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Seal | Clean | Repair | Protect
The balance of this page refers only to
tabletops sealed with Aldon S-B-S Sealer.
Agio Tables
How to:
Seal | Clean | Repair | Protect
Strip & Restore | Easy Care
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Advantages of Agio tables :
Beautiful textures and colors. They are much easier to clean than glass top tables that must be cleaned top and underneath and in frame crevices. Most, but not all Agio tabletops have been sealed with our S-B-S Sealer since 2004. Before restoring the finish, it is important for you to know, if possible, if your tabletop has the Aldon sealer or some other.
Beautiful textures and colors. They are much easier to clean than glass top tables that must be cleaned top and underneath and in frame crevices. Most, but not all Agio tabletops have been sealed with our S-B-S Sealer since 2004. Before restoring the finish, it is important for you to know, if possible, if your tabletop has the Aldon sealer or some other.
How to determine what sealer is on your table:
Here is why it is important to us that you know what sealer you are dealing with. If the sealer has not matched up to what we describe here for S-B-S Sealer, it might not be ours. We want you to know what to do so you do not waste time and money.
Aldon S-B-S Sealer is a special formula with attributes most people would not consider. There are periods of time that tabletops were produced with other sealer formulations in China. See the "Production History" below. Another sealer may not perform the same as S-B-S Sealer. Replacing whatever is there with S-B-S Sealer is an easy process, but please see the "Restoration Notes" further down.
. Safety! The restoration process is not often, but is done by homeowners. Therefore, the new sealer application must be safe and that means non-flammable. Most sealers you see in stores are flammable, S-B-S Sealer in not flammable.
. Thermal expansion/contraction effect on sealer bond - Even though it is recommended to cover and store away the tables in the off season, the sealer must stand up to year round exposure. In the summer, the table will expand as it heats up and then shrink as it cools down at night. This movement can break the bond if the sealer does not allow for it. And, that movement goes on for months and years. This is much different than typical lab test. S-B-S Sealer is formulated to move with the tables expansion/contraction cycles without losing bond (peeling).
. Ease of restoration for homeowners - S-B-S Sealer can be restored in most cases by just spraying on more sealer. No need to strip it. The new sealer melts the old sealer (compatibility) and they melt together on and below the surface. If S-B-S Sealer does need to be removed, all it takes is lacquer thinner to melt it, wipe away, dry for 2 minutes, spray again with the sealer.
. Some stones (limestone and marble) will etch from acidic liquids. Such as wine, fruit juices, some cleaners. Therefore, S-B-S Sealer creates a barrier so the liquid cannot contact the stone. Even something as powerful as muriatic (swimming pool) acid cannot get through.
. Furniture manufacturers use new and different materials every year to upgrade their products. The sealer must work the same on any material they might use.
Aldon S-B-S Sealer was applied to tabletops beginning 2004 and through 2011 to the best of our knowledge. During the production of October-January of 2012 this changed for some of the tabletops when the factory ran out of sealer and had to use one locally available in China. Production runs beginning October 2013 were again using S-B-S Sealer. This changed again for the production run October 2016 when another China sealer was used. We are not confident about these dates, but this should be close. Restoration Notes:
. You probably will not know for sure what sealer is on your tabletop, but that is not a problem. So, here is what to look for.
. If the sealer has not performed as described above, consider it to be a different sealer. If lacquer thinner does not remove the sealer as we show in our video, you will need our Premium Stripper. . If the sealer does remove with lacquer thinner, as does S-B-S Sealer, make sure you are down to the natural, duller finish of the stone over the whole surface. It might be S-B-S Sealer that was there, but test a small area to make sure the new S-B-S Sealer will bond with whatever sealer is down below in the stone below the surface. Any questions or concerns? Just contact us.
Some special tabletop formula features of S-B-S Sealer are:
. Durability under severe conditions of desert area heat to snow area cold and wet. Also, cannot breakdown from ultra-violet light.
