Brick sealant or brick sealer are terms that gets thrown about a lot these days. However, there is still some misunderstanding about what a brick sealer is, what they do and whether you should be using them. We are The Pressure Cleaning Guys, and our team of experts is dedicated to providing world-class service to the Perth, Western Australian market.
Here’s our comprehensive guide to brick sealers, so you can get all the information you need in one spot!
What Is a Brick Sealant, Exactly?
Believe it or not, the term “brick sealer,” also known as “brick sealant” or “masonry sealer,” has been in use since the 1980s. The term refers to a type of water seal used to create a waterproof surface on brick, stone, or concrete walls located outdoor areas or in semi-covered areas such as patios. This is accomplished by creating an invisible waterproof layer on the brick’s surface that prevents water from soaking into the substrate. The product is purchased and applied as a viscous liquid similar to paint.
Sealers for stone, concrete, brick and mortar are similar in application and use. For detailed advice for your specific application be sure to contact the professional at Pressure Cleaning Guys Perth.
What Is The Difference Between a Penetrating and Film Forming Sealant?
The main difference between penetrating and film-forming brick and concrete sealants lies in their application and effect on the surface. Penetrating sealants are designed to seep into the porous structure of the brick, creating an invisible barrier that repels water and moisture while allowing the brick to breathe naturally. On the other hand, film-forming sealants create a visible protective layer on the surface of the brick, forming a glossy or matte finish.
While film-forming sealants provide enhanced protection against stains and weathering, they may alter the appearance of the brick and require more frequent reapplication compared to penetrating sealants. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on the desired level of protection and aesthetic preference, with most professionals leaning towards the use of premium penetrating sealers.
How Long Does Brick Sealant Last Outdoors?
The longevity of brick sealant varies depending on factors such as the type of sealant used, environmental conditions, and the level of exposure to wear and tear. Generally, penetrating sealants tend to last longer than film-forming ones, with some providing protection for up to 5-10 years or more. Film-forming sealants may require more frequent reapplication, typically every 1-3 years, due to their surface layer being more prone to degradation from UV exposure and abrasion. Proper application and regular maintenance, such as cleaning and resealing as needed, can help extend the lifespan of brick sealants, ensuring continued protection against moisture, stains, and other forms of damage.
When Should You Hire Professional Brick Sealer Services?
It’s natural for folks to be perplexed when we explain why waterproofing bricks is so important. After all, aren’t all bricks supposed to be waterproof in the first place? The truth is that natural mineral surfaces like brick and stone are porous. To put it another way, they absorb moisture. When moisture permeates into the substrate, it can cause a slew of issues for buildings.
Damp Issues:
Our expert brick sealers are always dealing with moisture issues. This is a problem in both solid-walled structures and properties with cavity walls. Moisture that soaks into the exterior wall has the potential to leak into the inner walls of the property. Moisture can readily enter the inside of a home with a solid wall design because there is only one wall. A cavity wall’s job is to block moisture from escaping. When hollow walls are filled with cavity wall insulation, the gap that prevents moisture from entering or departing the building is closed. Poorly installed insulation can also cause damp issues because unfilled mortar joints, debris, and wall ties covered with mortar act as a bridge for moisture to enter the home’s interior.
Structure Deterioration:
If moisture is allowed to penetrate the external wall, it can cause significant damage. Once the moisture is allowed to enter the brick, stone, or concrete wall, it can undergo a freeze-thaw cycle. A freeze-thaw cycle can occur if moisture is allowed to penetrate the brick, stone, or concrete wall. The water will then expand by around 9% as a result of this. When moisture expands, it exerts pressure on the brick’s surface, resulting in ‘spalling.’ This spalling causes the brick or stone to fracture or flake away at the surface, allowing more moisture to penetrate the wall. Water infiltration will eventually cause blown brick faces and substantial parts of the masonry to crumble.
Deterioration of Aesthetics:
Aside from deterioration of building materials, moisture entering an exterior wall will have an impact on your home’s curb appeal. Moisture causes additional problems in addition to the wear and tear caused by cracking. These include brick discoloration and large-scale green growth. Additionally, moss and lichens thrive in the moist conditions of a wet exterior wall. If you consider these factors, you run the danger of decreasing the curb appeal of your property. Finally, when it comes to moisture, salt efflorescence is a prevalent issue. This is a white, powdery coating that forms on brick, stone, or concrete walls as a result of salt in the brickwork. When water enters the masonry, it dissolves the salts that are present. When the water evaporates, the melting salt migrates out of the wall. This results in large patches of brick that are easily identified by homeowners throughout Perth, Western Australia. Although not a structural problem, it is an indication that your exterior walls are absorbing moisture, which can lead to damage later on.
