Sealers for Natural Stone Products
Benefits of Sealing – Less Risk, Less Worry & Fewer Stains
Sealants have made huge technological advances in recent years and are widely used because they reduce risk and lower maintenance costs by:-
- Preventing water and oil-based staining
- Making sealed areas quicker and easier to clean.
- Protecting stone from surface salt attack
- Minimising damage from freeze thaw
- Providing a UV stable protective layer
Aqua Mix Sealers & Cleaning Products
Bellstone distributes Aqua Mix products. Aqua Mix has been manufacturing natural stone products for 25 years and distributes products to over 40 countries.
Aqua Mix sealers are of extremely high quality and available at competitive prices with good back-up advice and exceptional technical support.
Aqua Mix offer outstanding technical advice on appropriate sealant use for every different type of stone - it is why we chose them! If you don't believe us go to their website (www.aquamix.com.au) for a look and you will be convinced!
Products Recommended for Use on Natural Stone
- Sealer's Choice Gold - water based penetrating sealer
- Ultra-Solv - solvent based penetrating sealer for use on very dense stone
- Enrich'N'Seal - enhances colour but leaves no sheen
- Seal & Finish Low Sheen - topical or surface sealer with low sheen finish
- High Gloss Sealer - Topical or surface sealer with gloss finish
Sealer's Choice Gold
|
This is a premium, no-sheen, natural look, water based, penetrating sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection, especially in food preparation and serving areas. It may also be used as a pre-grouting sealer. The product once applied, will allow moisture vapour transmission. It is also an excellent grout sealer and is suitable for use on both interior and exterior surfaces. Available in 3.785 litres & 19 litres.
|
Ultra-Solv
|
This is a premium, no-sheen, natural look, solvent-based, penetrating sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection, especially in food preparation and serving areas. It may also be used as a pre-grouting sealer. The product once applied will allow moisture vapour transmission. It is also an excellent grout sealer and can be used on interior and exterior surfaces.
|
Enrich 'N' Seal
|
This is a premium, no sheen, enhanced look, 100% polymer solid penetrating sealer formulated to darken, enrich and highlight the character and beauty of unsealed natural stone with Polycure technology.
It rejuvenates the colour and improves the appearance of worn and weathered stone. It may also be used as a pre-grouting sealer. It allows moisture vapour transmission. It also effectively seals and darkens the colour of grout joints. Available in 3.785 litres Coverage: depends on stone type - see tables below. |
Seal & Finish Low-Sheen
|
This is a specially formulated blend of water based acrylic polymers that provides both a stain resistant surface seal and a durable low-sheen finish eliminating the need for two products.
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High Gloss Sealer
 |
This is a specially formulated blend of water based acrylic polymers that provides both a stain resistant surface seal and a durable gloss finish eliminating the conventional two-step methods of using a sealer and finish. It may also be used as a pre-grouting sealer. It allows moisture vapour transmission and is not affected by ultra-violet light.
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Things to Understand - Before Applying Sealants
- Sealers are modern marvels of technology that help protect stone but they won’t prevent damage arising from physical (scratches) or chemical abuse (acids). Choose stone wisely to suit the intended purpose – this is the best protection of all.
- Before applying any product on natural stone (or other surfaces), conduct tests on sample pieces or a small area of the surface that is hidden from view, to see if you are happy with the result.
- The level of protection offered by a sealant is directly proportional to the amount of sealant applied and absorbed – don’t be a scrooge!
- Before applying a sealer, thoroughly clean the surface. If the surface is marked and stained (e.g. fat, food, leaves, moss) apply a stone cleaner first then wash off to prevent existing stains and marks being encased forever.
- Don’t apply sealants to poorly drained outdoor surfaces where there is rising damp, water rising under hydrostatic pressure or water carrying dissolved salts that somehow gets under the stone surface – you will lock the salt laden moisture under the protective barrier. The water evaporates and escapes but the salt cannot. The trapped salt once crystalised can cause incredible damage.
- Don't apply sealants if the stone or grout is damp
- Don't apply sealants in the heat of the day when the stone is hot - apply it in the early hours of the day.
- If re-sealing stone make certain that the sealer being applied is compatible with the previously used product
- Two thin coats of evenly spread sealant is far more effective than one thick coat - the finish will be better as well.