. Safety! The restoration process is not often, but is done by homeowners. Therefore, the new sealer application must be safe and that means non-flammable. Most sealers you see in stores are flammable, S-B-S Sealer in not flammable.
. Thermal expansion/contraction effect on sealer bond - Even though it is recommended to cover and store away the tables in the off season, the sealer must stand up to year round exposure. In the summer, the table will expand as it heats up and then shrink as it cools down at night. This movement can break the bond if the sealer does not allow for it. And, that movement goes on for months and years. This is much different than typical lab test. S-B-S Sealer is formulated to move with the tables expansion/contraction cycles without losing bond (peeling).
. Ease of restoration for homeowners - S-B-S Sealer can be restored in most cases by just spraying on more sealer. No need to strip it. The new sealer melts the old sealer (compatibility) and they melt together on and below the surface. If S-B-S Sealer does need to be removed, all it takes is lacquer thinner to melt it, wipe away, dry for 2 minutes, spray again with the sealer.
. Some stones (limestone and marble) will etch from acidic liquids. Such as wine, fruit juices, some cleaners. Therefore, S-B-S Sealer creates a barrier so the liquid cannot contact the stone. Even something as powerful as muriatic (swimming pool) acid cannot get through.
. Furniture manufacturers use new and different materials every year to upgrade their products. The sealer must work the same on any material they might use.
Now the question is - Which sealer do you have?:
History:
Aldon S-B-S Sealer was applied to tabletops beginning 2004 and through 2011 to the best of our knowledge. During the production of October-January of 2012 this changed for some of the tabletops when the factory ran out of sealer and had to use one locally available in China. Production runs beginning October 2013 were again using S-B-S Sealer. This changed again for the production run October 2016 when another China sealer was used. We are not confident about these dates, but this should be close. Restoration Notes:
. You probably will not know for sure what sealer is on your tabletop, but that is not a problem. So, here is what to look for.
. If the sealer has not performed as described above, consider it to be a different sealer. If lacquer thinner does not remove the sealer as we show in our video, you will need our Premium Stripper. . If the sealer does remove with lacquer thinner, as does S-B-S Sealer, make sure you are down to the natural, duller finish of the stone over the whole surface. It might be S-B-S Sealer that was there, but test a small area to make sure the new S-B-S Sealer will bond with whatever sealer is down below in the stone below the surface. Any questions or concerns? Just contact us.
Handy Tips:
Aldon "Insta-Clean" works great for cleaning spots, bird droppings, etc. from cushions and all other surfaces.
Cushions are water resistant, but still remain damp after a rain or sprinklers.
Angle cushions like this and water just runs off and does not pool. Result is they dry out much faster.
Angle cushions like this and water just runs off and does not pool. Result is they dry out much faster.
Showing "S-B-S Sealer" on Agio tables . This sealer is | Solvent Base | Penetrating Type. Provides: color enhancement | low gloss | strengthening | efflorescence barrier. Coverage guidelines (depending on absorption) 150 to 500 sq.ft./gal.
Add to Project List
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S-B-S Sealer is the product for all hard surface table tops - indoors or outdoors. For these small projects, the aerosols are suggested to achieve the desired self-leveling finish and make the project very fast and easy.
How to take from a gallon and make an aerosol application.
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The balance of this page refers only to
tabletops sealed with Aldon S-B-S Sealer.
There is no need to be overly concerned about damaging S-B-S Sealer. Unlike other sealers, S-B-S is easily fixed. The important thing is protecting the stone and that is what the sealer does well.
Use only Aldon S-B-S Sealer to repair the finish. The concept is "Do not risk incompatibility". We know what additional S-B-S Sealer does with the original S-B-S Sealer, but have no idea what a different sealer might do. A new application of S-B-S Sealer will "melt" the old S-B-S Sealer and they will flow together and tightly bond.
To see a full video of the easy sealer stripping / spraying process
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR STONE TABLETOP
Congratulations on the purchase of your outdoor furniture set featuring a beautifully handcrafted tile or stone tabletop!