Is It Necessary to Use a Brick Sealant?
There are a variety of sealant options available on the market. Having said that, with our Brick Sealant, we have developed the most advanced technology available in the UK.
The Pressure Cleaning Guys Brick Sealant employs cutting-edge super-hydrophobic technology to completely repel water from the walls to which it is applied.
The capacity of the treatment to induce water droplets to bead on the surface and flow directly off a wall is referred to be superhydrophobic. This is known as the ‘lotus effect,’ and it can be seen in nature on things like lotus leaves and insect wings.
Unlike film-forming brick sealers, our Brick Sealant penetrates up to 17mm into brick, stone, and concrete. It effectively becomes a part of the material, guaranteeing that its long-term performance is not jeopardized.
The Pressure Cleaning Guy’s Brick Sealant was subjected to a 25-year weathering process in an independent test conducted by UKAS accredited laboratory Lucideon. This was done to see how it would hold up under extreme weather conditions for 25 years.
The inquiry would assess the product’s durability, breathability, ability to prevent water infiltration, and ability to retain heat on a brick wall. According to the investigation’s findings, all four tests were passed with flying colours.
According to the findings of the tests, Brick Sealant by The Pressure Cleaning Guys:
- The look of the brick wall cleaned with Brick Sealant did not deteriorate during the test
- Water absorption was reduced by 96.3 percent
- When compared to a non-treated wall, a wall treated with our Brick Sealant was found to be 6°C warmer on average
- With an SD value of 0.56, it maintained good breathability, whereas a non-treated wall had an SD value of 0.57. This showed that practically full breathability was preserved, and the coating met the breathable coating standard of less than 1 SD.
The Pressure Cleaning Guys Brick Sealant was subsequently tested by the Energy Saving Trust, which validated the product as energy saving, based on the test findings. The product accomplishes this by assisting a property in more efficiently retaining heat.
A moist wall transfers heat considerably faster than drywall. When a home’s external walls are damp, the heat escapes considerably more quickly, resulting in higher energy expenditures.
Despite the fact that our Brick Sealant has a 25-year shelf life, the treatment showed no signs of deterioration after that time.
As a result, we are so confident that the sealant will outperform this that we are happy to provide all items with a complete lifetime warranty. This means that if your sealant stops working properly, we will replace it without question.
The fact that ultra-hydrophobic technology is self-cleaning is a little-known benefit. Dirt cannot adhere to the treated brickwork in the same way that water cannot, therefore stains are far less likely to form. Rainwater will simply wash away any dirt that has accumulated on the wall. Lichens and other green vegetation will be unable to develop on the wall as well.
This is a frequent problem on any surface, but it’s especially common on bare brick since the rough surface encourages growth. Overall, the highly hydrophobic technology will keep brick, concrete, and stoned walls immaculate, making it an excellent choice for keeping your outside walls clean and appealing.
How Sealant Protects Bricks and Concrete
Brick and concrete sealer products typically cure through a process called cross-linking. When these sealers are applied to surfaces, they contain active chemical compounds that undergo a chemical reaction upon exposure to air and moisture. This reaction leads to the formation of a durable and protective barrier over the surface of the brick or concrete.
As the sealer cures, the molecules within it bond together, creating a tight network that enhances the material’s resistance to water, stains, and other forms of damage. Depending on the specific formulation of the sealer and environmental conditions, curing times may vary, but once fully cured, the sealer provides long-lasting protection for the underlying surface.
How to Use Pressure Cleaning Guys Creme
If you’ve decided that a sealant is right for you, the next step is to figure out how to apply it. Here’s a step-by-step explanation from our experts on how to apply sealant and waterproof your external walls.
You will need the following:
- Sealant
- A long-pile roller &/or paintbrush
- Paint tray
- Dust brush
- Sandpaper
- Dust sheets
- Masking tape
Preparation:
Preparation is the first stage of any decorating project. This is the most important aspect of achieving long-lasting results, as any professional decorator will tell you. To begin, make sure the surface is clean. If you have efflorescence or large areas of moss or debris, use a stiff brush to remove them. If there is any paint on the brickwork, it must be removed before applying the sealant, as this is only for a bare, mineral surface. Waterproof masonry paint can be used to waterproof painted brickwork. Apply the Pressure Cleaning Guys Paint Exterior Masonry Cleaner while ensuring the surface is dry. This is an anti-fungal cleaner that removes moss and algae that, if left on the masonry, can interfere with the sealant’s ability to perform. Apply neat to the masonry and let it sit for three hours. After this time, rinse with water and allow to dry completely. The brickwork can then be inspected to see if there are any cracks or holes that will affect the finished results. Remove any debris or loose material from the crack or hole before filling it, as this could cause problems. The crack or hole can then be filled with a good quality exterior filler, worked back and forth in straight lines with a filling knife. Allow drying completely before sanding with sandpaper to achieve a smooth finish. Apply masking tape to the edges of any sections where you don’t want to apply sealant, such as doors and windows. Then lay down a dust cover on the floor to prevent any needless clean-up if the sealant spills.
