How Sealers Work
Different surfaces have different requirements in order to keep their beauty and integrity. Sealers Plus offers Professional Grade penetrating type and coating type sealers to provide either a natural look, a colour enhanced look, or a satin, high sheen or high gloss film finish.
We have a sealer to help protect and maintain your natural stone, encaustic, terrazzo or terracotta tiles and many other hard surfaces. If in doubt, contact our Technical Services Team for the best recommendation: call (02) 9521 4000 or email support@sealersonline.com.au.
Penetrating type sealers or coating type sealers
About penetrating type (impregnating) sealers
Penetrating type sealers sit below the surface and do not leave a film finish on top. They offer either a natural look (the sealed surface looks the same as it did before you sealed it) or a colour enhanced look (it brings out the colour in the surface without adding any sheen or gloss).
About coating type (film forming) sealers
A coating type sealer leaves you with a film finish on top of the sealed surface. Coating type sealers initially penetrate into the porous surface, then build a film finish on the surface to give you either a satin, high sheen or high gloss finish, depending on your requirements.
Water based or solvent based: which is better?
The solvent and water only serve as “carriers” to help transfer the actual sealer into the porous stone, tile or grout. It is the quality of the polymer used in the sealer that dictates the quality, lifespan and performance. Water based sealers like Aqua-Seal Gold+ incorporate the latest C6 Fluoropolymer technology, which outperforms conventional solvent based sealers.
Benefits of water based sealers:
- Low VOC
- Non Toxic
- Non Yellowing
- Non Flammable
- Safe and Easier To Use
- UV & Chemical Resistant
- Utilise Latest Polymer Technology
How sealers work
Porous surfaces like stone, tile and grout can stain quickly, and the stain can become deep, making it harder to remove. By sealing the surface you reduce the porosity, slowing down how quickly the surface will stain (reaction time) and how deep the stain can travel. Sealers are not stain proof or water proof, however by sealing the porous surface you help protect it from staining and make ongoing maintenance easier.
The Sealers Plus range of Professional Grade sealers is formulated to provide a good, better or best level of performance based on the needs of the customer. The better the sealer, the better the protection, the longer the reaction time and the longer the life span of the sealer. Our sealers are breathable (allow moisture vapour transmission), UV resistant and use the latest, most innovative and safest technology available to help protect against both water and oil based contaminants.
What sealers will do
Penetrating sealers will:
- Allow the sealed surface to breathe
- Help inhibit mould and mildew growth
- Make cleaning and ongoing maintenance easier
- Help reduce efflorescence, salt damage and mineral blooming
- Make the grouting clean up process easier (when used as a pre-sealer)
- Minimise staining from oil, food grease, grime and other water or oil based contaminants
- Minimise staining from grout and adhesive during installation (when used as a pre-sealer)
Coating sealers will also:
- Leave a film on top of the sealed surface that gives you a satin, high sheen or high gloss finish, depending on your needs
What sealers won’t do
Penetrating and coating sealers will NOT:
- Last forever
- Make your installation “stain proof”
- Allow you to use any cleaner you want
- Make your installation “maintenance free”
- Change the character of a freeze-thaw or salt sensitive stone
- Stop etching on calcium-based stone from acid based contaminants
Not sure which sealer you need? Answer a few quick questions and we’ll match the right product and quantity.