Will the sealer change the colour of my paving?

Only if you want it to. An invisible product leaves the colour alone, a wet-look sealer deepens it permanently, and a colour sealer gives it a new shade.

How do I know when to seal again?

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.

Can I apply sealer to wet paving?

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 are the few products that tolerate slight surface dampness.

Will sealing make the paving slippery?

Not if you choose a penetrating product - it forms no film on the surface and does not change its grip. If the surface is already slippery, choose an anti-slip treatment rather than a sealer.

Can I use it on coloured paving?

Yes, after a test in an inconspicuous place. A product above pH 13 is strong, so check its effect on a coloured surface before washing the whole area.

EC-90 or one of the D range?

Both tackle the same problem - choose by form and the scale of the job. EC-90 from Eksil comes in 1 l and 5 l packs; the D range from CTS Chemistry are concentrates usually diluted 1:4, so over a large area they work out cheaper per square metre.

Industrial soiling cleaner EC-90 EKSIL

Removes greasy and industrial soiling from driveways, car parks and floors. This alkaline solution with non-ionic surfactants has a concentrate pH of 13-13.5, so wear personal protective equipment when using it.

Surface

Concrete and floors

See the whole range

Product image: Industrial soiling cleaner EC-90 EKSIL

Concrete and floors

EC-90 is an alkaline product for greasy and industrial soiling: pH 13-13.5, an alkaline solution with non-ionic surfactants.

It complements EC-22: that one dissolves mineral deposits, while EC-90 deals with organic and greasy soiling. It excels on drives, car parks, workshop floors and the ground under machinery.

With a pH this high, always wear gloves and eye protection, and do not let the product dry on the surface being cleaned. Coverage 3-6 m² per litre, working temperature 5-35 °C.

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.

Wash the paving. Lift oil stains with a degreasing cleaner - water alone, even under pressure, will not shift them.
Remove lime efflorescence with a product made for it, not with hydrochloric acid from the builders' merchant.
Make good the joints and let them set. Sealer applied over an empty joint runs straight into the sub-base.
Wait until the paving is dry all the way through, not just on top. Moisture trapped under the film can bloom it white.
Check the forecast. Rain within a day of application will wash off a fresh coat.

New paving has to season first - usually around 28 days from the date the block was made. You will find the exact time for each product in its 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.

Coverage: 3-6 m²/l
Coats: 1
Application method: brush, spray, brush (stiff)
Application temperature: +5 to +35 °C
Where to use: indoors, outdoors
Chemical base: alkaline solution with non-ionic surfactants
Appearance: yellowish-brown liquid
pH: 13-13.5
Density: 1.02 kg/l
Note: do not let the product dry on the surface being cleaned

Will the sealer change the colour of my paving?: Only if you want it to. An invisible product leaves the colour alone, a wet-look sealer deepens it permanently, and a colour sealer gives it a new shade.
How do I know when to seal again?: 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.
Can I apply sealer to wet paving?: 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 are the few products that tolerate slight surface dampness.
Will sealing make the paving slippery?: Not if you choose a penetrating product - it forms no film on the surface and does not change its grip. If the surface is already slippery, choose an anti-slip treatment rather than a sealer.
Can I use it on coloured paving?: Yes, after a test in an inconspicuous place. A product above pH 13 is strong, so check its effect on a coloured surface before washing the whole area.
EC-90 or one of the D range?: Both tackle the same problem - choose by form and the scale of the job. EC-90 from Eksil comes in 1 l and 5 l packs; the D range from CTS Chemistry are concentrates usually diluted 1:4, so over a large area they work out cheaper per square metre.