Sealant Application:
It’s time to apply the waterproof coating once the surface is clean and sound. Because the Sealant is a clear treatment that will penetrate the surface, you won’t need to use a primer. A primer is used to form a barrier between coloured paint and the wall, preventing the paint from seeping into it. If you want to paint your bare brick with masonry paint, make sure you first use a primer. Before you begin, make sure the weather is dry and above 5°C, as the sealant will not dry in those temps and will just wash off the wall if it rains. At 20°C, a sealant-treated wall will be rainproof after an hour, however, it will take longer to cure thoroughly into the brickwork. Depending on your inclination, you can apply the sealant using a brush, roller, or spray machine.
Because it has a thicker consistency than ordinary paint, be aware that it will apply thicker than desired. You want an even coat of sealant that is mostly white, but you can see some of the brick underneath. If you apply a large amount of sealant in one area, simply spread it evenly with a paintbrush to avoid large deposits that dry at different rates. The sealant provides optimal coverage of 3-5m2 per litre, with only one coat required. Once the entire wall has been treated, it will take about 2 hours to notice the water repellent properties of the brick once applied, though it will take more than 24 hours for it to fully cure into the wall. When there is no white residue on the brickwork, the sealant has completely cured.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What surfaces can be treated with sealant?
Sealant is suitable for use on any mineral-walled surface. This means that the treatment will be able to penetrate and waterproof the material, whether it is brick, stone, concrete, sandstone, limestone, or mortar.
Q. Is there a finish to it?
Brick Sealant by The Pressure Cleaning Guys does not affect masonry’s look. This product does not have the ‘wet look’ that some brick sealants do.
Q. Is it possible to paint over the brick sealer?
Sealers/sealants should never be mixed with paints. A sealant, for example, repels moisture, which means that any paint applied to it will not adhere.
Furthermore, if you apply a non-breathable paint over the top of a sealant, the water repellent, and breathable properties will be lost.
Furthermore, a sealant cannot be applied on top of paint since it must be able to permeate the brick. Choose a waterproof masonry paint to waterproof an outside wall that has been previously painted or that you intend to paint.
The Pressure Cleaning Guys Paint is a coloured masonry paint that has the same ultra-hydrophobic technology as Brick Sealant. While it will not penetrate the brick, it will remain entirely waterproof and breathable.
Q. What’s the duration of the brick sealer?
Many brick and masonry sealers have a lifespan of fewer than five years, while first-hand accounts of using some formulations have revealed that they can only last a few months on rare occasions. Depending on the type, sealants can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years.
Our Brick Sealant, for example, has a 25-year track record of success, but it’s highly likely to long exceed that, which is why it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
Q. How much sealant will I require?
When painting or coating an exterior wall, you must be aware of several factors, including the product’s coverage, the surface area, and the number of coats. Our sealant is a one-coat product with coverage of 3-5m2 per litre in the case of The Pressure Cleaning Guy’s Brick Sealant.
When compared to paints that require multiple coats, this makes calculating how much you will need much easier. A 40m2 property will require approximately 10 litres of sealant.
We hope this guide answered any questions you had about brick sealers and how to waterproof brick walls. If you have any further questions, our in-house team of experts is available to provide full technical support. Contact us today to speak with one of our experts or to learn more about The Pressure Cleaning Guys products in the Perth, Western Australian market.
Q. How to clean sealant after application?
Cleaning up after using brick sealant requires immediate attention to wipe away excess with a dry cloth. If the sealant hardens, use a solvent like mineral spirits to dissolve it, then gently scrape away residue. Clean with a mild solution of warm water and dish soap, using a soft brush or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry before applying further treatments. Always follow manufacturer instructions and test cleaning solutions on a small area first.
It’s important to remember professional installers such as The Pressure Cleaning Guys take all the hassle from correctly applying and cleaning brick and concrete sealers, leaving you with a stress-free solution.
