FREE DElivery to mainland UK excludes highlands/NI
The following article is intended to help making the application of Floorseal Premium Impregnating Sealer easy.
To view further information about Floorseal Premium Impregnating Sealer regarding container sizes & prices click on any of the product titles highlighted in blue.
Premium Impregnating Sealer is a sub-surface sealer sometimes also referred to as penetrating sealer. The active content within an impregnating sealer is held in suspension in the liquid carrying agent. Once applied this product becomes meshed into the pores of the surface it is applied to. Impregnators are breathable as they do not form a skin/film/lacquer on the surface. Typically, this product is applied twice approximately 40 minutes apart.
Possibly only once on very dense or fully polished surfaces such as a highly polished marble.
Premium Impregnating Sealer is a liquid with a water/oil repellent polymer within the solution. It should be applied to a porous surface and allowed to sink in, the carrying agent dries/evaporates leaving the polymer behind. This type of sealer is non-film forming.
This sealer is used to repel liquid staining or general damp/water penetration. The repellence of water/oil based staining is its primary function.
Usually nothing, penetrating sealers are exactly the same type of sealer as an impregnating sealer, it is just another name for the same type of sealer. The name simply indicates to the user that the sealer is a sub-surface sealer (which will be non-film forming).
It means that once applied the sealer is meshed into the pores of the treated surface. A non-film forming sealer repels moisture from within. Impregnating sealers help to repel general water-based staining, rainwater or oils. There is no visible coating/lacquer, so impregnating sealers are described as non-film forming. For this reason Premium Impregnating Sealer cannot be seen once applied i.e. there is no change in appearance of the treated surface.
The word ‘sealer’ often makes a novice think that all sealing products are coatings. This is not the case with Premium Impregnating Sealer as it is non-film forming.
Premium Impregnating Sealer does not alter the appearance of the treated surface. For this reason we must describe it as natural or matt finish.
If it is applied to a polished stone the finish of the stone would still appear ‘polished’ If the stone or tile is a matt/dull/honed finish it would retain the same dull/matt/dry appearance.
Perfect for sealing when the user does not wish to see any change in appearance of their surface after treatment with this product. Therefore there is no ‘finish’ associated with this product.
Because impregnating sealers do not form a coating they also cannot create a sheen. An impregnating sealer sits in the pores of the surface, so they effectively have no visible finish. Impregnating sealers cannot be seen and therefore do not alter the appearance of the treated surface.
The term we use to describe the sealing action of an impregnator is that they are ‘in’ the surface not ‘on’ the surface. The product does not make any change in appearance but you should always carry out a small test first.
It is worth carrying out a small test patch to assess if the colour of the stone or tile will be affected. Normally this is not the case but you should test first. Wait until the product has fully dried and cured to assess the result. It is highly unlikely any form of impregnating sealer will affect the colour of the treated surface.
Never apply the sealer to damp stone, the surface should be totally dry. Ensure the surface is clean before application. Try to avoid applying the product when temperatures below 10C or above 20C. There is some wiggle room in the temperatures ranges noted – if you are sealing on a warm day then do so first thing in the morning when the stone is cold. Switch off underfloor heating systems 24 hrs before sealing.
Always make sure the surface is clean & dry before sealing.
Spray, roller or brush the sealer onto the surface and allow it to soak in. Saturate the surface and leave it to soak in for 10-20 minutes (or possibly longer in cool conditions). The greater the amount of sealer that is absorbed by the stone the more affectively it will be sealed. Try to encourage as much impregnator into the surface as possible (by allowing it to saturate and work its way into the pores of the material). The first application is crucial as the stone is at its most porous. The 2nd application is more of a top up to fill any remaining pores that may accept more of the sealing polymer.
Use microfibre cloths to remove any excess sealer. On certain surfaces you will see very little excess. Sandstone is particularly porous so will allow an impregnator to soak into it quite rapidly. Any excess sealer can be removed by wiping it away or running a dry roller over the area.
Because it is exactly that – an excess i.e. waste product. This should be carried out before the excess before it comes tacky. Typically you should remove any excess after approximately 10-30 minutes. Please adjust the time allowed for excess removal based on air and surface temperatures. A test patch can be used to assess this timing.
We recommend buffing/cleaning off each slab with microfibre cloths. It is imperative you remove all excess product from the surface. In theory, if you have reached a saturation, you will see some excess product.
Polished stone (like highly polished marble or limestone) may not require a small amount of sealer. There will already be a reasonable degree of surface tension created by the polishing process. We recommend application to small areas at a time, then wiping/buffing off each slab/tile shortly after application.
Removal of excess product ensures that no visible change can be noted to the surface.
After approximately 40 minutes repeat the process. Apply the sealer sparingly as the first application will already be taking effect. The stone will not accept the same volume of sealer during this second application. Again, remove all excess sealer with microfibre cloths or other.
It is possible to apply the product on separate days (if used as a pre-grout sealer) or a few months/years later as the surface becomes porous again. Applying 40 mins apart is the most efficient way to seal. But often tilers working with limestone/marble etc like to use the product as a pre-grouting sealer so apply 2 coats on separate days.
Drying times will be rapid (usually measured in minutes), but the cure time can be 6-24 hrs.
It depends on the surface!
You will achieve a greater coverage rate on slate than a sandstone. As a rough guide, 5 litres of Premium Impregnating Sealer will cover approximately 20m2 of surface area (accounting for applying the product twice). This area will be greater on dense or polished surfaces.
The more product you can encourage into the surface of the material the better. The first application is the main delivery of product, the 2nd application is usually (and hopefully) more of a top up.
A classic mistake (when working with any brand/type of sealer) is to try to work to a specific fixed coverage rate. All products must have an indication of coverage rate but it is an indication only. Coverage rates are ultimately dictated by the porosity of the material.
Sandstone will absorb more than slate tile, even different types of sandstone can create a difference in the coverage rate.
The more impregnator you can encourage into the surface the better the product will work.
Using a roller to ‘roller out’ an impregnator as thin as it will possibly (seem to) go will lead to a sub optimal performance. It normally indicates the user has a basic misunderstanding of the type of product they are working with.
Premium Impregnating Sealer has various benefits, it is breathable, non-film forming, it does not alter the appearance of the treated surface. This product can be used as pre-grout sealer and is permissible in listed/historic buildings. Premium Impregnating Sealer can be applied to surfaces where vapour transfer is likely i.e. rubble filled walls or floors with no Damp Proof Membrane (DPM).
This sealer is a non-visible natural finish penetrating sealer. It is normally applied twice and all excess should be removed with microfibre cloths or other. It can be applied via roller, brush or paint pad. The sealer should be applied liberally and allowed to be absorbed by the surface being treated.
This product can be applied to internal or external surfaces. Such as sandstone, slate, terracotta, limestone, travertine, concrete, bricks, granite, pavers, paths, patios, lime, grouts, Victorian tiles & more. Do not dilute, apply the product at full strength.
Please click on the product titles highlighted in blue to view container sizes or prices.
The information contained in this article is not exhaustive. If you need further information please contact Floorseal at info@floorseal.co.uk
Our products are easy to apply using non specialist tools
Full strength professional cleaning and sealing products
Help and support with application methods and top tips!