The stone in your table is an all-natural material. Any variations in texture, color and stone finish are inherent characteristics of a natural material and are part of the uniqueness that is the natural beauty of stone. These colors can be "enhanced" (richer, deeper colors) by the sealer.
About Natural Stone
. Provide an extremely high level of protection from all stains and acidic liquids. Marble and limestone will etch from acidic liquids and ruin the finish if not protected. However, we show you how to salvage this unfortunate situation.
. Does not require frequent re-application by the homeowner.
. Is easily repaired if a disaster occurs.
. Does not require specialized knowledge or skill from the homeowner.
. Is safe for the homeowner. Most sealers are flammable, Aldon S-B-S Sealer in non-flammable.
. Is safe for the atmosphere. Aldon S-B-S Sealer meets all VOC requirements.
. Will not break down with outdoor use. S-B-S Sealer is also used on patio flooring and driveways.
. Create a customizable gloss level from matte to high gloss with additional coatings.
. Enhance and bring to life the natural colors of stones.
. Have a performance history of many years. S-B-S Sealer has been in use since 1984. Here are a few features that will make a difference to your long term care requirements:
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer has been used since 1984 - indoor and outdoors, desert heat and mountain cold. It does not have the "indoor only" limitation of many sealers.
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer does not breakdown from ultra violet light or anything else that would require additional sealing in a few months or every year..
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer was created for, and has been used, on flooring - an obviously more abusive condition than that experienced by a tabletop.
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer protects stones (limestones and marbles) that react with acidic liquids to create a dulling of the finish (surface etching). That includes all the things that can be dropped on a table, like wines, liquors, fruit juices, lemon/lime slices, etc.
. Obviously, it is best to cover your table when not in use. However, the sealer is very easy to repair and, therefore, any damage to the sealer is not a crises. Therefore, your need to care for this tabletop is only simple cleaning. No spill can get at your tile or stone so long as the sealer is maintained. Note: "Disaster recovery" is discussed below and is unbelievably simple and easy.
Note: The nature of any stone mass is to retain heat. Care should be exercised when handling stone that has been subjected to lengthy exposure to the sun.
Note: This page is devoted to the tabletops and fire pits.
To see a video of sealer application to a fire pit, click the picture. Care and Maintenance: ............ Keeping it Simple!
Any natural stone will have some degree of absorption and therefore can absorb something that will stain it. Your stone tabletop has been sealed and protected with Aldon S-B-S Sealer. Therefore, from now on we are actually going to be discussing the maintenance of the sealer, not the stone. This is an important distinction because the maintenance of the sealer automatically protects the stone.
The goals for a patio furniture tabletop or fire pit sealer must meet the conditions of real world usage, not just good looks in a showroom. These goals include:
. Provide an extremely high level of protection from all stains and acidic liquids. Marble and limestone will etch from acidic liquids and ruin the finish if not protected. However, we show you how to salvage this unfortunate situation.
. Does not require frequent re-application by the homeowner.
. Is easily repaired if a disaster occurs.
. Does not require specialized knowledge or skill from the homeowner.
. Is safe for the homeowner. Most sealers are flammable, Aldon S-B-S Sealer in non-flammable.
. Is safe for the atmosphere. Aldon S-B-S Sealer meets all VOC requirements.
. Will not break down with outdoor use. S-B-S Sealer is also used on patio flooring and driveways.
. Create a customizable gloss level from matte to high gloss with additional coatings.
. Enhance and bring to life the natural colors of stones.
. Have a performance history of many years. S-B-S Sealer has been in use since 1984. Here are a few features that will make a difference to your long term care requirements:
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer has been used since 1984 - indoor and outdoors, desert heat and mountain cold. It does not have the "indoor only" limitation of many sealers.
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer does not breakdown from ultra violet light or anything else that would require additional sealing in a few months or every year..
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer was created for, and has been used, on flooring - an obviously more abusive condition than that experienced by a tabletop.