- If sealing stone near salt water pools where frequent inundation or splashing occurs , seal all 6 sides. Do not use surface sealers around pools - rising salt may cause delamination
- There are lots of sealants on the market and their cost vary - so does the concentration of their contents. Don't compare prices on the basis of volume. Instead compare them on the area covered - because they vary enormously!
Sealants - Indicative Coverage & Costs
The information in the table below are estimates for each stone type and surface finish. They are based on 2 coats. Costs (GST included) are based on our current sale price of a 3.785 litre container, images of which appear above.
Coverage depends on the density and porosity of the stone; it also varies with the surface finish as you will see from the data below.
| SANDSTONE | Ultra Solv
|
Sealers
Choice Gold |
Enrich 'N' Seal | Seal 'N' Finish
Low Sheen |
High Gloss
|
| Coats required |
2 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ccoverage/3.785l
|
45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
| Cost / 3.785l
|
$362 | $362 | $472 | $138 | $174 |
| Cost - 2 coats/m2
|
$16.07
|
$16.07 | $20.97 | $6.15 | $7.74 |
| SLATE | Ultra Solv
|
Sealer's
Choice Gold |
Enrich 'N' Seal
|
Seal 'N' Finish
Low Sheen |
High Gloss
|
| Coats required
|
2
|
2 | 2
|
2 - 3
|
2 - 3
|
| Coverage/3.785l
|
45
|
45 | 45
|
45
|
45
|
| Cost / 3.785l
|
$362 | $362
|
$472
|
$138 | $174
|
| Cost - 2 coats/m2
|
$16.07
|
$16.07 | $20.97
|
$6.15
|
$7.74 |
|
QUARTZITE
|
Ultra Solv |
Sealer's
|
Enrich 'N' Seal |
| Coats required | 2 | 2 | 1 - 2 |
| Coverage/3.785l | 80 | 80 | 110 |
| Cost / 3.785l | $362 | $362 | $472 |
| Cost - 2 coats/m2 | $9.04 | $9.04 | $8.58 |
| GRANITE
(flamed)
|
Ultra Solv
|
Sealer's
Choice Gold |
Enrich 'N' Seal
|
Seal 'N' Finish
Low Sheen |
High Gloss
|
| Coats required
|
2
|
2 | 2
|
2 - 3
|
2 - 3
|
| Coverage/3.785l
|
80
|
80 | 80
|
80
|
80
|
| Cost / 3.785l
|
$362 | $362
|
$472
|
$138 | $174
|
| Cost - 2 coats/m2
|
$9.04
|
$9.04 | $11.80
|
$3.46
|
$4.35 |
| GRANITE
(polished)
|
Ultra Solv
|
Sealer's
Choice Gold |
Enrich 'N' Seal
|
| Coats required
|
2
|
2 | 2
|
| Coverage/3.785l
|
140
|
140 | 140
|
| Cost / 3.785l
|
$362 | $362
|
$472
|
| Cost - 2 coats/m2
|
$5.17
|
$5.17 | $6.74
|
| BLUESTONE
(flamed)
|
Ultra Solv
|
Sealer's
Choice Gold |
Enrich 'N' Seal
|
Seal 'N' Finish
Low Sheen |
High Gloss
|
| Coats required
|
2
|
2 | 2
|
2 - 3
|
2 - 3
|
| Coverage/3.785l
|
85
|
85 | 85
|
85
|
85
|
| Cost / 3.785l
|
$362 | $362
|
$472
|
$138 | $174
|
| Cost - 2 coats/m2
|
$8.51
|
$8.51 | $9.93
|
$3.26
|
$4.10 |
BLUESTONE
Sealer's
(honed)
Ultra Solv
Choice Gold
Enrich 'N' Seal
Coats required
2
2
2
Coverage/3.785l
102.5
102.5
102.5
Cost / 3.785l
$362
$362
$472
Cost - 2 coats/m2
$7.06
$7.06
$9.21
|
BLUESTONE
|
Ultra Solv |
Sealer's
|
Enrich 'N' Seal |
| Coats required | 2
|
2 | 2 |
| Coverage/3.785l | 140 | 140 | 140 |
| Cost / 3.785l | $362 | $362 | $472 |
| Cost - 2 coats/m2 | $5.17 | $5.17 | $6.74 |
For further information on Aqua Mix sealers go to www.aquamix.com.au