An acidic product for removing carbonate efflorescence, streaking and deposits from paving, concrete, engineering brick and granite - including dried-on soiling. On coloured surfaces the manufacturer requires dilution, as it can lift the colour.
Surface
Block paving
The surface the manufacturer intends this preparation for.
EC-22 is an acidic product for one job: carbonate efflorescence, streaking and deposits - including dried-on and long-standing ones.
Its pH brings limits with it. The manufacturer warns that on coloured surfaces the product can lift the colour and requires dilution there. On coloured paving a test in an inconspicuous place is not optional.
Coverage 3-6 m² per litre, working temperature 5-35 °C. The product must not dry on the surface being cleaned - that is the commonest cause of streaks after washing.
The usual reason a sealing job fails is not the product but the substrate. A sealer will not bond to a surface with grease, lime efflorescence or an old coating on it.
New paving has to season first. Manufacturers state that period on the data sheet - usually around 28 days from the date the block was made. The figure for each product is under "Technical data".
Before sealing the whole area, test on a patch hidden by a planter or in a corner of the patio. The same product can read differently on two batches of the same material, and on a surface with old coating left on it, it will not bond at all.
That depends on the finish given in the technical data. An invisible product leaves the colour alone, a wet-look version deepens it permanently, and a colour sealer gives it a new shade. Each product's finish is listed under "Technical data".
By how the water behaves. While it still beads on the surface, the treatment is working. Once water starts soaking in and dark patches return after rain, the protection has worn out. We do not quote a number of years, because it depends on traffic, sun and whether the drive is salted in winter.
No. Water occupies the pores the product is meant to enter, and stays trapped under the film. The result is often a milky bloom that cannot be removed without stripping the coat. The exceptions - products that allow slight surface dampness - say so in their technical data.
Use the calculator under the product description: it takes the manufacturer's coverage figure, the number of coats and the absorbency of the substrate, and turns them into pack sizes. On older, thirstier paving, work to the lower end of the coverage range.
Penetrating products form no film on the surface and do not change its grip. Where a manufacturer says something about slipperiness, we quote it in the technical data. If the surface is already slippery, the right product is an anti-slip treatment, not a sealer.
EC-22 is acidic and targets efflorescence, streaking and mineral deposits. EC-87 is a surfactant product for general refreshing of paving and facades. For greasy and industrial soiling the right product is the alkaline EC-90.
Acidic products act on the cement binder. The manufacturer gives dilution for sensitive surfaces; with fresh or washed-out joints it is worth testing the action on a section first.
The technical sheet and safety data sheet will be available after approval.
Enter the area and how absorbent the substrate is. We work out the litres and the packs.
Depending on how heavily soiled the surface is and on its texture.
Example for 45 m²
10L
Enter your own area to calculate for your job.
Go directly to the right category. We do not imply compatibility across materials.