Tough and durable
One or two coat application
Non yellowing
100 % UV stable
Bonds and stabilises jointing sand in Block Paving

 

FAQs

Can you supply other sealer/ products not on your list?

What does VOC mean?

What does solids mean?

What does Low, Medium or High solid mean?

Is solids content most important?

What coverage should I get from 25 ltrs of sealer?

How do I apply paving sealer?

Which are better, Acrylic or Polyurethane sealers?

What will happen if I get caught out by the rain or damp after I’ve just sealed my paving?

What’s a bloom?

How do I rectify a bloom?

 

Can you supply other sealer/ products not on your list?

Yes we can.

These products are made to order, minimum quantities apply.

For example:  Low solids paving sealer, Medium solids paving sealer

Alternatively, if you only require a few drums it would be more efficient to purchase our Premium Ultra paving sealer and a drum of SD thinners and thin the sealer as required on site.

Polyurethane sealers

Mould release agents

If you have a requirement please drop us a line or call.

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What does VOC mean?

VOC's or VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Refers to organic chemical compounds which have significant vapour pressures and which can effect the environment and human health.

Major sources of man-made VOC’s are solvents, especially within sealers and protective coatings. Solvents are required to spread a protective film. Additionally, VOC sealers clean up often requires further toxic solvents that release more VOC pollutants.

This type of high VOC solvent based sealer and thinners are labelled HAZARDOUS and FLAMMABLE.

Harmful by inhalation and in contact with skin.

Our Ecoseal range contain NO HARMFUL VOC's and are safe, non hazardous, non flammable and odourless.

Traditionally solvent sealers were 1st choice but they are now becoming unpopular and new EU legislation will probably phase them out completely in the future.

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What does solids mean?

Solids - is an alternative description for resin within the product.

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What does Low, Medium or High solid mean?

This description gives you an indication of the resin content within the sealer.

Higher the resin content = the more resin left on the paving = the more the paving is sealed

Most paving sealers that are available through Builders Merchants, DIY warehouses and some Websites are very low solids.

The basic fact to remember when buying paving sealer is that whoever you’re buying from, if their sealer has a GOOD SOLIDS CONTENT they will make sure you know.

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Is solids content most important?

Solids content should be a main consideration along with choice of resin, quality and performance.

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What coverage should I get from 20 ltrs (1 drum) of sealer?

This is a bit of a grey area as some surfaces are more porous than others; for example, block paving is more porous than printed concrete, so block paving will take more product per square metre.

The application method also makes a difference, you may find that rolling or brushing makes the product go further than spraying.

There is also a difference between the correct coverage and making the sealer spread as far as possible, the more you spread the product, then the less product you will end up with on each square metre and the less each square metre is sealed.

You won’t save money by making the sealer spread as far as possible.

Coverage rates should only be taken as a guide and you should be very suspect if quoted coverage rates exceed 100 sq mtr per 20 ltr (1 drum), or 25 sq mtr per 5 ltr.

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How do I apply paving sealer?

You can apply sealer by:

Course droplet low level pressure sprayer
Roller
Broom
Brush

Most contractors these days will use a sealer sprayer that is made specifically for the job.  

Garden chemical sprayers are NOT right for the job as they block up quickly and produce a conical spray pattern most of the time. The ideal spray pattern should be a fan jet.

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Which are better, Acrylic or Polyurethane sealers?

You have to consider if you’re comparing like for like.

LOW solids Polyurethane next to a quality HIGH solids acrylic is not like for like so is not comparable.

The true answer is that they are both good and are suited to different applications.

You also have to consider the use of the surface to be sealed, ease of application, applicators skill and experience level.

Application Guide:

High solid Acrylic (solvent free) paving sealers:
Easily applied by sealer sprayer, roller, broom or brush.  

Easy to rectify in terms of time and cost if caught out by rain or damp.

Usually less expensive than solvent based sealers.

High solid Acrylic (solvent based) paving sealers:
Easily applied by sealer sprayer, roller, broom or brush.  

Easy to rectify in terms of time and cost if caught out by rain or damp.

Usually less expensive than Polyurethane

Polyurethane (solvent based) paving sealers:
Used more commercially for heavy traffic areas, excellent chemical resistance.

Not easy to rectify if caught out by rain or damp, expensive and time consuming.

Usually more expensive to buy.

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What will happen if I get caught out by the rain or damp after I’ve just sealed my paving?

Our Ecoseal solvent free range will not be affected but you will probably need to apply another coat when dry.

All solvent based sealers will probably bloom.

Sealers Direct Premium range is specially formulated to resist blooming if possible.

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What’s a bloom?

A bloom in the sealer can take the appearance of a milky or silvery cloud affect and may be apparent in patches, spots or across the whole area after drying.

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How do I rectify a bloom?

Acrylic (solvent based) sealers:
Brush or spray specified solvent (SD thinners) to affected areas only.
Repeat if necessary, allow to dry and re-coat.

Polyurethane:
Not as simple, thinners will have no effect.
Surface will have to be mechanically abraded (grit blasted) or stripped with Nitric acid then cleaned and resealed.

 

We hope this information helps, for any further advice please drop us a line at
admin@sealersdirect.co.uk
or
Call 01202 620377 or 07899 748333
           
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