. Aldon S-B-S Sealer protects stones (limestones and marbles) that react with acidic liquids to create a dulling of the finish (surface etching). That includes all the things that can be dropped on a table, like wines, liquors, fruit juices, lemon/lime slices, etc.
. Obviously, it is best to cover your table when not in use. However, the sealer is very easy to repair and, therefore, any damage to the sealer is not a crises. Therefore, your need to care for this tabletop is only simple cleaning. No spill can get at your tile or stone so long as the sealer is maintained. Note: "Disaster recovery" is discussed below and is unbelievably simple and easy.
To see a video of sealer application to a fire pit, click the picture. Care and Maintenance: ............ Keeping it Simple!
With S-B-S Sealer, there are no special care or cleaning materials required or to be avoided, other than petroleum solvents (which can break down and weaken the protective qualities of the sealer). Soap and water is all you need. If by mistake a solvent was used, and it has affected the sealer, do not worry. After it is dry, simply add back more of the sealer to restore the finish. See "Disaster Recovery" below.
Cleaning, normal dirt:
The stone on your table has been sealed, but it still requires regular cleaning. Clean the tabletop with a soft, clean, white cloth (one that won't bleed color) or sponge. Use clean warm water and a mild dish soap. Never use scouring creams or abrasive cleansers that might scratch the sealer finish.
Cleaning, accidental spills:
These should be cleaned immediately. Just wipe up with a damp cloth. S-B-S Sealer will minimize possible damage to the tabletop stone by allowing more cleaning time for accidental spills. Keeping the protective sealer maintained is very important!
Rinse after cleaning with plenty of clean water to remove any soap residue. Dry thoroughly after cleaning to prevent residue from minerals that might be present in your water, even with softened water.
Cleaning, heavy duty: (bird droppings, sap or tree droppings, label glue)
To remove these tougher materials you may need a more aggressive cleaner than soap and water. That would be Aldon Insta-Clean . This product breaks down tough oil and other type materials, but will not hurt the S-B-S Sealer. Spray on - let it work - wipe off before dry. With flooring, no rinsing is needed. However, as with any chemical product, a tabletop should be final cleaned with soap and water in case food that will be consumed might be set on the tabletop instead of a plate.
What if you see the finish dulling over time?
This would not be dulling of the sealer, but could be deposits on top of the sealer. For instance, sprinkler water containing minerals, chemicals carried from rain water running off the roof or other cover, cleaning product residues, etc. See Problem Solving for mineral deposits and other cleaning issues.
If necessary, you can remove the sealer and deposits on top of the sealer will come off also. Use lacquer thinner and see "Disaster Recovery" below for re-sealing with S-B-S Sealer. Do not leave the tabletop unprotected with sealer for longer than absolutely necessary to prevent accidental staining of the stone.
What if you want to make it more glossy?
Just do a normal cleaning, then when dry - spray more S-B-S Sealer with the spray can. The new sealer liquid will melt the old, then bond with the old and build up more gloss. See page bottom for ordering spray cans.
Maintenance of the S-B-S Sealer:
There really is not any special maintenance needed under normal conditions. (For "disaster recovery" - see below.) Sealer touch up should not be necessary, but is very easy if ever needed. After cleaning and drying, you can spray any area, or the whole tabletop, with the S-B-S Sealer. The new sealer "melts" the old sealer and all bonds together to a new finish.
Additional Recommendations - Making the beauty last!
There is no great concern about using coasters and place mats when dining. However, coasters will help absorb sweating by beverage glasses or cups and also prevent hot mugs or cups from leaving a ring. Place mats will catch spills and prevent rough bottom dishes from scratching the sealer if dragged across the surface.
Any large piece of stone can "draw" the heat from a hot serving dish that is placed on it. This rapid transfer of heat can cool the food and could crack the dish. Use caution when placing very hot objects on the tabletop and always use trivets, mats or hot pads.
If a fabric cover has left a gummy residue behind, see here.
