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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