FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTlON'S  

about Ever Products    

 

How often do I have to re-seal?

 

Floors with a Gloss:  Providing the floor is properly maintained and the sealer is protected with EVERPOLISH (interior only), you may never have to reseal again! See our  Maintenance  guide for instructions on how to properly maintain and care for your floor.

 

No Gloss or Natural Look Floors: Floors sealed with penetrating type sealers should be periodically or seasonally inspected to ensure the proper level of protection is maintained. Simply clean the area and reapply the sealer on an "as needed" basis.

 

 

Why so many different kinds? Why not just one sealer for everything?

 

Life would be a lot easier if we only had to make one sealer for every type of surface that we run into. However, as long as there are so many different types of surfaces that require sealer, we will continue to develop products that fit each specific need that you, the customer, request. Each sealer produces a different look that ranges from matt to satin, to high gloss. Some enrich the colours of the surface, while others leave a more natural appearance. Pick the sealer that’s right for you.

 

 

Are sealers difficult to use?

 

No. Our products are formulated for high performance and ease in application. Each sealer label has specific instructions for applying them correctly. Always follow the label instructions exactly as they are written. If you have specific questions concerning the use of any of our products, as well as, others that you may have used, call us directly.

 

 

Can the sealer be stripped?

 

Yes. To ensure the easiest and most successful removal of the sealer, you will need to know a few things about the sealer that you are removing. See Strip & Reseal guidelines.

 

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Are any of the products considered hazardous?

 

Yes. Some are in solvents that are flammable and some are corrosive liquids. Most are non-hazardous to humans, plants and animals. All products come with explicit instructions for their safe use. We are committed to developing the industries most high performance, safe and easy to use, water based product line available in today’s marketplace.  . As technology permits, we will continue to introduce safe alternatives for the industry.

 

 

What is efflorescence?

 

See Efflorescence

 

 

SEALER PROBLEMS

Sealer turns white or hazy

CAUSES

MOISTURE can cause water based acrylics to "blush" when they get wet. This happens when the sealer is applied to a damp surface or when the sealer gets wet from other sources, i.e., rain, heavy dew, sprinklers, ground water, etc. Good water based, exterior grade acrylic formulations have a fairly liberal tolerance to moisture in the substrate. Initially areas on the floor will look hazy, foggy or cloudy, then clear when dry.

ACID residue will also severely affect the performance of water based acrylic sealers, especially while in a liquid state, causing them to streak, turn white and ultimately peel from the surface. Typically this occurs when the floor has been acid rinsed to remove grout haze or smears and the acid was not properly neutralized before sealer is applied. Upon contact, the water in the sealer reactivates the dried acid residue, which attacks and destroys the sealer. Sealer damaged by acid residue must be stripped and resealed.

Solvent based acrylics, unlike water based acrylics, have a very low tolerance to moisture in the surface to which they are applied. They will turn white when applied to wet surfaces, or when moisture comes up from underneath, but may not clear on their own. When correctly applied to a dry surface and allowed to properly cure, solvent based acrylics are usually unaffected by rain or sprinklers, which makes them useful as a topcoat remedy for blushing water based acrylics.

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REMEDlES & PREVENTlON

Avoid using water based acrylics in low lying areas, areas subject to frequent standing water, ground water, hydro-static pressure or around swimming pools. Take a "wait and see" approach before attempting to strip. The floor will usually show significant improvement after the water has evaporated and the sealer has dried. This could take several days. Also, the sealer is soft while in this state and can easily be damaged. So avoid walking on the floor, if possible, until corrected. Strip the tiles that don’t clear and reseal with EVERSEAL. To stop water based acrylics from blushing, try top coating the sealer with EVERSEAL 88 cut four parts sealer to one part Xylene solvent. The solvent based sealer will have a "clearing" effect and may show significant improvement.  Caution: you must wait until floor & sealer is completely dry before attempting this procedure. This is not a text book method, but has proven successful in many field applications.

Pay particular attention to grout clean up procedures and avoid using acid of any kind. Chemically neutralize all acid residue, before applying sealer, by rinsing floor with a solution of 200 ml EVERCLEAN 2000 mixed with 5 litres clean water. Note: Water rinsing may not completely neutralize acid. Water based acrylic sealers that have been damaged by acid must be stripped and resealed.

Impregnators such as EVERBLOCK/EVERSEAL EXTRA will not turn white or peel when exposed to moisture, making them ideal for use in areas prone to damp conditions.

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Sealer is peeling

CAUSES

Incompatibility: The wrong sealer for the surface.
Surface Contamination: Foreign material on the floor, i.e., dirt, wax, oils, old sealer, moisture, etc.
Abrasion: Foot traffic.

REMEDlES & PREVENTlON

Always choose the correct sealer for the surface and exposure you are working with. Always do test areas before approving sealer for use. See our  surface/sealer chart for the best recommendations. Maintain high traffic areas in interior floors by periodically applying EVERPOLISH. Use penetrating impregnators on exterior surfaces.

Scuffing, marring and black heel marks

CAUSES

FOOT TRAFFIC: All sealed flooring is subject to abrasion caused by foot traffic and there is no such thing as a "maintenance free floor". Poorly maintained or unprotected sealer will soon become heavily worn and distressed, resulting in expensive repair.

REMEDlES & PREVENTlON

Remember, "The sealer is there to protect the floor, the polish is there to protect the sealer". On Interior floors, apply EVERPOLISH and pay attention to the traffic areas. Sweep, vacuum and damp mop on a regular basis. Minimize gloss on exterior surfaces. and reseal only when additional protection is desired.

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Blotchy areas

CAUSES

Moisture in the surface, when the sealer is applied, can result in a blotchy looking floor, especially when using penetrating type sealers.  Given enough time, the floor will clear on its own, due to the breath ability of penetrating impregnators. 

Uneven application of coating type sealers may also result in a blotchy look.  The floor will look like it has "highs and lows" or glossy and enhanced colour in some areas and no gloss, no colour enhancement in other areas.   This will usually happen on the second application of solvent based coatings, when applied to highly porous surfaces, and is the result of irregular absorption of the sealer.  This will usually dry uniform, without blotches, after several coats.

REMEDlES & PREVENTlON

Always allow adequate time for the floor to completely dry before applying any type of sealer.  Become familiar with the unique characteristics of the sealer that you are using.  Always do test areas before approving and always apply sealer exactly like the label instructs.

Staining or absorbing liquids

CAUSES

Inadequate amount of sealer or wrong sealer applied for sufficient protection for the surface.

REMEDlES & PREVENTlON

Clean surface and remove any old floor polish, wax or damaged sealer. Choose the correct sealer for the job and apply it exactly like the label says. Apply sufficient coats until adequate protection is achieved.

 General lnformation: info@bdisolutions.com

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