Special Precautions For Tables Using Umbrellas
When using an umbrella with a table, always make sure the protective ring is in the umbrella hole and the umbrella is secured using a sturdy umbrella base. Never use an umbrella without the protective ring or an umbrella base.
Always remove an umbrella from the table and store when not in use.
Never use an umbrella in a table during windy conditions.
Disaster Recovery:
To see a full video of the sealer stripping / spraying process:
"Insta-Clean" removes food, grease, oil, etc. stain causing materials - from floors, patio furniture, machinery.
"Maintain" - for no streak wet mopping of Agio tables and all other types of flooring.
To see a full video of the sealer stripping / spraying process:
(You may need Aldon Premium Stripper to remove certain types of non-Aldon sealers.)
The knife slipped and you cut into the sealer?
Simply apply enough S-B-S Sealer on the cut area to cover it. The new sealer will "melt" the old and all will self-level to a new finish.
A red hot utensil was set on the tabletop and the sealer has a "scorched" or "melted" area?
Use lacquer thinner or Aldon Premium Stripper to remove the damaged area. "Premium Stripper" is a semi-gel product that you can control and keep from touching a larger area than desired.
If using lacquer thinner- pour a small puddle - wipe off before it dries with a clean white cloth. Repeat as necessary.
Let dry.
Apply S-B-S Sealer to the area and allow a little to flow into the surrounding undamaged sealer area. The new sealer will "melt" the old and all will self-level to a new finish.
Something has cut or scraped past the sealer and managed to scratch the stone? (or grout?) (This is also a way to "polish away" stone stains that may have occurred during the time the stone was not protected by sealer.)
If using lacquer thinner- pour a small puddle - wipe off before it dries with a clean white cloth. Repeat as necessary.
Let dry.
Apply S-B-S Sealer to the area and allow a little to flow into the surrounding undamaged sealer area. The new sealer will "melt" the old and all will self-level to a new finish.
Use lacquer thinner or Aldon Premium Stripper to remove sealer from the damaged area. "Premium Stripper" is a semi-gel product that you can control and keep from touching a larger area than desired.
If using lacquer thinner, pour a small puddle - wipe off before it dries with a clean white cloth. Repeat as necessary.
Let dry.
See Aldon "Fine Stone Restoration" for the process of polishing out the scratches in limestone and marble. See below for the grout.
Let dry.
Apply Aldon S-B-S Sealer to the area and allow a little to flow into the surrounding undamaged sealer area. The new sealer will "melt" the old and all will self-level to a new finish.
If using lacquer thinner, pour a small puddle - wipe off before it dries with a clean white cloth. Repeat as necessary.
Let dry.
See Aldon "Fine Stone Restoration" for the process of polishing out the scratches in limestone and marble. See below for the grout.
Let dry.
Apply Aldon S-B-S Sealer to the area and allow a little to flow into the surrounding undamaged sealer area. The new sealer will "melt" the old and all will self-level to a new finish.
Scratches in the grout.
The steel wool part of the process of stone restoration will also refinish the grout because tabletop grouts are usually a resin and not cement. If you only have scratches in the grout and not in the stone, you do not need the "Fine Stone Restoration". Just polish out the scratches with
#0000 steel wool and then add back the Aldon S-B-S Sealer.
Some extremely aggressive chemical has attacked the sealer and left a permanent mark?
This is extremely unlikely to actually happen in anything considered normal use. The true goal is to protect the stone surface, even if a little sealer is sacrificed. Simply use
lacquer thinner to remove the damaged area of sealer, then repair with more sealer.
Repairing pits or holes?
These tabletops are made of natural stone. It almost never happens, but is possible that the expansion/contraction from many repetitions of heating and cooling that impacts any outdoor surface could cause a "pop out" of a tiny piece of stone from an invisible, internal weak spot. If it happens, it is relatively easy to repair. Review the patching/filling process.
Small white spots under the sealer?
