Sealing Natural Stone and Concrete with AquaBlocka

How to get incredible results like this with AquaBlocka Water Based Sealer

AquaBlocka is a high solids, silane siloxane sealer intended for use by professionals and home owners due to its easy to use and forgiving nature, while offering long lasting protection. Follow along this step by step process, to get the best results when sealing natural stone, concrete, pavers, absorbent tiles, and other masonry surfaces.

Step 1: Getting a properly prepared surface

Clean the surfaces intended to be sealed thoroughly using the StoneSealer Canada 2 Step cleaning method for stone, concrete, pavers, tiles, and all other resilient flooring and siding.

a.) pre wet the entire area with OxyShock at its proper dilution, allow to sit for 15-20 minutes to adequately destroy all organic material on the surface. Wash thoroughly with a high volume pressure washer, do not get too close to the surface as you may damage your stone or concrete.

b.) Now, coat the surface intended to be sealed in EffBOMB at a 1:10 ratio with water (often achieved by "downstreaming" the soap if you have a commercial pressure washer) If there is any efflorescence or white stains left, soak those specific areas in a stronger mixture of EffBOMB till fully removed. Do not allow EffBOMB to dry on the surface, wash away thoroughly with a high volume pressure washer.

Now our surface has been fully prepared by removing any organic contaminants with biodegradable OxyShock, and any salt or loose stone particles have been removed from the pores with EffBOMB meaning AquaBlocka will have more high strength surfaces to bond to, extending the life of the sealers protection.

Step 2: Protection

After allowing the surface to dry fully (no visible dark spots anywhere on the surface or in the joints if applicable) it's time to protect the surfaces around your stone or concrete which you don't want to get sealer on. We recommend protecting any nearby windows, siding, painted surfaces, metal, plants, or any other surface which isn't the one you intend to seal.

Recommended protection method: We recommend using a high quality exterior masking tape made of plastic not paper, like the 3M Scotch Yellow exterior tape found at most paint stores. After putting a solid line of high quality masking tape down, follow with a sheet of painters plastic taped down on top of that first line of tape, then drape that plastic out on to the areas you do not intend to seal or over glass.

When working on a vertical surface, always tightly fit a tarp or plastic drop sheet onto the ground or flooring below your work surface to protect from any drips or spills.

Step 3: Application

Now, you have a few options for applying your AquaBlocka Sealer.

For large wide open areas:

we recommend a high quality pump up sprayer, or a airless spray system intended for paint or sealers, for efficiency. This method may not be the best choice if there is a large amount of wind, or many delicate surfaces nearby which you do not want sealed, as there can be some overspray.

1.) Load the sealer into the sprayer, or put the feed hose from the spray system into the pail of AquaBlocka

2.) Spray a fine mist over the entire area to be sprayed, keeping in mind the intended coverage rates, if new to sealing we recommend taping off a section which meets the coverage rate for 1 gallon and then loading your system with only one gallon, then making the sealer reach that whole taped area, to learn how the coverage rate feels.

3.) when just visibly dry across 80%+ of the surface, push any puddles or excess onto another area with a microfiber paint roller. Now, apply a second fine mist coat.

4.) Wipe up any remaining excess or puddles after 25 minutes, wipe off your feet before exiting the sealer area as any sealer on your shoes may leave foot prints on other surfaces which are permanent.

For smaller areas on smooth surfaces:

use a 9" or 18" width 10mm microfiber paint roller on an extension pole. You will also need an appropriate sized paint tray, and a second dry roller refill for moving excess around.

1.) Saturate your roller quickly in the tray of sealer, ring it out on the tray thoroughly

2.) Roll the sealer evenly across the surface at the prescribed coverage rate, measure out the area which 1 Gallon should cover for your application and do 1 Gallon sections at a time if needed, the whole surface should be evenly wet looking.

3.) after 80% plus of the surface appears dry, remove any excess or puddles with the dry roller refill.

4.) Apply a second thinner coat to the whole surface, you may need to work the sealer in by rolling back and forth more than the first coat. The surface should appear dark and wet for a minimum 15 seconds after removing your roller.

4.) B) If 15 seconds wet time not achieved, apply additional coats until this time is achieved to be considered properly sealed, or until such time that you cannot get the surface to change colour with additional sealer.

5.) Allow to saturate for 25 minutes, at which time wipe up any excess or puddles, when exiting the area being sealed always wipe your feet with clean dry cloths.

For Smaller Areas with Rough Surfaces:

If spraying is not an applicable option, you will need to brush on to the surface. We recommend using a clean new natural bristle painting brush known as "Chip Brushes" they are low cost and disposable after use.

1.) Fill a small chemical resistant paint cup with AquaBlocka

2.) Lightly dip the brush into the AquaBlocka, wring out the excess by pressing the brush against the side of your cup.

3.) Paint generously onto the surface, making sure to coat all areas and saturate enough to fully darken the stone.

4.) After 20 minutes or when visibly back to its original colour, coat the surface again as in step 3. Note, the stone or concrete will not darken as much as in step 3 sometimes not at all.

5.) Wipe up any beads or excess from the surface with clean dry terry towels.

How to Maintain a Surface Sealed with AquaBlocka

Maintenance should include an annual cleaning for organics using OxyShock, cleaning with OxyShock and preventatively removing any organics which start to grow on the surface will extend the life of both the sealer, and the surface under the sealer. This will also give you a chance to check for any areas which did not get enough sealer on the first coat.

Surfaces sealed with AquaBlocka should not substantially change colour when wet for 4-5 years. They should actively bead water for a minimum of 2 years, though beading is a nice party trick it does not tell the whole tale of if stone or concrete is well sealed below the surface.

If when cleaning you discover an area which quickly goes dark, mark the area with an object and then apply a small amount of AquaBlocka when the area has fully dried again, following the steps above for application.

After 3+ years when you see the sealer starting to not fully reject water over the majority of the surface, you can apply a thin maintenance coat across the whole surface, it will take far less AquaBlocka than when it was initially sealed as only the sealer towards the surface will have been lost.

What should I do if I need help installing sealer?

You can contact the helpful staff at StoneSealer Canada with any technical questions you have any time at helpdesk@stonesealer.ca or 1-877-824-6040