Sealers
and Preservation
Sealers
Water Repellents
Silicone (synthetic oils) : Generic synthetic oils which tend
to leach from surfaces and migrate. Of limited use due to the
tendency of attracting dust and limited life expectancy .There
are many types but you can generally rely upon the fact that you
get what you pay for. This type also darkens many types of stone
surfaces.
Siliconates : Water based silicone derivative useful for
light colored, porous stone. Inexpensive.
This type should not be used on dark colored stone or important
surfaces. Any residues not absorbed will disfigure surface with
a salt-like precipitate. May be useful for some limestone and
concrete surfaces. Only water beads. Re-coating is not possible
due to the fact that it repels itself.
Siloxane : These are state of the art today in long life
and high vapor transmission. Moderate cost. Used primarily for
exterior stone surfaces including marble, granite, limestone,
slate and cement based building products as well. Suitable for
clay pavers and roofing tiles. Highly recommended for most surfaces
exposed to weather and/or high humidity. Does not darken most
surfaces. Solvent based is normal. There are some new emulsions
available which can comply with VOC restrictions.
Stearates :This is the cheap water repellent sold to consumers
in chain stores and hardware stores for wood, concrete, masonry
etc.. Performance is poor and short lived. Not recommended for
most building stone.
Oil Repellents : These are proprietary products which repel
oil as well as water and other liquids. There are a number of
these specialized products designed for use on stone surfaces.
Most are fluoroplymer-based but there are some other types (rather
exotic)
Drying Oils : These are the original natural polymers.
They include Tung , Linseed and Soy. These oils become solid as
they dry and are of potential use for sealing stone surfaces.
They are organic and hence they are relatively sensitive to aging
and may (read: will) yellow with age but are useful in some situations.
Waxes : Waxes may be natural or synthetic and include Carnuaba,
paraffin, montan, beeswax etc. They are typically formulated into
paste waxes or emulsions for sealing purposes. Their effect is
less than permanent and typically they are re-applied on a regular
basis.
Silicates : These are mineral glasses which fill up pores
and densify porous surfaces. Very useful for restoration of stone
which is under chemical attack or exterior weathering as it can
replace lost minerals (repair) and provide protection from further
degeneration. They are specialized materials which require expertise
to formulate and apply for predictable results.
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Finishing Dressing
Waxes
: This category is primarily paste waxes composed of paraffin,
beeswax, and some synthetics. They can be very effective for maintaining
a shine and prevention of stains. Some professional products contain
dyes or pigments which can be useful in bringing out or maintaining
the color of red, black and green stones (primarily for furniture).
Carnuaba based waxes may be suitable for some low abrasive surfaces
and is used in specialty maintenance products.
Coatings : Coatings are usually acrylics, urethanes, epoxies,
varnishes, lacquers etc. and have limited use on natural stone
however there are some typical uses of these film forming polymers.
The most common coating is the janitorial type floor finish that
is applied to floors to maintain a physical barrier which isolates
the stone surface from abrasion. These coatings are considered
temporary or sacrificial and are used primarily because the coating
is easier to restore when it gets damaged than the stone surface
would be without the coating. In general, film-forming coating
are avoided on natural stone if possible.
Soaps : Soap is potentially useful in a number of categories
because of the residue that soaps tend to leave behind. The residue
can be utilized as a sealer in some situations or may be intentionally
built up and used as a natural paste wax or dressing. Soaps are
very valuable for maintaining stone surfaces and in most cases
are 100% reversible. Soap residues "dress" or nourish a stone,
preventing the stone from drying out and being overly absorbent.
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