These tabletops are a large mass of stone and metal that will absorb a good deal of heat during a sunny day. When a mass like this heats up, it expands. When it cools down at night, it contracts. Natural stone will vary considerable in density across its face. Sometimes, the expansion/contraction movement day after day can cause the sealer to lose bond at some points of denser stone. This might show up as a white spot (bubble or "blister"). If large enough, it can sometimes be scraped off with your fingernail. This is a quick and easy fix, but should be preventable by keeping the table top covered when not in use. Here are some repair options:
Easiest - simply spray with sealer. New sealer will melt old and create a new finish. Usually, this is all that is needed. If the condition happens again, you can spray again or do this following more thorough surface preparation.
More thorough surface preparation: Remove old sealer with lacquer thinner. Then aggressively polish the entire stone top surface with #0000 steel wool. This is a very fine steel wool used for polishing smooth surfaces. When done, clean dust off with soap and water, rinse with plain water and thoroughly dry. Then spray with sealer.
Easiest - simply spray with sealer. New sealer will melt old and create a new finish. Usually, this is all that is needed. If the condition happens again, you can spray again or do this following more thorough surface preparation.
More thorough surface preparation: Remove old sealer with lacquer thinner. Then aggressively polish the entire stone top surface with #0000 steel wool. This is a very fine steel wool used for polishing smooth surfaces. When done, clean dust off with soap and water, rinse with plain water and thoroughly dry. Then spray with sealer.
Note: Use only S-B-S Sealer to repair the finish. The concept is "Do not risk incompatibility". We know what additional S-B-S Sealer does with the original S-B-S Sealer, but have no idea what a different sealer might do. A new application of S-B-S Sealer will "melt" the old S-B-S Sealer and they will flow together and tightly bond.
Canadian customers: All Aldon products are available from our Canada distributor. There is a link on the "Your Project List" page.
To see a full video of the sealer stripping / spraying process
Easy Care Products: for any floor.
Note: "Insta-Clean" is used for overall cleaning of patio furniture. Including food spills, bird and tree droppings, etc.
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Sample n/a
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"Maintain" - for no streak wet mopping of Agio tables and all other types of flooring.
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"Lifeguard" prevents traffic wear to a sealer. Adds gloss.
"Dust Whiz" - easy dry mop dust pickup at 1,000 sq. ft. in 3 minutes.
"Dust Whiz" - easy dry mop dust pickup at 1,000 sq. ft. in 3 minutes.
Items of Interest
You may have heard of concerns about Agio tables . All of them would be prevented with the information we provide here. Therefore, you can have the floor you want!
How to select a sealer
To select a sealer it is good to have some idea of the absorption rate so you achieve the gloss level (none to high) and all the other benefits available without using more sealer than necessary. Also, you can test for (and protect against) acidic liquid sensitivity.
An Aldon sealer does far more than just bead water and look pretty! To see what that is click here.
Your results may vary somewhat from these pictures due to variations in computer display and the surface materials themselves. Nevertheless, you will be able to see the differences well enough to make good choices.
Important: If your project has had any sealer applied in the past, it must be evaluated differently. To see why, Click here!
Sealer "solids" levels?
This discussion applies only to the petroleum solvent based sealers. With the water based sealers, solids level is not a consideration.
Here are the relative solids level of our petroleum solvent based sealers:
Lowest: SBS Sealer
Next level Higher: Penetrating Paver Sealer
Another level higher: Porous Stone Sealer
Highest level: Mexiglaze A porous surface will require more gallons (more money) of a lower solids sealer than using a higher solids level sealer. That, plus different surfaces have different requirements, is why we make the different solids levels. They all work as described, so it is only a matter of which is best for your needs.
The more porous the surface, the more solids will be required to achieve the desired effects of gloss, strengthening, stopping efflorescence, etc. The more porous the surface, generally the greater the need for the sealer to create a stronger surface. An old sealer below the surface, even after stripping, will lower the absorption and porosity to some degree. Sometimes it is uneven below the surface and can create an uneven coloring effect with a color enhancing sealer applied later. Another reason to test first.
Lowest: SBS Sealer
Next level Higher: Penetrating Paver Sealer
Another level higher: Porous Stone Sealer
Highest level: Mexiglaze A porous surface will require more gallons (more money) of a lower solids sealer than using a higher solids level sealer. That, plus different surfaces have different requirements, is why we make the different solids levels. They all work as described, so it is only a matter of which is best for your needs.
The more porous the surface, the more solids will be required to achieve the desired effects of gloss, strengthening, stopping efflorescence, etc. The more porous the surface, generally the greater the need for the sealer to create a stronger surface. An old sealer below the surface, even after stripping, will lower the absorption and porosity to some degree. Sometimes it is uneven below the surface and can create an uneven coloring effect with a color enhancing sealer applied later. Another reason to test first.
Do not make decisions based only upon the price per gallon.
Unlike other sealers, Aldon's sealers typically require fewer applications (fewer gallons), less cure time, and longer life. And that is only a few of many considerations.
To see more of why the price per gallon has little to do with what will be your total project cost, click here. For other questions about sealers, see the FAQ Sealers link on the slide out menu.
To see more of why the price per gallon has little to do with what will be your total project cost, click here. For other questions about sealers, see the FAQ Sealers link on the slide out menu.
Do not believe yet that you have the type of surfacing you were told:
There is no need for confusion or problems brought about by misidentification of a surface type, yet it happens all too often. Sellers use fancy marketing names that can be misleading about the true nature of a surfacing. For instance, a customer was told they bought "Petite Granite" for a bar surface. But, unlike granite it was etching circles from wine drips. After simple testing, it proved to be a limestone which is treated very differently than granite. It was easily restored and protected after a 60 second test. Please review our "Surface Types" page to compare pictures, descriptions, and testing if needed, to confirm you have what you were told.
Do not "pre-seal" - apply a sealer BEFORE grouting.
Do not use any sealer as a grout release barrier (pre-sealing). This technique creates many risk factors to be avoided. Prevent grout smears, surface scratching and keep grout residue out of surface texture by coating with Aldon
Grout Easy before grouting. Grout Easy is a water soluble coating that comes off easily while grout is being cleaned off in the normal process with water and a sponge.
Colors fading?
The iron oxide pigments used in concrete products, and the colored clays in clay products, do not fade . The appearance of fading is actually from tiny efflorescence particles (white powder) in the pores. It can be removed and color restored (with Aldon Efflorescence Treatment) and then stopped from returning, and color restored, by sealing with the appropriate Aldon penetrating type sealer.
You can stop efflorescence (white powdery stains)
Efflorescence (subsurface originating white powdery stains) is common with many surfaces. This can even occur before installation. However, it is easily made to disappear without scrubbing by using Aldon Efflorescence Treatment. If the white powder is old and is now "crystalline" that is bonded to the surface - it can be eaten away with Aldon Grout Residue Remover.
Renew a glossy finish
Aldon Sealer applications can be made hours or years later, but do not apply thin layer upon thin layer. Apply a sufficient quantity to insure below surface penetration & bonding. Or, for the solvent based penetrating sealers, test spraying lacquer thinner as an alternative to slightly melt and reform the surface and not build too much gloss or create sealer "layering". A layer of sealer on top of another layer of sealer can result in poor bonding between layers and that can cause separation peeling that looks grayish.
Concerned about Doing It Yourself or what your contractor says?
If you are concerned about doing it yourself - consider that the satisfaction of a project is directly related to YOUR knowledge of what needs to be done and how. Who actually does the work is less important. We estimate that 50% of the usage of Aldon products is by "do it yourself" homeowners and we know they are happy because we hear from them.
Our goal for our contractor customers - NO CALL BACKS. A good contractor will understand the logic of Aldon application instructions on the labels and will not take shortcuts. If a contractor does not agree, feel free to let us find out what is so unusual about this particular project so the contractor does not have to return.
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Aldon Corporation and protected under applicable USA and international intellectual property law.
Aldon Corporation and protected under applicable USA and international intellectual property law.